Vikings will offer refund with interest if games are cancelled

Zygi Wilf and his brother Mark have sent a letter to season ticket holders of the Minnesota Vikings and the club will offer interest on refunds if the NFL’s work stoppage causes games to be cancelled this season.
Fans can choose to have a refund or have money applied to future games. In the event they request a refund, interest calculated at an annual rate of 1 percent will be paid. The interest will be calculated from the date a game is cancelled through the date which a refund is processed, so we’re talking about small change here. Still, it’s the right gesture for the organization to make, especially for an organization desperately seeking funding for a new stadium.

It’s a critical time for the Vikings. New coach Leslie Frazier is in the process of trying to reshape one of the oldest rosters in the league. Minnesota doesn’t have a quarterback and trying to build a young team around a new and potentially young quarterback is challenging under normal circumstances.
“The Vikings ownership group, coaches and front office staff are working extremely hard this offseason to return the Minnesota Vikings to the top of the NFC North and compete for a Super Bowl, as well as build upon the pride and passion you have for this organization,” the letter states.
Here is a full look at the letter:
Dear Vikings Season Ticket Owners,

Due to the expiration of the NFL's Collective Bargaining Agreement and the breakdown in mediated negotiations between the National Football League and the players, it is the sincere commitment of the Minnesota Vikings to keep our most important stakeholders in this franchise, our Season Ticket Owners, as informed as possible throughout the process. We wanted to write to you today in an effort to keep you informed on how the expiration of the NFL's Collective Bargaining Agreement may impact the 2011 NFL season.

The NFL is working hard to reach a new agreement with the players' union, and we hope the negotiation process does not disrupt the 2011 season. In the event any games are cancelled, we want to remind you of the Vikings Season Ticket Owner refund policy for your 2011 season tickets. The specifics of the policy are as follows:

1. We will provide you with a full refund for any cancelled preseason or regular-season home games.

2. You may choose to receive your refund either in the form that you paid for your tickets (e.g., cash, credit card) or in the form of credits toward future games with this credit applied to your season ticket account.

3. Simple interest, calculated at an annual rate of 1%, will be paid on refunds. Interest will be calculated for the period beginning on the date that a game is cancelled through the date that the refund is processed. You will be entitled to interest only if you have paid for your season tickets in full by the final season ticket payment deadline of May 23, 2011.

4. For any cancelled games, refunds will be paid no later than 30 days after final determination of how many games will be played during the 2011 season.
5. You may also click here to review the Vikings Season Ticket Owner refund policy that accompanied your 2011 invoice.

The Vikings ownership group, coaches and front office staff are working extremely hard this offseason to return the Minnesota Vikings to the top of the NFC North and compete for a Super Bowl, as well as build upon the pride and passion you have for this organization. We greatly appreciate your support of the Minnesota Vikings and will continue to keep you informed of our plans for the 2011 season. If you have any questions about the refund policy, or any other matter, please feel free to contact the Vikings Ticket Office at (612) 33-VIKES. Also, please feel free to read a letter sent last night from NFL Commissioner Goodell to all NFL fans at vikings.com or follow the latest on the NFL labor situation at NFLLabor.com.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. We look forward to helping the Minnesota Vikings return to the top of the NFC North and then achieving our ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl.
Sincerely,

Zygi and Mark Wilf

Article Via Yahoo Sports

Vikings Linebacker Chad Greenway Signs One-Year Tender

The Vikings chose to put the "Franchise Tag" on Pro Bowl lineback Chad Greenway instead of Sidney Rice.  On March 1st, Greenway signed a one-year tender with the Mn Vikings and by doing so Greenway is guaranteed around $10 Million if there is a 2011 NFL season.  The Vikings' likely goal is to sign Greenway to a long term deal. We should expect to see Greenway's talents grow and mature further under the coaching of Hall Of Fame Lineback Mike Singletary.

The decision for the Vikings to put the franchise tag on Greenway rather than Sidney Rice was a decision that caused much grumbling among Vikings fans and long time Vikings ticket holders.  We all want Sidney Rice back, but with the Vikings young defense in 2011 Greenway's leadership will be priceless.

Either way it was a tough decision.  What if the Vikings fail to fill the quarterback position, chose to franchise Rice and loose Greenway to free agency?  Then, we would have a top paid receiver with nobody qualified to throw him the ball.  With the given circumstances, Greenway was the right choice for the Vikings.

Leslie Frazier & The Minnesota Vikings Hire James Saxon As Running Backs Coach

Leslie Frazier has chosen James Saxon to head his running back unit for the Mn Vikings.  The Mn Vikings have arguably the best running back in the NFL in  Adrian Peterson and Toby Gerhart is an impressive back as well. Saxon spent eight years as a player in the NFL and was most an assistant coach for the Miami Dolphins for the past three years.  Before that Saxon was an assistant coach for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2001 to 2007. 

(PER ESPN)  More From ESPN Here

More On Mn Vikings Coach Leslie Frazier

Leslie Frazier has spent 18 years in the NFL, 12 as an assistant coach and six as a player and also owns a couple Super Bowl Rings. Frazier has the support of the Vikings players, fans & the Wilf family.

"It would mean the world to these guys in here," linebacker Ben Leber told the Tribune. "Everybody respects him and just to have some solidarity and cohesiveness going into the offseason."

Coach Frazier showed great temperament with all the adversity that he was challenged with during the time as the interim coach and this must have solidified the decision for the Wilf family to make Leslie Frazier the head coach of the Vikings.

Mn Vikings vs Eagles Game Postponed Until 12/28/10

With a blizzard dumping snow on to Philadelphia, the NFL decided to postpone the Vikings vs Eagles game until 12/28/10 at 8:20 PM.  It was reported that the weather was not the concern of the players, but that league official's #1 concern was the safety of the fans. "The No. 1 issue absolutely all along was public safety and the safety of the fans, workers, vendors, suppliers and really everybody," Eagles Chief Operating Officer Don Smolenski said.

"Because in addition to 70,000 [fans], there are 3,000 workers, and trying to have people come down in those conditions that are out there now and what they were calling for -- near blizzard-like, blowing wind, white-out conditions, 50 mile an-hour winds -- that just wasn't safe.

"The discussions with the league were all about public safety, and that was paramount and in the end is what drove the decision." csnphilly.com