MINNEAPOLIS — It was everything Stefon Diggs thought it would be, and more.
The Vikings wide receiver saw the inside of U.S. Bank Stadium for the first time on Friday as the Vikings held a morning practice for approximately 90 minutes inside the brand-new venue.
Diggs was one of a handful of Vikings players, including running back Adrian Peterson, who hadn't yet stepped foot inside the 1.75-million-square foot facility.
"I knew it was going to be amazing," Diggs said. "It was my first time in here, but I heard great things from everybody else."
Diggs said he was in awe of a variety of features, including the ETFE roof and the natural light it allowed into the building.
"Everything (was impressive)," Diggs said. "The set up that's going on, different seats, the locker room is amazing.
"It's just a great place to play, and I can't wait to be in it," he added.
Diggs led the Vikings with 52 catches and 720 receiving yards last season, adding four touchdowns during his rookie campaign.
The 22-year-old said his main objective is to have another productive season, this time inside the sparkling new stadium.
"I'm not an architect or anything like that, but it looked great," Diggs said.
View images from the team's practice at U.S. Bank Stadium on Friday, August 26.
Feeling right at home
It was only practice, but the Vikings defense defended their turf admirably Friday morning.
Linebacker Chad Greenway had an interception in a team drill, the first of four by Minnesota's defense.
Safeties Harrison Smith and Andrew Sendejo also had picks, as did linebacker Emmanuel Lamur. Linebacker Audie Cole had a pass breakup during a team drill.
The Vikings went 6-2 at home during the regular season in 2015 and allowed 20 points per game.
Minnesota will get its first chance to show off its new digs Sunday at noon (CT) against San Diego. The Vikings have recorded three interceptions and eight sacks through their first two preseason games.
Go West, young man
Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer had his offense move the ball from east to west on Friday morning, which is in the direction of the stadium's largest video board that is back-dropped by the Minneapolis skyline.
The stadium's video board on the west side of the stadium is more than 8,100 square feet, accounting for about one-third of the stadium's 25,000 square feet of high-definition LED displays. It will be the 10th largest in the NFL.
Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater looked crisp and sharp moving the Vikings down the field.
"As far as on the field and when you're practicing and things like that, this [west] video board is pretty big," Zimmer said. "It looks like it's nice and close."
A unique environment
The Vikings had the world's largest pivoting glass doors open for practice, a test of sorts to see if it had an effect on the field conditions.
The doors, which are 55-feet wide, 95- to 75-feet tall, and contain 10 standard doors apiece, took roughly five minutes to open on Friday morning.
Zimmer said the doors combined with the clear ETFE roof will provide an eye-catching atmosphere on game days.
"It's really bright in here, and I don't think today is a real bright day," Zimmer said. "And even with the doors open, you could actually feel the wind a little bit down there.
"It wasn't an impact at all today, but it wasn't real windy outside," he added. "We'll have to check to see the noise factor, with keeping them open and things."
