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Minnesota Vikings build a ‘sensory inclusive room’ in U.S. Bank Stadium

Brian Johnson//August 19, 2019//

The Minnesota Vikings unveiled this new “sensory inclusive room” Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium. (Submitted photo: Minnesota Vikings)

The Minnesota Vikings unveiled this new “sensory inclusive room” Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium. (Submitted photo: Minnesota Vikings)

Minnesota Vikings build a ‘sensory inclusive room’ in U.S. Bank Stadium

Brian Johnson//August 19, 2019//

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Going beyond standard fare such as power-assisted doors and wheelchair seating, U.S. Bank Stadium has stepped up its game on the accessibility front by making special accommodations for people with sensory issues.

The home of the Minnesota Vikings is the latest professional sports venue to build a “sensory inclusive room,” an oasis of calm for fans with autism and others needing a break from the noise, crowded corridors and commotion associated with big sporting events.

Unveiled before the Vikings’ game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night, the sensory inclusive room is just the second space of its kind in a National Football League stadium, according to space designer KultureCity, an Alabama-based nonprofit.

Located in the stadium’s upper concourse behind Section 346, the 6-foot by 12-foot sound-protected room is intended for fans with autism, post-traumatic stress disorder, Down syndrome and other conditions requiring a soothing place of refuge.

The space, created within a former first-aid station, offers a sensory wall display, sensory toys, bean bag chairs, ear plugs, noise-canceling headphones, dim lighting and an attached single-use bathroom, according to the Vikings.

A year ago, the Vikings built a 154-square-foot “mothers’ room” at U.S. Bank Stadium. Located near Section 122 on the main concourse, the room has two private nursing areas, a changing table, seating and toys for toddlers, and a television.

After adding the mothers’ room, the Vikings continued to receive feedback from fans about new features they would like to see at the stadium, said Tami Hedrick, director of Vikings Women and Strategic Development.

“One idea was a space that would be a quiet space for people with autism or sensory issues of any kind, where they can decompress on game day and still enjoy the experience,” Hedrick said. “It’s a smaller space, so it feels cozy.”

Hedrick added that two licensed behavioral specialists will staff the space for every Vikings home game.

KultureCity, a provider of sensory inclusive design and training services, says the new U.S. Bank Stadium space builds off a trend toward making large, noisy venues more accommodating for all users.

Uma Srivastava, KultureCity’s chief operating officer, said KultureCity has helped to create more than 350 such venues in the U.S., Canada, Australia and England since the organization was founded in 2013.

The Philadelphia Eagles, playing at Lincoln Financial Field, were the first NFL team to add a sensory inclusive room. In the next couple of weeks, the Jacksonville Jaguars will unveil a room at their stadium, TIAA Bank Field, Srivastava said.

Similar amenities have popped up in nine National Basketball Association venues and two Major League Baseball stadiums, she said. For stadiums with or without sensory rooms, KultureCity provides sensory inclusive staff training and related services.

Not limited to sports venues, sensory rooms are taking shape in airports, coffee shops, restaurants, museums, zoos and other facilities, Srivastava said.

Patrick Hogan, director of corporate communications and creative services for the Metropolitan Airports Commission, said there has been talk of adding a sensory room to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

In the meantime, the MAC provides similar resources through its Navigating MSP Airport program, he said. The program allows children and people with special needs to practice what it’s like to go through security, board a plane, prepare for takeoff and more.

Since the stadium opened in 2016, the Vikings have offered free “autism kits” with earplugs and squeeze toys. The team saw strong demand for the kits, which was part of the motivation for building the permanent sensory room, Hedrick said.

“We don’t want anybody to have any reason to be inhibited,” she said.

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