I recently returned from a short trip to Minneapolis to attend, with my friend David, the Monday Night Football game between the Chicago Bears and Minneapolis Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. While my team didn’t win (and I wasn’t really under any illusion that they would), the experience was excellent and I got to spend some quality time with one of the best guys I know.

Bookings

Neither the flights nor the hotel bookings are very interesting, but I do want to discuss the tickets purchase. I had never experienced an all-inclusive club experience at a football game inside the United States. I was enamored by the idea of enjoying one with a close friend who has helped me through tough times in my life and also pushed me to do things that have been quite financially rewarding for me. I quite literally would not be in the situation I’m in right now without his help.

The US Bank Stadium Delta Sky360 Club is probably the most interesting experience of its kind in the NFL. It is adjacent to the Minnesota Vikings locker room, so you get to see players enter and exit the field; allows you to be field level, if you so choose; affords you an amazing view of the action; and is all-inclusive in terms of food and drink. The cost was high, but the experience was worth it, especially since I was with a huge Minnesota Vikings fan.

Flights

• Nicholas
  • 45,000 Delta SkyMiles + 11.20USD
    • LAS-MSP in DL J
    • MSP-LAS in DL J

Hotels

• One room for two nights at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis for one Category 1-4 Free Night Certificate per night

Activities

• Two tickets for Minneapolis Vikings vs Chicago Bears in the Delta 360 Sky Club for 1255.85USD per ticket, inclusive of taxes and fees

December 15, 2025

I arrived very late in the evening and David was kind enough to pick me up at the airport and bring me to our hotel. There, he presented me with a Chicago Bears sweatshirt as a generous late birthday gift. I loved (and continue to love) it. I dropped my backpack in my room, and we chatted for a bit in the lobby before deciding to call it a night.

The Hyatt Regency Minneapolis is a good city hotel. It isn’t luxurious, but the rooms are comfortable, and stays are well-priced.

December 16

We met in the lobby for complimentary breakfast. I found both the coffee and buffet to be quite underwhelming, so David suggested we head to Hell’s Kitchen, a restaurant a short walk from the hotel. I am so happy to have followed his advice. I had a delicious burger for breakfast that filled me up for most of the day while David had some type of hash.

There isn’t much to do in Minneapolis in the middle of December, so we decided to take a walk around the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. I enjoyed the large installation even in the cold, being particularly fond of the giant blue cock.

Afterwards, we stopped at Gray Fox for coffee. I asked if the eggnog latte was good, and the barista responded that it was. I then ordered one and she said “oh, actually, we’re out of eggnog so you can’t have one.” A little frustrated, I fell back to the Fox in the Woods, which was a tasty spin on a standard latte.

We didn’t have any plans for the rest of the day and saw that there was an escape room shop nearby, so we decided to stop in and have a look at what was on offer. We walked to Escape the Room and opted for The Agency, a spy-themed puzzle.

I thought we did quite well, solving many of the puzzles without hints, and we managed to escape with only nineteen seconds to spare.

With a few hours remaining before we needed to head to the stadium, we returned to the hotel where I spent some time at the gym. The facilities at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis are vast, with every single weight machine you can think of, tons of free weights and cardio machines, and a full basketball court. I was extremely surprised but very pleased.

We walked to the game two hours before kickoff. US Bank Stadium is awesome and I’m a big fan of the huge ship near the main entrance.

After snapping a few pictures of the outside, we managed to find the entrance for the Sky360 Club and spent the next several hours enjoying ourselves to the fullest. We ate our fill of good food, visited the ice cream bar, saw the Vikings enter and exit their locker room, and watched what was a fairly one-sided game. As I expected, the Vikings dominated the Bears, to the point where Justin Jefferson, the best wide receiver in the league, was running wide open for a touchdown while I exclaimed “oh no” before the quarterback ever even saw him.

The stadium was absolutely packed with Vikings fans and almost all of them were wearing white for the special Winter Whiteout uniform debut. I think that less than 1% of attendees were rooting for the Bears. This was particularly odd given Bears fans tend to travel in support of their team, especially for high-profile games, and particularly to Midwest destinations. I had an awesome time with the rocking environment, the Skol chant, and the general niceness of everyone around us. I loved the club level and I’m glad I bought the tickets that I did so that David and I could have the experience together.

After the game, we waited around to see if we could get any players to come talk to us, but we missed the window (and they mostly interacted with children, anyways). Eventually, we headed back to the hotel where we chatted for a bit before hitting the hay.

December 17

We skipped breakfast at the hotel completely and headed to Hen House Eatery. I opted for absolutely indulgent cinnamon roll pancakes while David chose biscuits and gravy.

After returning to the hotel, I said farewell to David as he set off for home. I had some work to do for a few hours before heading to the airport and flying back to Las Vegas.

While this was a short trip, it is one that I’ll cherish forever. David and I had a great time, not just at the football game, but in all the time we spent together. Our time in the escape room also motivated me to book one for Angela and me when I returned home