MINNEAPOLIS — Two spectators rapelled from the rafters of U. S. Bank Stadium during the Chicago Bears — Minnesota Vikings game on Sunday, and hung a banner protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline.
The incident ended peacefully and the duo was arrested.
During the second quarter of Sunday’s game, the banner was hung from the rafters and the two individuals hung from ropes while the game continued. Police climbed the rafters above the two and remained in position. One fan was wearing a Vikings purple No. 4 Brett Favre jersey.
The banner read «U. S. Bank, Divest, #NoDAPL. » U. S. Bank is helping fund the project.
Firefighters joined the police as they searched for a way to get the individuals down.
The two were high above the seating section and one was waving to the fans. Police cleared six rows of fans from the seating area right below the individuals.
«Two individuals appear to have climbed over a guard rail to access the ridge truss,» SMG, a management group for the stadium, said in a statement during the game. «We immediately dispatched on-site Minneapolis police and fire departments to the scene and cleared the seating section below. We are working with all stadium partners, and our primary focus is on the safety of the fans and these two individuals. »
It was the final game of the season for Minnesota and Chicago. The Vikings won 38-10 to finish at 8-8 after a 5-0 start.
«Why wouldn’t the season finish like that? » quarterback Sam Bradford said of the banner incident. «I think it’s just been that kind of a year. »
Receiver Jarius Wright was amazed at the scene.
«It was crazy,» Wright said. «We kind of sat there and laughed about it the whole game. How did they get up there? They had the whole setup with the rapel thing. How does that even happen? The moved out the whole section underneath them, so it was a crazy way to end out the season. »
Said receiver Adam Thielen: «That was interesting. They got some [guts], that’s for sure.
The Vikings opened U. S. Bank Stadium, their new $1 billion home, this season.
