The recently erected U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis is set to host Super Bowl LII this upcoming February. As the Minnesota Vikings continue their push to be the first team to ever host this championship game, the city itself is looking for more security measures.
According to the Star Tribune, officials in Minneapolis are asking Governor Mark Dayton to mobilize the state National Guard to help provide security. The report notes that officials are worried about the local police force being stretched too thin.
“Even with dozens of departments across the state pledging to send officers to help with security, Mayor Betsy Hodges and Mayor-elect Jacob Frey wrote in a letter on Tuesday that the city’s police ‘cannot by themselves meet of all the safety and security needs of the 10 days of Super Bowl LII while maintaining public-safety operations for the entire city,'” the report noted.
Events such as the Super Bowl always see increased security. That’s only magnified with what appears to be continual threats of both international and domestic terrorism in the United States. The division we see in this nation today also likely played a role in officials asking for help from the state’s top military organization.
The Super Bowl Host Committee has offered to cover the cost of the National Guard’s deployment for the game.
“Our priority is creating a safe Super Bowl in which all Minnesotans can share in the excitement,” Committee spokesperson Andrea Mokros said in a statement.
Ultimately it’s the governor’s decision alone when it comes to the deployment of National Guard troops.
Though, it seems to be a foregone conclusion that Dayton will do just that. It might lead to some nervous fans on the ground in Minneapolis, but that sure does beat the alternative.