Bears-Vikings game at Georgia Dome? | ajc.com

Bears-Vikings game at Georgia Dome? | ajc.com

Bears-Vikings game at Georgia Dome?

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By Larry Hartstein

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that the Georgia Dome is being considered as an alternative site for Monday night's game between the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings.

Enlarge photo

Ann Heisenfelt, APWorkers clear snow from TCF Bank Stadium at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. The inflatable roof of the Metrodome collapsed Sunday after a snowstorm that dumped 17 inches on Minneapolis and will not be repaired in time for Monday night's game, which was planned to be played at the University of Minnesota.

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The game had been scheduled for Minneapolis' Metrodome, but that facility is still unusable due to a collapsed roof. The University of Minnesota's outdoor stadium is the next preferred option, but field conditions due to heavy snow and ice could make that impossible, the Tribune reported.

If that stadium can't be readied in time, the game would have to be played at a domed stadium somewhere.

Any other sites in the Midwest are viewed by the Vikings organization as favorable to the Bears due to their large fan base throughout the region, the Tribune said. As a result, the Tribune, citing an unnamed source, reported the Vikings would favor the Georgia Dome.

A Georgia Dome spokesman told the AJC the NFL has not contacted the Dome regarding Monday night's game. In fact, the Dome is scheduled for field maintenance that day.

What if the NFL asked?

"Anything's possible," Dome spokesman Mark Geiger said. "If the NFL did call the Georgia Dome, they'd have to make a decision at that time to determine, can they do it?"

Last week's Vikings game, against the Giants, was moved to Detroit's domed stadium.

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