This photo, from CBS Minnesota, shows the entirety of the line to buy single-game Vikings tickets for much of Tuesday morning, when they went on sale.


Toughing it out was Anthony Williams, who had the day off work and showed up at 5:40 a.m., more than early enough to be first in line. Williams said it wasn't until 7:00 or so that anyone else joined him.

"I probably could have slept in a little while, later and still been first in line," Williams said with a laugh.


By the time tickets actually went on sale at 9 a.m., there were 14 people in line. And that included reporters doing stories on the lack of people in line.

I don't blame people for staying home! The Vikings will be playing the next two seasons at University of Minnesota TCF Bank Stadium, while their own new bird deathtrap stadium is constructed. TCF Bank Stadium is outdoors. It gets cold up there. And still, ticket prices are up an average of 27 percent over last year. And waiting on line at Vikings offices merely gave fans an hourlong head-start on internet purchases.

Still, that left the pick of the best seats to those willing to work for them, like Williams.

Williams bought for himself and four friends. They'll be attending the Week 4 game against the Atlanta Falcons. Williams wanted the season opener, but that would have required him to buy tickets to another game as well.


The only man in the Twin Cities who woke up early to buy Vikings tickets absolutely didn't want to go to more than one game.

[CBS Minnesota, h/t Al]