HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016 05-17 3M Co. named official 'science partner' to the Minnesota Vikings football team STAR TRIBUNE5/17/2016 3M Co. named official 'science partner' to the Minnesota Vikings football team - StarTribune.com
BUSINESS
3M Co. named official 'science partner'
to the Minnesota Vikings football team
Maplewood -based Conglomerate gets 3M banner and branded first
aid stations in stadium.
By Dee DePass (http://www.startribune.com/dee-depass/10644746/) Star Tribune
MAY 17, 2016 — 7:05AM
The Minnesota Vikings named 3M Co. its official "science partner"
Tuesday. Financial terms were not disclosed.
As part of the 10 -year deal, a 4,800 -square -foot banner bearing 3M's
name and logo will be hung inside the northeast corner of the new
Vikings Stadium in downtown Minneapolis. In addition, 3M Co. will be
the "preferred" branded supplier of first aid stations throughout the
stadium that opens later this year.
The new partnership will also let 3M and the Vikings work together to
place creative media content on the Vikings Entertainment Network's
TV, radio or print programming as well as on 3M outlets and channels.
3M, which made 50 products used in the construction of the massive
stadium, is "proud to partner with the Minnesota Vikings to help bring
the story of 3M science to an even broader audience," said 3M Chief
Marketing Officer Don Branch. The Maplewood -based company
manufactures more than 55,000 products worldwide including health
care items such as compression bandages, wound closing Steri-Strips,
cast and splint products and I.V. dressings.
In forming the partnership with 3M, Vikings owner and president Mark
Wilf said in a statement: "3M is a company that is synonymous with
science and innovation in the minds of millions of people around the
world. We are thrilled to work with a Minnesota-based global innovator
like 3M to enhance the game day experience for Vikings fans."
The deal is the latest in a line of big -money sponsorships between the
Vikings and several corporations, including Polaris Industries, Ecolab,
MillerCoors, Hy -Vee Inc., Land O'Lakes Inc. and CenturyLink.
3M officials declined to discuss how much the partnership costs. Other
corporations noted that their partnership with the Vikings in some cases
cost "millions." However, their branding deals had more signage with
more exposure.
3M officials said that fans attending stadium games will see 3M products
tucked into every crevice of the building. 3M's graphic films will be used
extensively in banners, advertisements and displays. Its "DI-NOC"
architectural laminates and fancy finishes will be used in concession
stands. 3M also made 11 different fire -barriers used inside the building
and the semi-translucent polymers that were extruded to make the
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5/17/2016 3M Co. named official 'science partner' to the Minnesota Vikings football team - StarTribune.com
stadium's lightweight roof. 3M also provided the ear plugs, safety goggles
and hard hats used by construction workers over the two years it took to
construct the building.
3M is well known for its optical films and sophisticated plastic polymers
that carry different properties. 3M has been lobbied hard by animal
rights advocates to manufacture a window film for the Vikings stadium
that could be seen by birds who might otherwise fly straight into the
glass and die. There was no immediate update to where that project is.
"The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, the Vikings, 3M and the
Audubon Society continue to work together on a potential bird -safe
window film solution," said 3M spokeswoman Fanna Haile -Selassie on
Monday. "This cooperation is separate from [Tuesday's] partnership
announcement with the Vikings."
dee.depass@startribune.com 612-673-7725 DePassStrib
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