Vikings home opener will be televised; less than 1,000 tickets remain

The Minnesota Vikings' home opener will be televised locally.

As of 9 a.m. Tuesday, less than 1,000 tickets remained for Sunday's game against Tampa Bay, with the Buccaneers expected to return some more on Wednesday, Vikings vice president of sales and marketing Steve LaCroix said. That's enough for the team team to avoid a blackout.

The NFL can impose a television blackout if the game isn't sold out 72 hours before kickoff, which would be noon Thursday. However, the league has issued numerous 24-hour extensions in recent years, and the Vikings would have had the option of buying back unsold tickets to ensure the game airs on local TV.

Less than 4,000 tickets remain for the Vikings' Sept. 25 game against Detroit, LaCroix said. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or at the Metrodome box office.

Quick hits

• The Vikings re-signed former Gophers DL Cedric McKinley to the practice squad spot vacated when the team promoted TE Allen Reinser to the active roster on Saturday.

• Former Vikings quarterbacks coach Kevin Rogers is taking a leave of absence from his offensive coordinator job at Boston College because of undisclosed health reasons, the university announced.

Tom Pelissero is Senior Editor and columnist for 1500ESPN.com. He hosts from 6 to 8 p.m. weeknights and co-hosts from 10 a.m. to noon Sundays on 1500 ESPN Twin Cities.
Email Tom | @TomPelissero | Tom Pelissero