Minnesota Vikings (via Getty Images) The Minnesota Vikings are all set to bring current players Jordan Addison and Brian Asamoah and wide receivers coach Keenan McCardell with them to Edinburgh on July 3 as part of a cultural tour to mark the franchise’s historic Scottish connection. The National Football League team, which is named after the Norse explorers as a nod to Minnesota’s strong Scandinavian heritage, will greet local fans and experience traditional Scottish culture during the visit.
Minnesota Vikings bring NFL flair to Edinburgh for cultural exchange with Scottish fans
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison, linebacker Brian Asamoah, and two-time Super Bowl champion Keenan McCardell, now a coach with the Vikings’ receivers, are to spend two days on a cultural and fan engagement tour in Edinburgh. The July 3 visit is part of the team’s broader effort to strengthen global ties and acknowledge the Norse heritage that exists between Scotland and America’s Midwest. The Minnesota Vikings are named in recognition of the state’s strong Scandinavian heritage. As there were Vikings who arrived in Scotland over 1,200 years ago, the team’s name is a resonance with similar historical origins in Scottish life. The trip is intended to honor these shared roots in a manner that counts and enhances the team’s already passionate UK fan base.“Our organisation is honoured to have such a passionate and growing international fan base, many of whom call Edinburgh and Scotland home,” say the Minnesota Vikings. “We are excited to meet as many of our Scottish Vikings fans as possible during our stay and hope this visit can become the first of many in the years to come. The players and Coach McCardell are hoping to soak in as much Scottish culture as they can over the course of the two-day visit, from sampling haggis to creating tartan. I know all three are also looking forward to spending time exploring Edinburgh, so our plan is to also take in as many sites around the city as possible.” The game marks the first of three such overseas games this year for the Minnesota Vikings, who have the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns in scheduled games played in Dublin and London later this year. The Steelers await the Vikings at Dublin’s Croke Park on September 28, while the Browns are scheduled to play the Vikings at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 5. Also read: Minnesota linebacker Ivan Pace Jr announces sweet engagement news with Mckenziee PaigeeThe trip to Edinburgh will be the first of a series, with the Minnesota Vikings hoping to establish closer ties with their international fan base. As global engagement becomes an increasingly integral part of the NFL expansion plan, scenes like these show the desire of the league to bring American football closer to international fans.