Game days in Hudson, Wisconsin are not like they are in the Twin Cities metro area. Over there, Vikings and Packers fans learn to co-exist across the border.
Is that true? Is it possible for fans of these two hated rivals actually live in harmony? Together? With alcohol involved?
"Everyone gets along and has a very good time over the Jell-O shots that we give out at halftime," says Nicole Soler Assistant GM at The Village Inn.
Misty Weispfenning, GM at Max's Social House agrees,
"They can coexist, and that's kind of like the whole concept of Max's, to bring everybody together," she says.
And each place does their best to cater to each group.
At Max's: "When they score a touchdown, they'll be purple or, you know, green or yellow outside, blowing off like a like a gun. So it'll be super cool," Weispfenning adds.
But it's not always so cordial, says Anne Halvorsen GM at The Village Inn.
"I usually make the Vikings fans say 'Go Pack, Go' if they want a Jell-O shot," she says, with a chuckle.
Do they comply?
"Sometimes. I usually cave and give one anyway," says the generous Halvorson.
The truth is, there are very few establishments in the metro area that actually cater to both fanbases. There are obviously a lot of "Viking bars," and certainly Minnesota has its share of "Packer bars." But both?
"The parlor downstairs will be where the Vikings fans are, so it'll be decorated for Vikings, and then they'll have your drinks down here. And then you'll go upstairs and that'll be the Packers bar and then that will have the same amount of TVs, different drinks for the Packers. So every time you get a touchdown, you get a free shot," explains Weispfenning of Max's Social House.
Sounds like you'll know who's winning by which level of the bar is loudest?
And Halvorson over at The Village Inn predicts an awesome crowd for this week's opening game, as this longtime rivalry is renewed for the 132nd time. But this will only be the ninth time they've opened the season against each other. As is typical in a rivalry like this one, each team has won four games of the eight they've already played on opening Sunday.
"We're going to be full. We're going to fill up fast," Halvorson predicts. "I was born a Vikings fan, so I still have a little heart for them, but I am definitely a Packers fan. So we just have good banter. We're going to have fun."
Kickoff is set for 3:25 on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium, just a short drive from where the fans crossover in Hudson, Wisconsin.
