NFL’S PRESEASON OPENER SET FOR AUGUST 9 IN CANTON
CANTON, OHIO -The Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers will travel to Canton in August to kick off the National Football League’s 2015 preseason in the NFL/Hall of Fame Game.
The preseason Sunday, Aug. 9 at 8 PM ET in Canton’s Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. The NFL/Hall of Fame Game is televised nationally on NBC’s Sunday Night Football, and also broadcast nationally on radio by Westwood One Sports.
Tickets and VIP Fan Packages for the NFL/Hall of Fame Game are on sale now and range from $54 to $69. Tickets can be ordered online at ProFootballHOF.com/tickets or by calling 844-4HOFTIX.
The Vikings and Steelers will close out the 2015 Enshrinement Weekend one day after two of their famed legends are formally enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Longtime Steelers running back JEROME BETTIS and Vikings stellar center from the 1960s and ’70s MICK TINGELHOFF are among the eight-man class that was recently elected to the Hall of Fame. Other members of the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2015 include wide receiver/returner TIM BROWN, defensive end/linebacker CHARLES HALEY, contributor BILL POLIAN, linebacker JUNIOR SEAU, guard WILL SHIELDS, and contributor RON WOLF.
Bettis played 10 of his 13 seasons in the NFL with the Steelers. A six-time Pro Bowl pick, he rushed for 13,662 yards and retired as the game’s fifth ranked ground gainer of all time. He still holds the Steelers mark for most 100-yard games in a career (50).
Tingelhoff joined the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 1962 and quickly established himself as a leader of Minnesota’s offensive line. One of the finest centers of his time, Tingelhoff was noted for his toughness and durability as evidenced by never missing a game during his entire 17-season career.
The Steelers’ appearance in August will mark the sixth time the team has played in the NFL/Hall of Fame Game. The Vikings return to Canton for the fourth time.
Vikings in HOF Game (2-1-0)
1970 – vs. New Orleans Saints (L, 13-14)
1982 – vs. Baltimore Colts (W, 30-14)
1997 – vs. Seattle Seahawks (W, 28-26)
Steelers in HOF Game (3-2-0)
1963 – vs. Cleveland Browns (W, 16-7)
1964 – vs. Baltimore Colts (L, 17-48)
1983 – vs. New Orleans Saints (W, 27-14)
1998 – vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (L, 6-30)
2007 – vs. New Orleans Saints (W, 20-7)
The Vikings and Steelers meet for the thirteenth time in the preseason. The two clubs have faced each other 16 times in the regular season over the years with Minnesota holding a slim 9-7 lead in the series. The two storied franchises also battled once in the postseason when Pittsburgh claimed its first Super Bowl championship with a 16-6 victory over Minnesota in Super Bowl IX. That game featured 19 Hall of Famers.
Hall of Famers in Super Bowl IX
Steelers (12)
Mel Blount (cornerback), Terry Bradshaw (quarterback), Joe Greene (defensive tackle), Jack Ham (outside linebacker), Franco Harris (running back), Jack Lambert (middle linebacker), Chuck Noll (coach), Art Rooney (president), Dan Rooney (vice president), John Stallworth (wide receiver), Lynn Swann (wide receiver), Mike Webster (center)
Minnesota Vikings (7)
Carl Eller (defensive end), Bud Grant (coach), Paul Krause (safety), Alan Page (defensive tackle), Fran Tarkenton (quarterback), Mick Tingelhoff (center), Ron Yary (tackle)
Hall of Fame Enshrinement
The Class of 2015 – Bettis, Brown, Haley, Polian, Seau, Shields, Tingelhoff, and Wolf – will be formally enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015. The Enshrinement Ceremony takes place at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton and will be televised nationally by NFL Network and ESPN.
Tickets on Sale Now
Tickets and VIP Fan Packages for the Enshrinement Ceremony and NFL/Hall of Fame Game are on sale now. Great seats start at $35. Packages offer fans exclusive experiences and coveted amenities including parties with Gold Jackets (living Hall of Famers), exclusive events, VIP seating and access and more. Tickets and packages are available online at ProFootballHOF.com/tickets or by calling 1-844-4HOFTIX.