More than 20,000 emails send a resounding message to state legislators, Governor Pawlenty over weekend
MINNEAPOLIS (January 12, 2010) — Like all visiting teams, the Dallas Cowboys will soon learn how deafeningly loud and passionate Vikings fans can be. Over the past weekend, Minnesota’s lawmakers learned that as well. During SavetheVikes.org’s Wildcard Weekend eRally, state legislators and the Governor received more than 20,000 fan emails on the Vikings stadium issue.
The message was loud and clear: Get a Vikings stadium deal done in during the 2010 legislative session, which kicks off on February 4. The virtual rally used technology to make it fast and easy to reach out to the appropriate elected officials, even for outstate citizens. With little more than an internet connection, fans could send an email voicing their support for a stadium solution. A number of participants promptly received positive responses from their legislators. “Many lawmakers are now saying that they’re ready to take action this year, and that’s not something we were hearing a few months ago,” says Cory Merrifield, founder of SavetheVikes.org. “It’s very encouraging to know citizens are effecting the debate.”
This was the first in a series of eRallies hosted by SavetheVikes.org. The the group will incorporate technologies such as streaming video and live chat into future virtual events. “We’ll keep putting the pressure on until a deal gets done,” says Merrifield. “They won’t be able to ignore us.”
About SavetheVikes.org is a grassroots, nonpartisan group dedicated to getting the Vikings a new home in Minnesota. The group is open to many forms of stadium solutions and financing, and does not advocate a specific agenda. Founder Cory Merrifield created SavetheVikes.org to be for the fans, by the fans. The group is not affiliated with any company or political organization.
Founder, funder and superfan of the Minnesota Vikings and SavetheVikes.org. Born and raised in MN, Cory has been a lifelong Vikings fan. Season ticket holder, stop by and see him in section 218! cory.merrifield@savethevikes.org 
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During the eRally, we recieved hundreds of fan letters as well. Having read through all of them, this one really stood out to me.
Take a look:
As a member of the US Army Reserves living in St Paul and currently deployed to Baghdad I can now say that if it were not for the MN Vikings and the NFL in general I would have gone crazy these last few months. As a die hard Vikings fan during the season it helps pass the time to talk to other fans of the Vikings or even argue with the enemy about why this is our year! In any case, the Vikings season has kept spirits up throughout this deployment and kept conversations going on what little downtime we do have. I’m sure the thousands of MN National Guard troops would agree – if it weren’t for the MINNESOTA Vikings, we wouldn’t be able to get that taste of home every Sunday/Monday (or Monday/Tuesday over here!). It helps those almost 7000 miles away feel at home and provide comfort. Who would want to take that away from the thousands of MN Vikings fans in the Military currently overseas? I know I wouldnt… Let’s get that new stadium and keep the Vikes going!