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MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Vikings sought an innovative and unique look for their new stadium that could be instantly recognized on national television.To receive public funding, the place needed to be covered, and a retractable roof option was passed over for a translucent cover. Its more cost-efficient and can make the interior almost feel like the outdoors when coupled with the top-to-bottom glass front of the asymmetrical, ship-shaped building.As the construction process unfolded, the Vikings learned that their preferred design came with quite the benefit.Loud noises.The see-through plastic panels that account for 60 percent of the roof, a space-age material called ethylene tetraflouroethylene or ETFE, are considered more acoustically reflective than the Teflon cover over the old Metrodome. The Vikings enjoyed a significant edge during their 32 seasons in that stadium, often thriving off the sounds of an amped-up crowd that reverberated off the ceiling.Now, at U.S. Bank Stadium, the capacity is a bit larger at 66,000 seats. The angle of the roof could also tilt more of the noise toward the visiting team benches. The seats and suites are the closest to the action of any venue in the NFL, at 41 feet and 25 feet from the sidelines, respectively.Id like it to be extremely loud, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. Its always a chance for home-field advantage for us, so thats what Im hoping for.The Vikings will play their first regular-season game on Sunday night against Green Bay. The prime-time contest against the archrival Packers will already have the fans revved up, and the magnitude of the had-to-be-there moment of a stadiums first real game can only enhance the environment. Factor in the aforementioned physics of the building material, and the potential for ringing ears into the next day is clear.Its going to be out of control. Lights out. I expect nothing less, Vikings left guard Alex Boone said. The electricity is probably going to be through the roof.That will certainly be a challenge for the opponent.The Metrodome, as far as the uniqueness of the noise level that youve dealt with over the years, I think has given us a pretty good gauge or standard of what the expectation should be, Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said.The Packers accused the Vikings in the past of artificially enhancing the Metrodome atmosphere with piped-in noise through the stadium speakers to supplement the actual screaming of the fans. Fair or not, fact or fiction, such a trick was hardly necessary then and especially wont be now.I think early in the game, its going to be tough to hear anything, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. You know on the road we like to use a silent count like all teams do, and you just have to figure out those opportunities when you can use your verbal checks and stuff.After two years outside at the University of Minnesotas TCF Bank Stadium, where the franchise record for the coldest game in Vikings history was set in the playoffs in January with a kickoff temperature of minus-6 degrees, the Vikings will field a team well-suited for the new place. The players, of course, will relish the bells and whistles of the $1.1 billion building to call their own.Their run-oriented offense supported by reigning NFL rushing leader Adrian Peterson is the kind of scheme that fits well in the natural elements. A passing attack that has lagged for several years can only benefit from the controlled climate. Kicker Blair Walsh, who missed the last-second 27-yard field goal in a one-point defeat by Seattle on that frigid January day, ought to get a boost from the neutral conditions.Then theres the defense that has been ascending under Zimmer toward one of the stingiest in the league.If youre indoors and its loud, I think thats a big advantage for a pass rush because theyre going on silent cadence and theyre not getting double cadence and all that stuff, Zimmer said.The potential for jet-engine-like decibel levels is high enough that Dr. David Geddes, an audiologist at HealthPartners clinics in the Twin Cities area, wrote tips and warnings for ear protection for fans in an article posted last month on the health care providers website.Force from loud sound vibrations can damage tiny cells inside your ear, Geddes said. Damage to these hair cells cannot be reversed, so the key is to use hearing protection to prevent damage. One-third of permanent hearing loss is preventable.The only damage sought at the stadium by the Vikings, of course, will be to the won-loss record of their opponents.The louder they are, Zimmer said, the more itll help us.That comes with a caveat, though.If we stink, the coach said, then it wont be very loud.---Online:AP NFL website: http://www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL coverage on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Dave Campbell on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DaveCampbellAP Shop Under Armour Schuhe . After a lengthy wait, persistent rain finally forced the postponement of the Nationals game against the Miami Marlins on Saturday night. The teams, and a few thousand fans, waited nearly four hours from the 7:05 scheduled start time before an announcement was made shortly before 11 p. Under Armour Schweiz Kaufen . Philadelphia is 2-0 against the Senators this season and scored five goals in each victory. The Flyers recorded a 5-0 win in Ottawa on Nov. 12 and then earned a 5-2 home decision on Nov. 19. The Flyers have claimed three straight and four of the last five encounters with the Sens overall and Philly has won two in a row and three of its past four tests in Canadas capital city. http://www.schweizunderarmour.ch/ . On June 12, just as the sun sets on the magnificent historical city of Sao Paulo the inventors, innovators and purveyors of “joga bonitowill” open their campaign. The opponent, Croatia and all its football might and will. As opposites do attract we are set for a corker of an opener. Under Armour Schuhe Schweiz . The Vancouver coach and an announced sellout crowd of 18,910 watched in dismay as the Canucks lost 7-4 to the New York Islanders on Monday night by squandering a 3-0 lead in the third period. Under Armour Schuhe Schweiz Store . The 18-year-old American had five birdies in her bogey-free round for a 17-under total of 196. Lee held the overnight lead but mixed three birdies with two bogeys for a 70. The Oklahoma Sooners landed multiple players in this years list of finalists for the college football awards.Junior quarterback Baker Mayfield is up for both the Maxwell Award (player of the year) and the Davey OBrien National Quarterback Award (best quarterback). Mayfield will run against quarterback Lamar Jackson of the Louisville Cardinals for both awards. Jabrill Peppers of the Michigan Wolverines is the third running mate for the Maxwell Award while Clemson Tigers Deshaun Watson is the final running mate for the Davey OBrien award.Mayfield has thrown for 3,381 yards so far this season, talllying 35 touchdowns with a mere 8 interceptions.ddddddddddddSooners senior wide receiver Dede Westbrook also received finalist nominations.Westbrook is in the running for the Biletnikoff Award (outstanding receiver) where he will be running against Northwestern Wildcats senior wide receiver Austin Carr and East Carolina Pirates senior wide receiver Zay Jones.Westbrook has tallied 70 receptions for 1,354 yards with 15 touchdowns so far this season.-- Courtney Schellin ' ' '