U of Minnesota officials had free access to stadium suites

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Some University of Minnesota officials will now personally write checks for their tickets for attending Minnesota Vikings or soccer games in luxury suites at the Vikings' new stadium, a newspaper reported Monday.

Coyle and his wife, deputy university athletic director John Cunningham and senior associate AD Tom McGinnis attended the Vikings' inaugural regular season game against the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 18, the Star Tribune reported.

Lapiska said the two women attended the game "as representatives of the office of the president" while the university and the stadium authority "partner on a variety of event hosting bids."

Neither Kelm-Helgen nor Mondale have identified their guests aside from a dozen public officials who have reimbursed the state for game tickets, saying that releasing the names of business representatives could harm their outreach efforts.