Meet Minneapolis #VikingsInUK vacation winner selected at Mall of America Field

Gwen Ruhoff of Sauk Rapids, Minn., wins Go.Minneapolis.org sweepstakes grand prize

Meet Minneapolis, Convention & Visitors Association, is proud to announce the grand prize winner of the Vikings Vacation Sweepstakes is Gwen Ruhoff of Sauk Rapids, Minn. Ruhoff was among five finalists randomly drawn from nearly 20,000 entries received since in the past six weeks on go.minneapolis.org. Meet Minneapolis and the Minnesota Vikings teamed up to offer the chance to travel to London, England for the Steelers vs. Vikings football game on Sept. 29 at Wembley Stadium.

The ultimate fan package treats the winner to two club-level sideline game tickets to the Steelers vs. Vikings at Londons Wembley Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 29. The trip includes round-trip air to and from Minneapolis-St. Paul International airport and London and a four-night stay at the Radisson Blu Edwardian. Ruhoff and her guest will get VIP treatment with an invitation to the NFL Friday Night Party in London featuring appetizer menu and complimentary bar along with appearances by NFL Cheerleaders and alumni players, as well as to the VIP Party at the Official NFL Tailgate Party adjacent to Wembley on game day. Ruhoff will share her experience via Meet Minneapolis social media channels and use the hashtag #VikingsInUK.

Randomly selected semi-finalists were invited to the Aug. 29 pre-season game where each selected a key that could open a padlocked red London Phone Booth. Five successful keys opened the way on to the field for the big reveal in the third quarter for Ruhoff, James Lorentzen of Prior Lake, Minn., Syed Hassan of Prior Lake, Minn., Rachel Roebuck of St. Louis Park, Minn., and Erin Lindquist of Coon Rapids, Minn.

Photos from the entire promotion of fans with the Red London Phone Booth that were shared with the #VikingsInUK are available on the Vikings Facebook page in a photo album. The booth will be at the Minneapolis Convention Center next week for more fan interaction while the sweepstakes continues.

OTHER PRIZES STILL AVAILABLE

Vikings and Minneapolis fans can still enter the sweepstakes for the weekly prizes that include Vikings game tickets, hotel stays and dining certificates in Minneapolis. Enter at go.minneapolis.org, where deals on other Minneapolis attractions, dining and hotels are always available.

Participating partners include: Hilton Minneapolis, Westin Edina Galleria, Hyatt Minneapolis, Commons Hotel, Marriott Minneapolis Downtown, Hells Kitchen, Kaskaid Hospitality, Parasole, Café Maude, Red Stag Supperclub, Bryant Lake Bowl and Old Spaghetti Factory.

PHOTO ATTACHED CUTLINE

Melvin Tennant, president and CEO, Meet Minneapolis, congratulated #VikingsInUK vacation winner Gwen Ruhoff, from Sauk Rapids, Minn., at Mall of America Field immediately after her big win of a trip to London to watch the Minnesota Vikings take on the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 29.

ABOUT MEET MINNEAPOLIS

Meet Minneapolis is a private, not-for-profit, member-based association. It actively promotes and sells the Minneapolis area as a destination for conventions and meetings, works to maximize the visitor experience and markets the city as a desirable tourist destination to maximize the economic benefit of the greater Minneapolis area.

Meet Minneapolis is accredited by the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) of the Destination Marketing Association International.

Online: www.minneapolis.org and http://go.minneapolis.org

On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/meetminneapolis?ref=ts

On Twitter: http://twitter.com/meetminneapolis

On Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/meetminneapolis/

MEDIA CONTACT

Kristen Montag, media communication manager, 612.767.8038, kristenm@minneapolis.org, Minneapolis_PR on Twitter.

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