U.S. Bank Stadium Superintendent Dave Mansell felt pretty good about pulling off the project when he first reviewed the plans.
Then he looked at the steel structure for the mammoth building and, as he put it, "just went, 'Oh, s---.' "
The challenge proved surmountable: On Thursday, after nearly two years of construction and more than 11,000 tons of steel, he and stadium officials celebrated the placement of the building's final beam.
The girder in question was signed end-to-end by construction workers, team personnel and other visitors. The actual placement was delayed by lightning and stormy weather.