First things first: No fans of the Minnesota Vikings or the Green Bay Packers will end up in the frigid St. Croix River next weekend during a massive tug-of-war battle on the Stillwater Lift Bridge.
So say organizers of the first Border Battle Tug-of-War, which will be held at 9 a.m. Dec. 29, three hours before the two NFL teams face off at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
“The No. 1 suggestion we’ve had coming from both Packer and Viking fans is to have the lift section of the bridge in the ‘up’ position. You know, so there are consequences,” said Cory Buettner, one of the organizers of the event.
But Buettner swears the bridge will remain in the “down” position for the event, which will serve as a fundraiser for various first-responder associations in the St. Croix River Valley.
“No one is going into the river,” Buettner said. “This isn’t Philadelphia. We are not Eagles fans. There isn’t a jail under our stadium. We treat opposing fans with respect. This will be a fun and friendly competition.”
Ethan Gilmore, wine manager at Domaćin Restaurant & Wine Bar in downtown Stillwater, is the brainchild behind the epic interstate battle, said Buettner, the owner of Leo’s Grill & Malt Shop and Gloria’s Soft Serve in downtown Stillwater.
“He approached a group of us, and we joined in and added the NFL rivalry angle,” Buettner said.
The group, which includes Ryan Nelson, Chip Kraft, Todd Nelson and Sarah “Rah” Norheim, formed a nonprofit organization called St. Croix Syndicate to put on the event. They worked with officials from the city and the Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce, and Minnesota Department of Transportation officials gave their OK to use the bridge, Buettner said.
The event is a fundraiser for the Stillwater Police Association, the Stillwater Fire Department Relief Association, Lakeview Health EMS, the North Hudson (Wis.) Police Department and the Town of St. Joseph (Wis.) Fire and Rescue Department.
There is skin in the game, Buettner said. Whichever side wins, 60 percent of the net proceeds will go to the first-responder associations on that side of the river; associations on the losing side will get the rest, Buettner said.
How it works
Buettner said he “got volun-told” to procure the $1,000 black polyester combo rope that will be used in the tug-of-war. It’s 300 feet long, 1.5 inches thick and weighs 166 pounds.
According to the folks at RightRope.com, the rope will safely accommodate 25 athletes per side, Buettner said.
In fact, the rope has a tensile strength of 42,680 pounds, and its listed “safe working load” is between 3,556 and 8,536 pounds, he said. “That means it won’t break,” he said. “The guy was, like, ‘You’re good.’”
Members of St. Croix Syndicate gathered by the Lift Bridge last week to give it a test run to see how it felt.
“Let’s try it out,” said Norheim, a manager at Brian’s Bar and Restaurant in downtown Stillwater. “Boys against girl.”
“Hey, no fair teams,” responded Nelson, who also is a manager at Brian’s.
Here’s how the Border Battle will work: Teams of 25 tuggers on each side will face off throughout the morning. All participants must register in advance and pay a $30 fee. The minimum age is 18.
Participants can pick their team and pull with friends. Groups of people who want to pull together should check in together on the day of the event, Buettner said.
If the NFL “flexes” the game to 3 p.m. or 7 p.m., Buettner said the Border Battle schedule of events will remain the same: 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Dec. 29.
Can a fan pull for the Packers if they live in Minnesota, and vice versa? Absolutely, Buettner said.
Participants pulling for the Vikings will receive a black knit beanie with a purple-and-gold Border Battle patch on it, and Packers fans will receive a beanie with a green-and-gold Border Battle patch on it.
Participants also will receive a Border Battle lanyard that will qualify them for special discounts at local bars, restaurants and retailers on both sides of the river on Dec. 29 and throughout January, Buettner said. There will even be some special Border Battle featured menu items, he said.
“We’re hoping everyone will stay in town or shuttle back to Hudson after the tug-of-war and watch the game at any of these fine establishments,” he said. “We also want people to use their lanyards for exclusive specials during January.”
First of many?
Organizers are planning to make the Border Battle an annual event to be held “on the morning of the second game” between the Packers and the Vikings, he said.
The Border Battle is believed to be the first event of its kind on the Lift Bridge, according to Stillwater historian Brent Peterson.
“The last time Minnesota and Wisconsin came together on the Lift Bridge was the opening ceremony in 1931,” said Peterson, executive director of the Washington County Historical Society.
The Vikings and Packers have faced off 128 times since 1961, including two postseason games. The Packers lead the series 66-59-3.
One last note: The Border Battle won’t actually be held over the border of Minnesota and Wisconsin, Buettner admits.
There is a medallion on the Lift Bridge that marks the official border in the middle of the river that says “Minnesota 1858 | Wisconsin 1848,” but Buettner said the actual tugs will take place on the lift portion of the bridge, which is closer to the Minnesota side.
“The lift towers make for a better photo op, and it’s closer to the restaurants and bars and restrooms,” he said.
Border Battle Tug-of-War
What: A tug-of-war pitting Minnesota Vikings fans against fans of the Green Bay Packers. Teams of 25 will compete against each other in a fundraiser for the Stillwater Police Association, the Stillwater Fire Department Relief Association, Lakeview Health EMS, North Hudson (Wis.) Police Department and the Town of St. Joseph (Wis.) Fire and Rescue Department.
When: 9 a.m. Dec. 29, three hours before the teams face off at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Where: Stillwater Lift Bridge
Cost: $30 per participant
Registration and information: Register in person at Brian’s in Stillwater or Guv’s Place in North Hudson, Wis. Register online and find more information at borderbattle.org.