Please see FAVRE, Page A4

Continued from Page A1

first pre-season game, which is Aug. 14 at Indianapolis, he said. That, combined with an Aug. 19 move-in date for MSU students, has reduced the length of training camp by five days or so.

Angie’s Kettle Corn, a North Mankato business that has gotten a big boost at training camps, may ramp up their workforce if Favre and his fans come.

They’re also waiting to see how Favre’s brand will be regulated by the Vikings.

Of course, a Favre-related news vacuum from Vikings officialdom can’t stop the Mankato businesses that profit from training camp from crossing their fingers that Favre will pull in more consumers.

“The last time we saw a spark like this was when we had (former Vikings quarterback) Daunte Culpepper and (former Vikings wide receiver) Randy Moss going together,” said Preston Lougheed, general manager of AmericInn Hotel & Conference Center, the closest hotel to training camp.

So far, he’s been getting faster-than-normal reservations but isn’t yet sold out for the entire camp. As of June 30, reservations could be canceled given 48 hours notice. That may change if Favre signs and the hotel has more leverage.

So far, media have been making reservations.

“The fans will come once it’s official,” Lougheed said.

Likewise, Scheel’s store manager and company partner Brandon Scheel said, “It does make a big difference whether Brett Favre signs with the team or not” from a retail perspective.

The NFL won’t make Favre jerseys in Vikings purple until it’s official, he said, but there’s already a lot of shoppers asking when they’ll be coming.

Dave Cowan, facilities service director with MSU, said he’s forming a back-up parking plan to add to the 2,200 paved parking spots on MSU’s lots. Typically, those lots only fill up on evening scrimmages, but that might change this year.

“If there are additions that bring in additional fan base, we’ll be prepared,” he said.