Steve LaCroix balked when it was mentioned that his job as Vikings vice president of sales and marketing might be easier these days, but he did admit the team's proactive approach this offseason has given him "more tools" with which to work.

LaCroix spoke as more than 3,000 fans were entering the Vikings' Winter Park practice facility on Saturday for a draft party that lacked one key element: a first-round draft pick. That mattered little to a crowd that welcomed Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen, acquired from Kansas City last week for the Vikings' first-round pick and two third-round selections.

The Allen trade-and-sign continued a busy offseason for a team that signed receiver Bernard Berrian and safety Madieu Williams to significant free-agent contracts. "It's been fun," LaCroix said. "It's been kind of a renewed energy amongst our fan base, and we've really felt that level of activity here this last week with the big trade."

LaCroix said the second payment deadline for season tickets was this month and that renewals are in the 80 percent range. "We feel good where we're at, but there is still a lot of work to do," he said.

Randall McDaniel, the former Vikings Pro Bowl guard, noticed the excitement at Winter Park. "This is the first time I've been to one of these, and just walking through there and the fans going nuts out there, it's nice," he said.

Coming off a 6-10 finish in Brad Childress' first season as coach in 2006, the Vikings had to get corporate assistance on at least four occasions last year to sell out and avoid a local television blackout.

LaCroix believes that a strong home schedule in 2008, including games against Indianapolis, Carolina, Houston, Atlanta and the Giants as well as division rivals Chicago, Detroit and Green Bay, should keep that streak alive.

The franchise will get a better gauge on that subject this summer when single-game tickets go on sale. The organization has increased its attention on group sales and hired Travis Hamre from the Timberwolves to focus on that area.

The Vikings also debuted two commercials last week, one featuring Adrian Peterson and the other Ben Leber.

The other part of this equation is whether the Vikings can build enough excitement to gain momentum in a push for a new stadium. Lester Bagley, the team's vice president of public affairs, said enthusiasm surrounding the Vikings and getting a stadium are two different issues.

"There is a noticeable turn in the tide in support and the feeling of where this club is headed," Bagley said. "That's going to help everybody. Tickets, marketing, the football team, obviously. Regarding the stadium issues, that still has to be solved in the trenches at the State Capitol."