You're hired: U.S. Bank Stadium begins to fill 2,500 jobs

They arrived with hope, and many of them left with new jobs. Would-be employees at the new U.S. Bank Stadium showed up Tuesday for the first day of a three-day job fair at which up to 2,500 jobs could be filled for positions from housekeeping to security, retail and guest services.

When the doors opened at 9 a.m., about 60 people were queued up at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Candidates came wearing everything from suits and ties to dress shirts and slacks, baseball caps and jeans, skirts and hijabs.

Most of the jobs at the $1.1 billion stadium are either part time and/or seasonal. There are exceptions: Chicago-based Monterrey Security is filling 600 of those jobs, including 100 full-time positions. All the security jobs are union and pay between $10 and $15 and hour.

Many of the other positions involve food and beverage service. Most are union; part-time jobs don't include benefits. Of the concessions and guest services jobs, only the banquet supervisor position is full time.

In an interview, SMG General Manager Patrick Talty, who books and markets the facility, said the stadium will be a fun workplace with a theme of "Skol Service" that will reward and recognize employees. "It's an opportunity to be part of something special that people like," he said of the sports events and concerts that will take place in the 66,200-seat stadium.

SMG is hiring ticket takers, ushers, guest services workers and tour guides. He said the jobs pay more than minimum wage, but contracts were still being negotiated.

By late morning, a room for those hired was buzzing with dozens of people, filling out tax and background check forms, getting security badge photos, then posing for a celebratory "draft day" photo. The event had a Vikings mock draft day theme. Vikings cheerleaders and the team's mascot prowled the hallways.

Melita Eyton, 25, of Lakeville, already works 30 hours a week as a bartender at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, but she's going to supplement that income with a bartending job at the new building.

"It's the new stadium. It's going to be hot, a lot of people are going to be coming in and looking for a good time, and I'll be there," she said.

Next to her, Andrew Dunker, 21, of Minneapolis, reported that he came to apply to be a food runner, but was hired as a catering supervisor, an upgrade. He's already worked the past three seasons at TCF Bank Stadium. "I know the law of the land when it comes to stadiums," he said. "I know what to expect and who to expect."

Rashid Barkdle, 34, was hired Tuesday to work security for Monterrey after submitting his application in advance and passing a background check. "Security's not easy; it's a very big responsibility," he said.

Barkdle, a native of Somalia, said he's worked various positions part-time since moving here in 2009.

Before that, Barkdle said he had a security position protecting the food supply in a refugee camp of 10,000 in Ethiopia. He lived there eight years.

Barkdle posed for his draft day photo with a purple Vikings jersey with the number 16 and "Gameday Team" on top where a player's name usually appears. He hadn't received his work assignment yet. His availability is simple, "any time, any date, I'm available," he said.

Workers are expected to commit to working all Vikings home games and 80 percent of the other events. Applicants were encouraged to apply online before the event, so some already had morning interview slots.

Laura Dworak, 35, of Maplewood also applied in advance and was hired as a server with Aramark. She left a financial services job a couple of years ago to care for her three children ages 9, 7 and 2.

"I stay home with my kids so I thought it would be fun to be at the new stadium," she said.

She had a 10 a.m. interview and was hired. "This seems to be pretty organized," she said, as she awaited e-mail delivery of her paperwork so she could get her photo and head home. "They're hiring a lot of people."

The job fair will continue Wednesday and Thursday, but the search for workers will go on after that. "We can't just do one job fair and be done with it," Talty said. "This is something we have to do year-round."

Talty said SMG wants to avoid bringing in workers through temp agencies — something that has been done at other venues in town. Those workers earn less and have less control of their schedules. The stadium's ribbon cutting is 87 days away as of today.

The Vikings will play their first preseason game at the stadium on Aug. 28 against the San Diego Chargers. The first event will take place Aug. 3.

Rochelle Olson • 612-673-1747

Twitter: @rochelleolson