As part of their first preseason game at the new U.S. Bank Stadium on Aug. 28, the Vikings recently sent out an invitation to former cheerleaders, giving them the opportunity to cheer at the game.

The invite went out to the approximately 500 alums from 1984 to 2015. The Vikings established the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders group in 1984.

The Parkettes — St. Louis Park high school students who acted as the sole cheerleaders for the team from 1964 until 1984 — were not invited, nor were they allowed to register, says Parrel Caplan, an original Parkette from 1964. She and her fellow Parkettes are not happy.

"We were the official Vikings cheerleaders for 20 years," Caplan said in a phone interview Monday.

Said the Vikings in a statement: "We appreciate and respect both the Parkettes and Vi-Queens as part of Minnesota Vikings history. We will look at avenues to honor them in the future."

Read Michael Rand's blog at startribune.com/randball. mrand@startribune.com