Will the Vikings soon play their last game at the Dome?

The last Vikings home game of the 2009 regular season is coming up against the New York Giants in Week 17.

Will that be the last Vikings game--or perhaps the last Vikings regular season game--ever played at the Mall of America Field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome? It is very possible. While the Vikings have a lease to play at the Metrodome through the 2011 season, that could change if the Vikings and their landlord agree to change it.

There are hopes that a new stadium agreement and plan could be finalized in 2010. The Vikings, the Minnesota state legislature, and the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission (MSFC, the owner of the Metrodome which leases it out to the Vikings) are all very interested in getting the stadium situation resolved. One proposal is racinos. This would allow slot machines at the race tracks. The revenue would pay for a new stadium, plus other state expenses.  The Native American tribes don't like that, though, because they want a monopoly on gambling in Minnesota. The Indian tribes that profit so enormously from gambling in Minnesota have a significant financial interest in seeing that the Vikings get a new stadium, because if they don't, the goodwill they have enjoyed in the Minnesota legislature could turn quite sour. Imagine if the Vikings were forced to move to California primarily because of one special interest group. Lots of legislators would lose their seats to challengers who would not be friendly to Indian tribes' interests. I think everybody will be on board to support a new stadium.

The retractable roof option would create a world-class stadium in Minnesota at a relatively bargain price, at a time of cheap labor, cheap materials, and low interest rates. It would employ many, and spark new growth in the state.

If a new stadium plan were entered into, the Dome could be imploded as soon as winter or spring of 2010. From that point, the new stadium would take about two years to construct. The new stadium would be built on the same site to reuse infrastructure and save money. The Vikings have indicated that, if this scenario were to occur, they would like to lease the TCF Bank Stadium, where the Gophers now play, until they can move into the new stadium.

Furthermore, if this scenario comes true, the Vikings will be playing outdoors next year. With a retractable roof stadium, they will be outdoors in the future quite often.

Recently, the Minnesota Twins celebrated the end of their days at the Metrodome. Twins fans will always  remember "Game 163," the extra-inning tiebreaking thriller that the Twins won at the Metrodome to clinch the Central Division. That was the last regular season Twins game that will ever be played at the Metrodome. Previously, the Twins had many celebrations throughout the year of the Metrodome. They knew well in advance that 2009 would be their last year inside.

Perhaps the Vikings should hold a mini-celebration of their seasons at the Metrodome before or after the Giants game just in case. This could be the last chance to hold that celebration. The Vikings could theoretically hold a celebration during a home playoff game, if the Vikings get one, but everybody would be more focused on the playoffs at that point.