Minnesota Vikings Stadium Bill Looking Promising

by Christopher Gates on Apr 8, 2010 8:48 AM CDT in Minnesota Vikings

According to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune (via Pro Football Talk), it appears that the Minnesota Vikings may finally be on the verge of getting some sort of a stadium bill completed. Such legislation would take any talk of the "Los Angeles Vikings" completely off the table, much to the chagrin of the teams that have finished behind the Vikings in the NFC North for the past two seasons.

The rumored stadium will cost in the neighborhood of $870 million, and would presumably be built on the same spot where the Metrodome currently sits. In such a scenario, the Vikings would likely play a season or two at TCF Bank Stadium on the campus of the University of Minnesota prior to moving into their new digs. The article does not make it clear whether the stadium would have a permanent dome, a retractable roof, or if it would be completely outdoors. I would think that if Minneapolis wanted to use it for numerous other events. . .you know, like a Super Bowl (which has already been all but promised to Minnesota if they get a new stadium). . .there would at least have to be a retractable roof on the facility. Personally, I hope that would be the case.

If there are folks closer to the Twin Cities area that can shed a bit more light on what has potentially been proposed and/or what rumors you might be hearing on the subject, please feel free to leave them in the comment section below.

There will be a mock draft coming later on today, so stay tuned for that. . .until then, continue enjoying your Thursday!

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Comments

Taking advantage of the economy .............

Money wise it is a good thing . Now they need to set the Lotto deal and run with this . Also good timing to promote a search for our future QB

by gothicpurple on Apr 8, 2010 9:28 AM CDT reply actions

They are running out of time

So I hope this gets done soon.

Vikings please trade up to get Earl Thomas.

by VikesPma on Apr 8, 2010 11:21 AM CDT reply actions

Memories of Outdoor Snow Games at the Met...

Sometimes I wish they would make it an outdoor stadium. I know the modern days of pampered-executive parties, and soccer moms in the demographic would make this an impossibility… but I have VERY fond memories of the couple of outdoor snow games I witnessed at the old Met stadium. Anyone remember the sound of applause? :)

aaahhhhhhhh*whooofwhooffwhooofwhooofwhooffwhoof*aaahhhhhhhh

Haha… loved it.

---
Uff-da!

by Shazbot996 on Apr 8, 2010 12:33 PM CDT reply actions

Loved the Met

Went to several games there as a kid, and it was magical. At least for me. My mom would wrap me in more clothes than the little brother from ‘A Christmas Story’, and me and my Dad would head out. We had two thermos’…one with hot chocolate, and one with hot chocolate and WIld Turkey. When the sun would dip below the horizon, you could feel it get colder, and you could feel the atmosphere in the stadium change…people got nuts. The crowd would get going, and the stadium would literally shake. Yeah, today we know it was because the stadium was essentially a Lego Log stadium that could collapse at any minute, but it felt…alive. Yes, the Metrodome is louder, but the crowd at the Met was different. More rabid, if that makes sense.

The colder it got, the more you knew the VIkings were going to win. And the Vikings knew it…and so did their opponents. It was a home field advantage better than the Metrodome, and I hope the Vikes get an outdoor venue.

"We're used to Favre-a-palooza now. We're engulfed in Favre-a-palooza. It's not even Favre-a-palooza anymore. He's family now."

--Vikings TE Visanthe Shiancoe, on Brett Favre

by Ted Glover on Apr 8, 2010 8:23 PM CDT up reply actions

I can't put my arm's down..........

But I would have to say that yes, I wouldn’t mind a return back to the outdoors as well. As for the “we can host the Superbowl” argument, well yeah, we would get one………and I stress ONE. After that, don’t hold your breath. Metrodome – 1, Silverdome – 1, Ford Field – 1. Then there’s the Superdome, older then the Metrodome yet has hosted 6 with #7 around the corner along with multiples for Rose Bowl, Jack Murphy (or whatever it’s called this year), and the late Orange Bowl. Why do I say that……not a warm weather town. We would get the one and then done till the next stadium. Is it worth all the money for a roof to get one Super Bowl, not really. So yes, I agree, no roof, play it like it was meant to be and see all those that oppose us tremble with Vikings thunder………..and cold!!!!!!!

"If you're gonna shoot, shoot, don't talk."
"You men are only risking your lives, while I am risking an almost-certain Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor!"
"We have clearance Clarence. Roger Rodger, what's our vector Victor?"

by VikesFaninNM on Apr 8, 2010 8:36 PM CDT up reply actions

I think the real value of the roof would be that the stadium could potentially be used for more than the Vikings. A roof (retractable of course) would allow the new stadium to be host to say the high school championships, concerts, media events like Comic-con or a hunting/fishing expo, and march madness. That makes it more attractive to people other than football fans and makes it a revenue machine when the Vikings aren’t in season. The Vikings can still leave it open in the late season games, but again still make it an attractive place for other events. Outside of the roof, I would hope the organization puts another large Viking statue like at the Met, only with a much more updated look.

by Josh_D on Apr 11, 2010 9:19 PM CDT up reply actions

Please keep feeding me positive news about this situation

Although it would be impossible to drag me away from the sport of football, it would surely bring my level of excitement down if the Vikings moved. I’ve enjoyed being a fan of an organization that always seems to be under the radar, even when they are having an outstanding year. It makes it that more enjoyable when victories do come, and even more dissapointing when we don’t win. In some odd way, its still enjoyable that way.

How sweet would it be to win our first super-bowl, In Minnesota. Granted, I’d like to have one prior to 2012 or longer, but still an inspiring story.

SKOL

by PurpleJesuZ on Apr 8, 2010 12:55 PM CDT reply actions

The 870 million price tag sounds promising to me for having a retractable roof as early plans for a roofless viking stadium projected a cost of only 560 million

by Loki The Viking God on Apr 8, 2010 1:10 PM CDT reply actions

I like the idea of...

…building a roof-ready stadium for now, and then adding one on when the economy gets better
or just building open air

From the only TRUE North division

by thewild_viking_twins on Apr 13, 2010 10:02 PM CDT up reply actions

I think it might some play, might

Pawlenty has made a few interesting comments, as opposed to “talk to the hand”, which he has been saying for years. Sertich had to say there are more important things, cause there are. The fact that the StarTrib states Tom Bakk as the source, is huge. Solberg from Grand Rapids, is denying he’ll sponsor a bill. My belief is it MUST be sponsored by an outstate rep. The metro reps jumped alll over the jobs bill, and it turned into a huge pissing contest, hence the 132-0 house vote. Personally I don’t think they can get it done in 5 weeks, here’s to hoping I’m wrong.

by Duluth Viking on Apr 8, 2010 2:56 PM CDT reply actions

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES!

Finally some good news.

by muffin man on Apr 8, 2010 4:24 PM CDT reply actions

Better late than never

I hate to be the negative nancy, because I’ve always been of a belief that when push came to shove, like it is now, that the Vikings and the state would get together and get something done.

The fact that it’s taken this long is embarrassing, as a native Minnesotan and as a Vikings fan. Both political parties have used the Vikings as a wedge issue when it’s been convenient for them, and Gov. Pawlenty has been absent as a leader on this issue. At least with Gov Ventura, you knew he wasn’t going to lift a finger to help. If nothing else, he was consistent about his position and didn’t hem and haw, like Pawlenty, Larry Pogemiller, and others have done.

This is the first bit of good news about a positive outcome to the stadium that I’ve read in some time, and I hope ‘Minnesota Momentum’ is building to get this thing acreoss the finish line.

SKOL…MINNESOTA Vikings!!!

"We're used to Favre-a-palooza now. We're engulfed in Favre-a-palooza. It's not even Favre-a-palooza anymore. He's family now."

--Vikings TE Visanthe Shiancoe, on Brett Favre

by Ted Glover on Apr 8, 2010 5:19 PM CDT reply actions

+1

With a new stadium on the horizon I thought it was time for a new profile picture. I opened my self up for teasing with the early Chilly picture so I definitely think this is an upgrade.

McCourty will do. If the Packers don't take him first... they would.

by VikesPma on Apr 8, 2010 7:08 PM CDT up reply actions

New Racino bill being introduced

Looks like that’s a way to pay for the state’s part of the funding. I wonder if they can get support for it in the Senate and House and beat the Indian lobby on this. Both seemed like longshots before the Legislature convened.

"We're used to Favre-a-palooza now. We're engulfed in Favre-a-palooza. It's not even Favre-a-palooza anymore. He's family now."

--Vikings TE Visanthe Shiancoe, on Brett Favre

by Ted Glover on Apr 8, 2010 8:25 PM CDT reply actions

I think you're nuts...

… if you think the other NFC North teams want the Vikings to leave Minnesota. At the very least it would mean years of additional travel and more painful road games until the league realigned again, and you can’t tell me the Packers could generate the same amount of merchandise sales in the days surrounding a game against the LA Vikings as they can against the MN Vikings.

I can’t stand the Vikings. I root against them every week. But I don’t want ‘em going anywhere. Having the Vikings to hate is part of the fun offered by the NFL. If they leave MN I’d have to try to get worked up about hating the Bears again and that isn’t nearly as easy, or as fun.

What begins in fear usually ends in folly.

by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Apr 8, 2010 9:38 PM CDT reply actions

I imagine

that if the vikes moved to LA (most likely if anyplace) they would immediately be realigned into the NFC west and the Rams inserted into the North.

by vikedawg on Apr 9, 2010 1:39 AM CDT up reply actions

And sadly..

We would all have to become Packer fans, if we wanted to root for the team that was closest to us.

And, quite frankly, I don’t want to have that happen….

by Deek on Apr 9, 2010 9:14 AM CDT up reply actions

That would increase the area of states w/o teams

Especially for the midwest! North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, and Iowa would all not have teams. These states don’t necessarily have a high population, but I am sure some of them currently have a high fan-base for the Vikings.

I live near the Fargo, ND area and they have a high Vikings fan-base.
A recent trip to Sioux Falls, SD proved to have a high Vikings fan-base.
Looking for tickets on craigslist has proved that fans from Canada have bought season-tickets..

If the team moved, they would be moving to a state where they would have to share the fan-base with San Fran 49ers, San Diego Chargers, & Oakland Raiders….. I know California is a largely populated state, but the only fans will be bandwagon jumpers if the team actually did good.

I see it as a potential big failure for the team to move. Not to mention, the players up north would have at least a chance to practice for cold-weather games better (even if they are in an in-door facility).

Long story short, a team will eventually land in Los Angeles, but I don’t think the Vikings are the best fit for that. Is Wilf willing to sell? I know that the team most likely to go there would be purchased by the guy (can’t remember his name) who helped build the stadium.

by Deek on Apr 9, 2010 9:19 AM CDT up reply actions

His name:

Ed Roski Jr. He owns Majestic Reality Company.

He also looks like a jerk

Ski-U-Mah!

by CrazyCollegian on Apr 9, 2010 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions

Immediate realignment is almost unprecedented.

Didn’t happen when the Rams moved to St. Louis (obviously), or when the Cards moved to Arizona. Some kind of realignment would happen eventually, but not right away. It never has before.

What begins in fear usually ends in folly.

by Ted Simmons Speed Camp on Apr 9, 2010 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions