For as long as this whole stadium drama has been going on, Zygi Wilf has long maintained that the only site the Minnesota Vikings were interested in building a stadium at is the site of the former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant in Arden Hills. (Incidentally, the federal government and Ramsey County have worked out a deal to allow the county to buy the property for "no more than $30 million," which includes additional clean-up.)
The Vikings' owner made a statement to reinforce that today, according to the Associated Press.
Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf tells The Associated Press that the team would significantly drop its financial contribution to a new stadium if it is built in Minneapolis instead of its preferred site in the suburbs.
The Vikings have committed more than $400 million to a stadium plan in Arden Hills, north of the Twin Cities.
So, just to make it clear, if the state decides to build the stadium in a location other than Arden Hills, that $400 million contribution from the team is going to decrease.
The clock is still ticking. . .if the state legislature dawdles around too much longer, Zygi is going to be able to field offers from other cities. Rest assured, none of those other cities are going to ask him to kick in $400 million for a stadium. Heck, they might not ask him to kick in anything at all. I have no idea what the state of Minnesota would do at that point, but I can't imagine it being a positive reaction.