Minnesota Vikings Stadium: It's All Good, Yo

So, a quick recap before we proceed:

The Minnesota Vikings and the state of Minnesota agreed on the financing of a new stadium last summer.  About a month ago, a 21 year old lawsuit...a lawsuit that was old enough to vote, serve in the military, and drink, mind you...was adjudicated in New Jersey, and found the Wilfs guilty of cheating their business partner on an apartment complex deal gone bad.

Again, two decades ago.  Or, 14 trips to rehab for Lindsey Lohan ago.

Governor Mark Dayton, in an act of political grandstanding, raised 'concerns' about the Wilfs and how they do business, and he wanted a full review of the finances of the Wilfs.  You know, the billionaire Wilfs.  Because apparently, the due diligence the state of Minnesota did the first two times wasn't good enough.

Because of course he did.

Well, in an announcement that surprised absolutely no one, the Minnesota Sports Facilities Commission, after an EXHAUSTIVE FINANCIAL REVIEW THAT TOOK...wait for it...you're going to love it...TWO HOURS...the MSFC concluded that the Wilfs do, in fact, have enough money to build the stadium.  No seriously, here's the pull quote from the Strib:

The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority said after a nearly two-hour, closed-door executive session Wednesday that the Vikings' owners have the financial capability to move the stadium project forward.

Yep, that top to bottom, inside out, crawl up your ass with a microscope and explore the Wilfs and their businesses took two full hours.  Seriously, I've had trips to the grocery store that took longer than that.

DUE DILIGENCE SON!

The Vikings, in turn, released a statement a short while ago:

The Vikings are pleased that the stadium project continues to move forward. Our fans deserve - and we are committed to building - a state-of-the-art facility in downtown Minneapolis. The new $975 million stadium will bring thousands of construction and ongoing jobs, along with further economic activity from stadium attendees who will patronize restaurants, bars and retail stores both before and after events.

We continue to believe that the stadium will be built on schedule and will open in time for the 2016 season. The team continues to work collaboratively with the Stadium Authority on the stadium project, and the Authority's comments today are a reflection of our partnership. We will continue to address the design and construction process, and we will work with the Authority to finalize the Use and Development Agreements.

Let's translate this, shall we?

The Vikings are pleased that the stadium project continues to move forward.

'Bite me, Dayton'

Our fans deserve - and we are committed to building - a state-of-the-art facility in downtown Minneapolis.

The Metrodome sucks.  No, really, it's like the East St. Louis of football stadiums.  All we need is a burned out car on the 35 and a crack dealer on the 50, and you couldn't tell the difference.

The new $975 million stadium will bring thousands of construction and ongoing jobs, along with further economic activity from stadium attendees who will patronize restaurants, bars and retail stores both before and after events.

Dear Stadium opponents: you lost. Suck it.

We continue to believe that the stadium will be built on schedule and will open in time for the 2016 season. The team continues to work collaboratively with the Stadium Authority on the stadium project, and the Authority's comments today are a reflection of our partnership.

Despite the governor pandering to a block of voters that probably won't forgive him for getting this stadium deal done, we'll still finish this bitch on time.  So it's time for the politician's to shut their holes so we can start moving some dirt.

We will continue to address the design and construction process, and we will work with the Authority to finalize the Use and Development Agreements.

You guys...YOU GUYS...this stadium is going to SO kick ass.  You're gonna love it.

So to review: Yes, the Vikings are getting a new stadium. No, they aren't moving. Yes, the anti-stadium crowd still lost.

Now, let's get back to our game against Detroit.