Done Deal: Minnesota Vikings and State officials agree on new stadium - NFL News
Minnesota Vikings have finally got their new stadium as sources reveal that talks between the state, city council officials and the franchise have reached an agreement to build a new Arena by 2016.
Details of the deal will be revealed in a news conference scheduled for Thursday at the State Legislature and more information on the deal will be shared with the public.
According to reports, all parties have agreed to build a new stadium close to the Vikings current home of the Metrodome and the new multi-million dollar project is expected to be completed by 2016.
Till that date, the Vikings will continue playing at the Metrodome before shifting for a year to the University of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium.
The deal has been on the negotiating table for most of the year with details over cost division and funding being the main stumbling blocks.
However, now all parties have agreed on the plan and a bill will be put on for the vote by state officials to finalise the agreement.
Both the state and city council along with the Vikings will share the funding for the new stadium which is expected to cost $ 975 million.
The Vikings had been lobbying for a new home for a considerable period as revenues from the Metrodome paled in comparison to other similar stadiums operated by rival franchises.
They also argued that expansion opportunities were severely limited around the Metrodome stadium and hence a new stadium was the only option left.
The Vikings had previously argued for their favoured location in Arden Hills but issues with lawmakers over the site and funding problems made the proposal unviable.
Now, with only legal formalities remaining to approve the deal the Vikings have finally closed the long running saga.
Minnesota Vikings ended the 2011-12 season with a poor 3-13 record as the team struggled with injuries in offence.
Both star running back Adrian Peterson and quarterback Christian Ponder suffered from knocks throughout the season and with their two biggest weapons in offence unavailable Minnesota just about managed to equal their worst season franchise record in history.
Now Vikings fans will just need to wait for the press conference to confirm that the deal is done.
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