Minnesota Vikings set to remain at Metrodome for 2012-13 season - NFL News
With the deadline for Minnesota Vikings to tell the National Football League (NFL) if they are moving to a new location for the 2012-13 season just a day away, Minnesota have decided not to file a notice for relocation.
The Vikings are currently locked in negotiations with state officials on funding plans to develop a new stadium with multiple locations under review.
Yet with progress on the proposals slowed down by red tape and criticism from some stakeholders on the plans, the Vikings announced on Tuesday that they will remain at the Mall of America Metrodome site for another year.
Minnesota Vice President Lester Bagley in a statement said,
"We're making solid progress toward a solution. We're doing everything we can to get a stadium done in Minnesota. There's just no point to us filing that notice."
Minnesota Vikings have been lobbying for a new stadium plan funded partly by the state since the 2011-12 season as they look to move out of the Metrodome site.
The lease of their current stadium expired after the current season and the franchise has been looking to move out of their home since it no longer generates significant revenue for the team while expansion is severely limited by the lack of space around
the area.
The Vikings prefer the Arden Hills site for the construction of a new stadium but problems with lawmakers on tax increases necessary to generate the funding have clogged negotiations.
A site in downtown Minneapolis is also under consideration but resistance by Church leaders who argue about parking problems for the faithful have also led to a stalemate on that front.
The Vikings ruled out the possibility of moving to another city but Bagley has warned state lawmakers that if they want the franchise to remain in Minnesota a new deal must be done at the earliest.
"I think our state leaders have acknowledged that if we want an NFL team in this market, we have to get a stadium deal done," he said.
Negotiations on the issue are set to continue well into 2012.
Bagley though is confident that a deal can be reached this year and construction will begin as soon as a location is approved by all stakeholders.
The Vikings have argued for years that their current stadium is not on par with those of similar franchises in the league and to stay competitive a new stadium is more than necessary.
Minnesota ended the 2011-12 regular season 3-13 matching a franchise worst regular season record under head coach Leslie Frazier.
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