Minnesota Vikings to stay in Minnesota, build new stadium at Metrodome site - NFL News
The Minnesota Vikings, on Wednesday, seemed resigned to accepting the development of a new stadium at the site of their current home in the Metrodome.
The Minnesota Vikings had been looking at two prospective sites for the development of a new home for the franchise. Their plans however, faced strong opposition from the councils and other stakeholders in both of their proposals.
The first option of moving to the Arden Hills' site under the authority of Minneapolis City Council faced a strong roadblock as the move would cost $1.1 Billion and the state would have to raise sales tax to fund the project, an idea that many did not approve
of.
Their second option of moving to a location in Downtown Minneapolis also was shot down after city council members objected to the move, while the closeness of the proposed location to the Basilica of St. Mary Church was not acceptable to Church leaders who
threatened to sue the franchise, if it went ahead with the plans.
Owner Zygi Wilf, on Wednesday announced that the franchise will remain in Minnesota even if it meant construction of a new stadium at the Metrodome site, an idea that was the franchise’s least favoured option.
The owner was asked if a new stadium would be built at the Metrodome site and responded by saying:
"I'm optimistic that it could be."
This is Wilf’s strongest indication yet that the franchise will remain in Minnesota and not move out to another city such as Los Angeles.
The Vikings have been looking to move into a new facility for years since deeming the Metrodome’s revenues as insufficient for the team to keep out with the other franchises in the National Football League (NFL).
The Metrodome site was the least favoured of all three options for the Vikings since the area does not provide a lot of space for future development around the stadium’s facilities and with their other options unviable, the franchise has no choice but to
demolish their old stadium and rebuild a new facility at the same location.
The move will not be without extra costs however, as the Vikings will have to move in to the University of Minnesota’s football stadium for almost three seasons before their new facility is operational, and the site does not provide much space for new business
development and parking facilities.
Since the Vikings require state funding for their projects, they are left with little choice but to make do with what they have.
"We've put some confinements around them," said Sen. Julie Rosen, the Chief State Senate author of the stadium bill.
She added:
"If they can come back to us with another proposal to keep this alive, by the end of the week, then we'll take another look at it. At this point, it's not doable as far as I'm concerned."
Vikings' lease on the Metrodome ends in February and a decision is set to be announced soon regarding the future of the franchise's proposal for a new home.
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