In order to "satisfy" the Vikings' desire to expand the
Metrodome, $226M would be required to "retrofit" the 18-
year-old facility, according to a report released by the
stadium's owners and cited by Rachel Stassen-Berger of the
ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS. The plan, that would "expand the
stadium by 30 feet all the way around," does not say "who
would pay" the costs. Last summer, Vikings officials
rejected a $160M plan by the Metropolitan Sports Facilities
Commission (MSFC) to retrofit the Metrodome "just for
football" because it lacked concession stands, luxury suites
or club seats. Officials said that the plan would not allow
the team "to make enough money" (PIONEER PRESS, 1/20). In
Minneapolis, Jay Weiner writes that the plan "would
increase" the stadium's seating capacity to 69,000, "push"
the luxury suites to 155 and add 8,900 club seats. Vikings
Owner Red McCombs and GM Tim Connolly said that all of those
structural improvements "exceed" what the franchise needs
"to remain competitive on the field and profitable off" it
(Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 1/20).
