VIKINGS LOOK TO LOCAL LEGAL COMMUNITY TO NAB NEW EXEC

          The Vikings announced that MICHAEL KELLY has been
     appointed Exec VP/Business Operations, responsible for all
     of the business operations of the team, including sales and
     marketing, football administration, PR, finance and
     administration, legislative affairs, Vikings Food Service
     and the Vikings' initiative for a new stadium.  Kelly was a
     partner in the MN law firm of Faegre & Benson and was the
     outside General Counsel to the Vikings (Vikings).  In St.
     Paul, Sean Jensen writes that hiring Kelly "helps the
     Vikings' credibility" among MN legislators.  Kelly, on
     Vikings Owner RED MCCOMBS and President GARY WOODS: "Red and
     Gary are San Antonio guys, and I think they thought there
     was some value to bringing in someone who's basically a
     lifelong resident.  I've got a fair amount of respect in the
     community, and I think that's one of the things that they
     looked at" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 2/23).