The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission (MSFC) yesterday announced its latest plan to renovate the Metrodome for the Vikings and the Univ. of MN football teams, according to James Walsh of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, who notes that MSFC execs said they will give the Vikings "all the bells and whistles -- and sources of revenue -- to be competitive for decades to come." MSFC officials said that the $259M "estimated" renovation cost "is much less than" the $400M-500M to build a new stadium. But in order to complete the project "without interrupting" football games, MSFC has stated that the Twins can not play in the Metrodome after the '03 season (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 12/14). In St. Paul, Aron Kahn writes the plan's "estimated" renovation cost has increased from January's estimate of $226M to the recent $259M figure. But the Vikings said yesterday that the plan is "inadequate." Vikings Exec VP Mike Kelly: "It's the same proposal we've been hashing around since the spring, and our reaction hasn't changed. It doesn't address ... our problems. It doesn't come close" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 12/14).
