Vikings Reject MSFC's Proposal For Metrodome Lease Extension

MSFC Will Vote Today On Plan To Penalize Vikings For Not Extending Stadium Lease

The Vikings yesterday "abruptly broke off relations" with the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission (MSFC), the owner and operator of the Metrodome, "over plans to play there after the next two years," according to a front-page piece by Kaszuba & Duchschere of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. Vikings Owner Zygi Wilf and President Mark Wilf "sent a strongly worded letter" to the MSFC that said that they were "'shocked, exasperated and extremely disappointed' by the commission's attempt to keep the Vikings at the Dome beyond 2011, when the team's lease expires." The MSFC "will vote today on a plan that would effectively penalize the team for not extending its lease beyond two years." MSFC Chair Roy Terwilliger yesterday said the commissioner was working "in good faith" to help the Vikings. Kaszuba & Duchschere report though the approval of a new stadium by the Legislature next year "remains a long shot, there are behind-the-scenes signs that a new stadium for the Vikings is inching forward." The Wilfs' "latest move might, in fact, accelerate that progress as the Vikings ratchet up pressure on state and local leaders." Minneapolis-based Home Field Advantage, which pushed Target Field to "reality, has recently re-formed to do the same for the Vikings." Minneapolis Downtown Council President & CEO Sam Grabarski said that Home Field Advantage "wants a multi-purpose stadium with a retractable roof that could host not only the Vikings, but other large-scale events, such as the NCAA basketball tournament." Grabarski: "The Vikings are very important to the business community, and so we have no choice but to work with them." Meanwhile, Kaszuba & Duchschere note the Vikings "appear to have figured out a temporary home" at the Univ. of Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium "should the team decamp from the aging Metrodome" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 11/19).

VIKING QUEST: Vikings VP/Public Affairs & Stadium Development Lester Bagley said, "What happened yesterday sent a chilling message to the Wilfs, the NFL and the other owners about how serious we are about solving this issue." Bagley, on the MSFC: "All of a sudden out of the blue, they've chosen to focus on a lease extension rather than solving the long-term problem. We need a real conversation and engagement by state and local leadership to move the situation forward" (AP, 11/18).

OPEN LETTER: The Wilfs' letter to MSFC Finance Committee Chair Paul Thatcher reads in part, "The Minnesota Vikings are shocked, exasperated and extremely disappointed by the flawed 'revenue relief' proposal advanced by you and passed in your Committee ... This action was a cynical attempt to advance a 'proposal' that you know is totally unacceptable to the Minnesota Vikings and fails to address the issues important to both the short-term and long-term success of this franchise in Minnesota ... Come February, the Minnesota Vikings will have only 20 games remaining on our Metrodome lease. As the last tenant in the Metrodome, we would expect to be treated fairly and with some minimum level of respect. Your actions yesterday leave us confused and questioning the future of this franchise" (Vikings).