MSFC Threatens Penalties To Try To Keep Vikings At Metrodome

Vikings Say They Will Continue To Push For A New Stadium, With Or Without MSFC

The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission (MSFC) Thursday "unanimously agreed to use financial incentives and threatened penalties to try to keep" the Vikings at the Metrodome for "two years beyond the end" of their current lease in '11, according to Duchschere, Kaszuba & Levy of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. The Vikings said they have to "move on,"  though the team added that that "doesn't necessarily mean move away." Vikings VP/Public Affairs & Stadium Development Lester Bagley said that the team "will continue to push for a new stadium -- with or without the stadium commission." Bagley: "Anyone not interested in helping us solve our long-term problem -- like, apparently, the Sports Commission -- we've got to move on. We made it clear we would not sign a lease without a stadium deal." The MSFC "promised the Vikings all post-season stadium receipts if they would extend their Dome lease beyond the current expiration in 2011." The MSFC also "threatened to resume charging the team annual rent" of $4M if the team rejected an extension. Meanwhile, there were "some signs Thursday that the Vikings and the commission may not be that far apart" on a new facility. The team in the past has "resisted an enclosed stadium," while the MSFC "has insisted that a new stadium include a roof to ensure that it can be used year-round." Bagley Thursday "acknowledged the possibility of a roof five times" during a presentation (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 11/20). In St. Paul, Shipley & Alonzo note under the proposed Metrodome lease extension, the MSFC "would not collect rent from the Vikings and would give back $675,000 if the team agrees not to sell the team without the commission's consent or move the team outside of Minnesota" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 11/20).

RISKY BUSINESS: Minneapolis-based Forthright LLC CEO Mike Kelly, who served as Vikings Exec VP from '98-05, said, "There is a very real and meaningful risk we could lose the franchise. It's clear. I did a lot of work when I was there on stadium financing and generally on team finances, and even when we sold out, it was clear that the team could not be profitable in that stadium." Kelly believes that Vikings Owner Zygi Wilf is "losing money on the Vikings." Kelly: "From what I gather from what their cap and expenditures have been, I safely believe they cannot continue to operate like this." Shipley notes Wilf has "recently called on his ownership group for additional capital, and the team's salary-cap number is near the NFL maximum" of $128M. In St. Paul, John Shipley writes "not only is relocation a real threat," but it "seems to be the Vikings' only real leverage as they push for a stadium." The team is "ready to play hardball" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 11/20).