Vikings Face Similarities To Twins In Quest For New Facility

Vikings Pushing Hard For Stadium Legislation, But Will Not Endorse MSFC's Plan

Building momentum for a new stadium "has been tough for the Vikings, as it was for the Twins before" the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners "came up with a plan that would raise millions in public funds without tax legislation," according to John Shipley of the ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS. The Vikings are "pushing hard for stadium legislation" in the Minnesota state Legislature's February session, and they "even have a design and budget" provided by the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission (MSFC). But since the Vikings won't endorse the MSFC plan, it is "impossible to estimate what the public's contribution might be." The team has "pledged between [$200-250M] on a stadium that could cost as much as" $950M. Shipley notes the Vikings "want a new stadium for the same reason the Twins wanted one -- to make more money." Twins Sports Inc. President Jerry Bell said the Twins wanted to "step up the business, and obviously the biggest contribution to that has been Target Field." Bell noted that Twins GM Bill Smith "already has more money to spend on players," and that is because the team, "which started last season with a payroll of about $63[M], will make more money in its own park, keeping all revenue from seats, concessions, naming rights luxury suites, etc." Shipley notes at the Metrodome, that money was "shared with" the MSFC. The Vikings "say they need the same stability, and have implied that without a new stadium, the team is destined to fail in Minnesota" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 1/5).

TOUTING THE BENEFITS: In an Op-Ed piece for the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, MSFC Chair Roy Terwilliger wrote the commission over the past two years "has had a formal working relationship with the Vikings," and the two sides have "studied every possible scenario regarding the future of the Metrodome." Terwilliger: "The best location to build a new home for the Minnesota Vikings is on the current site of the Metrodome. The surrounding infrastructure is worth hundreds of millions of dollars and could not be replicated anywhere else. ... The proposed design will create the most environmentally responsible and efficient stadium in the world." Terwilliger noted the state's "reported budget deficits complicate the discussion of new stadium alternatives," but the MSFC "believes that these difficulties should be met head-on." The MSFC "in the days and weeks ahead" will "be meeting with concerned political and private-sector leaders who are willing to ask tough questions, seek creative financing solutions and establish a winning plan to build a new stadium on the Metrodome site." Terwilliger: "We are moving ahead with faith that the Vikings will come back to the table to strengthen this longstanding, mutual goal" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 1/4).

RIGHT ON TARGET: MLB.com's Kelly Thesier reported the Twins were "symbolically given the keys" to Target Field by Mortensen Construction yesterday, marking the team's "first official day of operation in its new $550[M] ballpark." The "major work on the ballpark was completed in 28 months," which was "more than two months ahead of the scheduled completion date in March." Mortensen Construction's Dan Mehls said that finishing two months ahead of schedule was "'absolutely unheard of' for this type of project in professional sports" (MLB.com, 1/4).