Minnesota officials and Vikings reps did not reach an agreement on a stadium bill by Friday’s self-imposed deadline, but “backers seemed confident that they’re on the verge of finalizing a plan that will be ready for legislators to consider in a special session -- whenever that may be,” according to Kevin Duchschere of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission Chair Ted Mondale said that a meeting of stakeholders, called last Tuesday by Gov. Mark Dayton, seemed to “shake loose some of the inertia that had settled in after weeks of arduous negotiations.” If an agreement “is reached on the stadium bill, it won’t be enacted until after Dayton and legislators close a budget deal.” The stadium bill “would be heard during a special session called to fix the budget, which leaders hope can be held by June 30 to head off a state government shutdown.” One of the stadium bill’s authors, state Sen. Julie Rosen, said that it is “going to be impossible” to move the bill “through the proper committees by the end of the month.” Meetings are scheduled for this week to “iron out three remaining issues: road costs, stadium ownership and operations, and the state’s share of stadium financing” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 6/18). In Minneapolis, Sid Hartman reports Vikings Owner the Wilf family at last Tuesday’s meeting in Dayton’s office reportedly “agreed to add around $30 million more to the $407 million contribution they made from the start toward building the stadium.” The additional contribution “would be put toward generating funds necessary to build the road around the Arden Hills site.” A second meeting with the same principals “is scheduled for Thursday, at which time any disagreements between Dayton and the Vikings could be worked out so that everybody is satisfied and a bill could be presented during a special session” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 6/20).
TURF WOE: Metrodome officials said that the facility's artificial turf “may have to be replaced before the Vikings resume play there in August.” Based on preliminary tests, officials believe that the turf “can be made playable again.” If not, the MSFC last week “authorized a bidding process to ensure that new turf, costing up to $800,000, would be ready by mid-August, in time for the Vikings’ preseason games.” MSFC’s plan “would have the new turf installed by Aug. 18,” in time for the Vikings’ Aug. 27 game against the Cowboys. MSFC Exec Dir Bill Lester said that the commission is “looking into whether insurance also would pay for new turf, estimated to cost $600,000 to $800,000” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 6/18).
