Even as the Vikings “push ahead with plans to build a new stadium in Arden Hills, a third possible site for the project has emerged in downtown Minneapolis,” according to Kaszuba & Olson of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. An informal group of business leaders is “pushing a 41-acre site just north of the Basilica of St. Mary, not far from another proposed stadium location that includes the city's Farmers Market.” Both sites are close to the Twins' Target Field “and on the other side of downtown from the Metrodome, where the team has played since 1982 and which is the preferred site for city officials.” The drawings of the project “show not only a new stadium but an amphitheater, art garden and an area for outdoor sports.” Minneapolis officials indicated that AECOM “had produced the drawings but said those leading the project were not altogether known.” City officials noted that the proposal's “biggest draw is that the city and Xcel Energy own about 75 percent of the site, making it potentially less complicated to assemble the land package.” But the Vikings, who were “briefed on the new location within the past two weeks, were dismissive of the plan.” Vikings VP/Public Affairs & Stadium Development Lester Bagley said, "We've been asked if we would be interested in looking at it. We said no” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 10/2). In St. Paul, Brian Murphy cited sources as saying that if state lawmakers “do not budge in the next few months,” Vikings Owner Zygi Wilf “just might wash his hands of Minnesota politics, sell the franchise and try to buy another NFL team because moving to L.A. would be too costly in power and cash” (ST. PAUL PIONEER EXPRESS, 10/1).
