Ramsey County officials said that they have "struck a $28.5 million deal with the military to buy the Arden Hills site of a proposed $1.1 billion" Vikings stadium, according to Frederick Melo of the ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS. The purchase price reportedly "includes cleanup costs and squelches speculation that the cost and cleanup of the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant could run as high as $70 million." Vikings Dir of Public Affairs Jeff Anderson said these are "positive developments on the site that we think is the ideal site for the stadium project" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 11/11). Vikings Owner Zygi Wilf Thursday said that the team would "spend significantly less than the $400 million it has pledged to help build a new stadium if it's not located on the team's preferred site in suburban St. Paul." Wilf: "We're committed to the Arden Hills site for what it brings to the fans, but we're also committed to investing over $400 million in specific to the Arden Hills site for the experiences that everyone can get from Arden Hills. Any other location besides Arden Hills wouldn't justify near that level of commitment" (AP, 11/10).
