Menu
Franchises

Former Vikings GM Lynn Still Makes Money Off Metrodome; Deal Will End With New Stadium

The $975M stadium the Vikings "will begin using in 2016 dooms the Metrodome and the gravy train that has enriched [former GM] Mike Lynn for three-plus decades," according to Brian Murphy of the ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS. Lynn negotiated "a controversial contract with the Vikings that granted him 10 percent of luxury suite revenue for every event at the Metrodome, starting in 1982, an agreement that still compensates him 22 years after he resigned from the club." Sources said that the annuity has "paid Lynn between $14 million and $20 million over the past 30 years." The sources said that Lynn has "rejected at least one buyout offer from subsequent Vikings ownership groups and will continue earning between $700,000 and $1 million each year ... until the Vikings vacate the Metrodome, most likely in 2014." Murphy noted, "Now 76 and in failing health, Lynn declined several interview requests from the Pioneer Press." Lynn's legacy deal with the Vikings "has hung like an albatross around the franchise, which ranks 31st among 32 teams in stadium revenue." However, until they move out of the Metrodome, "the Vikings are unable to seize revenue Lynn continues to draw despite not working for the team since 1990." SportsCorp President Marc Ganis said, "It's one of the worst sports deals anybody ever did. ... It's untenable and one of the contributing factors for why the Vikings have needed subsidies from teams all these years" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 6/24). CBSSPORTS.com's Josh Katzowitz wrote, "Sometimes the NFL owners are the ones who get screwed" (CBSSPORTS.com, 6/24).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: April 25, 2024

Motor City's big weekend; Kevin Warren's big bet; Bill Belichick's big makeover and the WNBA's big week continues

TNT’s Stan Van Gundy, ESPN’s Tim Reed, NBA Playoffs and NFL Draft

On this week’s pod, SBJ’s Austin Karp has two Big Get interviews. The first is with TNT’s Stan Van Gundy as he breaks down the NBA Playoffs from the booth. Later in the show, we hear from ESPN’s VP of Programming and Acquisitions Tim Reed as the NFL Draft gets set to kick off on Thursday night in Motown. SBJ’s Tom Friend also joins the show to share his insights into NBA viewership trends.

SBJ I Factor: Molly Mazzolini

SBJ I Factor features an interview with Molly Mazzolini. Elevate's Senior Operating Advisor – Design + Strategic Alliances chats with SBJ’s Ross Nethery about the power of taking chances. Mazzolini is a member of the SBJ Game Changers Class of 2016. She shares stories of her career including co-founding sports design consultancy Infinite Scale career journey and how a chance encounter while working at a stationery store launched her career in the sports industry. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2012/06/25/Franchises/Vikings-Lynn.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2012/06/25/Franchises/Vikings-Lynn.aspx

CLOSE