Vikings co-Owners Zygi and Mark Wilf "created an unexpected bidding war Tuesday over the development of a piece of land next to the future downtown Minneapolis football stadium," according to Eric Roper of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. Team execs told the Minneapolis City Council that the city is "not getting the best possible deal from Ryan Companies, which won the rights to build on top of the taxpayer-backed parking ramp across from the stadium." The Wilfs "unveiled their own retail and housing proposal at a testy City Council meeting Tuesday to compete with Ryan Companies, which won the rights in March but is scaling back its plans amid financial concerns and wants to pay the city less for the development rights." They are "concerned that Ryan’s downsizing of its development and potential delays would be detrimental to the entire area." A rep for the Wilfs "offered what they say is a sweeter development deal, which could mean millions more for taxpayers." Ryan Cos. President Pat Ryan "tried to assuage any concerns that they would not deliver their proposed building." He said, "We’ve never gotten to this point in a project where we haven’t ultimately executed.” Roper reported some council members are "not happy with Ryan’s changes and the diminishing financial reward for taxpayers" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 9/10). Meanwhile, in St. Paul, Joe Soucheray writes potential naming-rights partners for the new Vikings stadium "might be getting nervous." Soucheray: "Building that place is such a thorough fleecing of the public that I would think twice in the old boardroom about committing possibly hundreds of millions of dollars long-term for the sole benefit of Zygi Wilf." The NFL is "a poisonous operation right now" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 9/10).
