Wells Fargo for the time being "can keep the elevated signs on top of two 17-story towers" near the Vikings' new U.S. Bank Stadium, according to Rochelle Olson of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. U.S. District Court Judge Donovan Frank, who issued the ruling Thursday, "tempered the bank’s victory, however, by saying the Vikings have a 'fair' chance at eventually prevailing and requiring that the signs be flush with the rooftop, not elevated 18 inches as they are now." The Vikings wanted Frank to "order the bank to cover the signs immediately, saying the signs violate a vigorously negotiated contract and amount to 'ambush advertising.'” The NFL team’s lawyers said that the signs "photo-bombed and harmed the image of their 'iconic'" new $1.1B stadium. Frank’s order "merely addressed the Vikings’ request that Wells Fargo immediately cover the signs." The "larger issue of whether the signs can be elevated or must be flat will now be considered." The case is "on a fast track, and the next step is for lawyers and the court to set a schedule." The issue to be determined as described by Frank is whether the signage agreement "permits Wells Fargo’s rooftop signs.” Frank determined that both sides "have 'viable' arguments." He "pointedly didn’t determine that the Vikings’ position is better than the Wells Fargo position, but said the team’s breach-of-contract claim has a 'fair chance of prevailing'” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 1/29).
