UM Regents Discuss Potential Vikings-Gophers Stadium Plan
The Univ. of MN (UM) Board of Regents discussed a possible $440M, 68,500-seat Vikings-UM football stadium yesterday, and many regents "worried that the Vikings' involvement might push the university into developing a facility that's plusher than needed," as well as getting "stuck with the debt if the Vikings were sold or left" MN, according to Mary Jane Smetanka of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. Regent Frank Berman said, "Our guiding principle has to be an absolute requirement as to what financial exposure and responsibility the university is taking." Berman also "wanted the Vikings to accept the financial risk." Vikings Exec VP Mike Kelly: "I would expect we would make such a commitment to the university and the state if we work out appropriate financial terms. It's our intent to stay in the state for as long as possible" (STAR TRIBUNE, 9/13). Vikings Owner Red McCombs said that he "will sign a long-term lease if the Vikings and the [university] team up for the building" of a stadium on UM's campus. McCombs: "This is normal procedure when you build a new stadium to sign a long lease. I'm very happy because politically I think our best shot is to do something with [UM]." McCombs has agreed to contribute $100M toward the construction and the NFL will provide another $50M. But the NFL's "offer expires in March, so the State Legislature would have to pass a stadium bill before then" (STAR TRIBUNE, 9/13).
OTHER ISSUES: In St. Paul, Kristina Torres writes any stadium plan "must address parking, transportation, scheduling, usage and cost." Several regents also "acknowledged that they don't want to raise tuition to pay for a new stadium, particularly after raising tuition in back-to-back years to support research." Regent William Hogan II: "We should never be in the position where we're making payments and cutting sports" (PIONEER PRESS, 9/13).
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