The Vikings owe the Metropolitan Sports Facilities
Commission (MSFC) $1.646M in rent and back concession
payments and team President Roger Headrick said the team is
experiencing "cash flow problems," according to Jay Weiner
of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. Headrick said team
finances were "tight" after receiving a "firm" letter from
MSFC Exec Dir Bill Lester regarding $1.3M in '97 rent due
April 3 for the Metrodome's private suites. Another
$346,327.91 is due on a "variety of unpaid bills." Weiner
adds that the MSFC and the team "disagree" over the
information the team should supply as the MSFC conducts a
"thorough analysis" of the team's finances, as the MSFC
wants to examine the team's books "before agreeing to any
changes in the Vikings' lease." While Headrick said the
team is "complying with all requests," MSFC Chair Henry
Savelkoul said he "wasn't satisfied" with the responses to
information requests. Headrick said that the team will
receive money from the national TV deal in January '98, and
season-ticket money that will arrive later this year.
Headrick: "We'll make the payments when we have the cash
flow to make them" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 4/15).
