Vikings Owner Zygi Wilf on Tuesday "made it clear that while he still prefers the Arden Hills site and considers it the best option, right now he just wants a stadium bill passed, whether the stadium is located in Arden Hills or one of a few Minneapolis sites," according to Sid Hartman of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. Wilf said, "Our main goal is making sure that the site is in Minnesota and the Twin Cities area. Right now we are evaluating all of the potential possibilities but, like I said, we are very close to getting something done. I'm sure details will unfold over the next several weeks and months." Wilf added that he "believes the stadium issue is a priority of many key members of the Legislature." He said, "We're closer than ever on making it happen" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 1/5). Meanwhile, in St. Paul, Brian Murphy reports the Vikings and Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission are "scheduled to meet next week to negotiate a truce in their Metrodome lease dispute." The Vikings "insist it expires Feb. 1, making them a franchise free agent," but their landlord "says not so fast." Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission Chair Ted Mondale "contends that last year's roof collapse triggered a clause that extends the lease another year." He said that he is "optimistic the lease would not derail a stadium bill" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 1/5).
ANTICIPATING CHANGE: In Charlotte, Tom Sorensen in a front-page piece notes NFL Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson "anticipates that Bank of America Stadium will change." The Panthers "hired Kansas City-based Populous, formerly HOK Sport, to develop a plan to modernize the stadium, which HOK designed." When asked how the Panthers would pay for changes to the privately owned stadium, Richardson said that "some money is available through the NFL." Asked whether public financing is a possibility, he said that the city is "aware of the team's plan." But Richardson added that the Panthers have "not asked Charlotte for help paying for it" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 1/5).
