The design for the Vikings’ new stadium, to be unveiled tonight, will not have a retractable roof, confirmed a source familiar with the project who has seen the architectural renderings. It will instead have a “beautiful” sliding wall, the source said (Don Muret, Staff Writer). In Minneapolis, Richard Meryhew noted while stadium financing legislation "calls for a fixed roof," the Vikings and the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority have “consistently said that they would like to make it retractable or add a giant, movable window or wall if they can squeeze them into the construction budget.” Sources said that the most recent renderings by stadium architect HKS Sports & Entertainment "call for a fixed roof with a giant, sliding window or wall that opens to the west, showcasing the downtown Minneapolis skyline.” A retractable roof would cost $25-50M "more to install than a fixed roof.” HKS has "previously delivered" movable walls or windows that slide open at Lucas Oil Stadium and Cowboys Stadium. Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak said, “Minnesotans like to be outdoors in the summer, but you don’t enjoy the day by taking the roof off the house. You go out on the porch and catch breezes. If there is a way to do that here without the incredible expense of a retractable roof, I think it’d be much better” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 5/12).
DON'T BET ON IT: In Minneapolis, Jean Hopfensperger noted electronic games run by charities “are slated to drive" the state’s $348M share of the Vikings' stadium, but the initial $35M revenue projection for this year was slashed to $1.7M "in part because of paltry sales.” Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton last week “announced a ‘secure’ backup funding source is in the works.” But his staff said that e-gaming is “still a top priority.” Minnesota gambling leaders said that there is “no magic formula.” But key ingredients that “help spike sales -- and taxes for the stadium -- are advertising, location, ‘gambling culture,’ owner buy-in and the presence of ‘whales’ -- big gamblers” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 5/12).
