Vikings co-Owner & President Mark Wilf today said that he and his family "will appeal" New Jersey Superior Court judge Deanne Wilson's order to pay $84.5M in damages to former partners they "defrauded in a decades-old real estate venture, reiterating the fine would not affect the team owners' ability to finance construction of a new stadium," according to Brian Murphy of the ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS. Wilf said, "Certainly we disagree with the judge's ruling and it's something we plan to appeal." He added, "The important thing for everyone here is it doesn't affect, one iota, our commitment and our ability to conclude negotiations and moving on to getting the stadium done and opened in the fall of 2016." Wilson "did not reveal any details of the Wilfs' personal financial situation in court Monday, nor did she rule on whether they'll owe attorneys fees" (TWINCITIES.com, 9/25). In St. Paul, Ruben Rosario wrote of the Vikings' new stadium deal, "This was a bad deal for the public from the get-go and a great deal for millionaires and billionaires." Rosario: "Wake up, Minnesota. There has been no contract finalized on this. Grow a pair and persuade your legislators and your governor to hold a special session and lobby for a much better deal" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 9/23).
VIKING QUEST: The Vikings are preparing for Sunday's game against the Steelers in London's Wembley Stadium, and team VP/Public Affairs & Stadium Development Lester Bagley said that there was “'misinformation' that the London game would be a financial windfall for the Vikings." The Vikings said that they would be "compensated by the NFL 'for an average 2013 home game' at the Metrodome" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 9/25). Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph said of the game, "Everyone in our organization has done a great job. ... This is nice for us, especially at this time in our season, to get away and be in a hotel together and have a bonding experience." In Minneapolis, Jim Souhan writes the NFL has contemplated expanding to London, but those are "notions justified only by greed." Souhan: "If and when a team is based in London, it will face a dramatic competitive disadvantage." It is "not like London is begging for the NFL." Kids playing at Wembley Stadium yesterday "didn't seem to know or care much about the game." They were "more impressed by the players' size than their fame" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 9/25). Meanwhile, Vikings LB Chad Greenway said, "We don't love the fact that we're missing a home game. But this is the schedule we've been given and we're going to make the best out of it that we can" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 9/25).
