The Vikings are kicking in another $1.3M as part of “changes they requested that will add six escalators and more than 1,000 TVs” to their new stadium project, pushing the total project cost up slightly to $977.5M, according to Doug Belden of the ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS. With the additions, there will be “18 escalators at the main entrance and a total of 33 in the building.” The new money is actually “paying for design changes that will accommodate 1,180 additional televisions” and it “doesn't include buying or installing the TVs.” Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority Chair Michele Kelm-Helgen said that some “additional costs are expected as part of hosting” the ‘18 Super Bowl and perhaps “serving as a college basketball Final Four site.” She added that there may need to be “additional suite capacity for the Super Bowl, which the team would pay for” (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 6/21).
EMPTY YOUR POCKETS: In Minneapolis, Sid Hartman writes the new money for TVs is probably “just the start of extra spending" as the Vikings are also going to put up an additional $2M to “add 18 suites in the stadium.” Vikings VP/Public Affairs & Stadium Development Lester Bagley said, “We’re going to go from 98 suites to 116 suites. We’re going to invest additional dollars in additional suites, an additional 18 suites that we will pay for but will be a benefit to all the events there. ... The point is that where we are in the process is we have 100 percent design documents and we have decisions to make.” Hartman notes the Minnesota state legislature “won’t put in any more money, so any additions to the stadium, or any higher costs with its construction," will have Vikings Owners the Wilfs "writing the check” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 6/23).
