The Vikings on Friday unveiled their vision for a "sprawling new residential and business district" near Minneapolis-St. Paul Int'l Airport in Eagan, which would be "anchored by a new headquarters, practice facility and small stadium," according to Kristen Leigh Painter of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. The Vikings' plan is an "effort to deepen the team’s connections with fans, while also providing a dramatic entry for the franchise’s owners into Twin Cities real estate development." The team's existing facility in Eden Prairie is "old and cramped by league standards, which, along with Minnesota’s weather, puts the team at a disadvantage for recruiting free agents." The Vikings "hope to increase the interactions between themselves and their fans while raising the brand to nonfans." The facility would "keep the Vikings image visible year-round" next to Minneapolis-St. Paul Int' Airport and the Mall of America. Vikings Exec VP/Public Affairs & Stadium Development Lester Bagley said, “It’s about a broader connection between our team, the surrounding development, the players and the fans." Painter noted the Vikings "revealed extensive plans for a hotel, residences, office buildings and shopping areas that would be built in four phases" from next year to '30. First will come the team’s training facility, office building and small stadium, which also "could be used to host high school and community games." In all, the Vikings "envision 3 million square feet of development that is likely to cost tens of millions of dollars" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 9/13).
DOCTORS' ORDERS: The Vikings have signed Medtronic to a 10-year deal for naming rights to the outdoor plaza next to U.S. Bank Stadium, their new $1.1B facility opening in '16. Medtronic Plaza, a three-acre space, will serve as the gateway between downtown Minneapolis and the stadium, providing a destination for pregame activities and special events. As part of the deal, Medtronic also gets naming rights to the Medtronic Club inside the stadium, where it will showcase medical technology developed in-state. Medtronic in January officially acquired Covidien, a supplier of medical devices, and combined, the two companies generated $28B in revenue for FY '14 (Don Muret, Staff Writer).
