Minnesota Governor: Vikings New Stadium Must be at Metrodome Site

[cigaretteman]

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton told Vikings owner Zygi Wilf on Monday that the team's new stadium will have to be at the Metrodome site if a stadium bill is to pass the Legislature this year, Dayton's spokeswoman said.
The Vikings have said they prefer a Ramsey County proposal to build a $1.1 billion stadium in suburban Arden Hills.
Dayton spokeswoman Katharine Tinucci said it's not that the Democratic governor necessarily prefers the Metrodome site. But he believes that the stadium must be at that site if the bill is to pass during the legislative session that convenes Tuesday.
"I can't say this is the governor's favorite (site)," Tinucci told The Associated Press.
Vikings vice president Lester Bagley did not immediately return a phone message Monday night.
The Vikings' lease at the Metrodome has expired, and team owners have said that 30-year-old facility is no longer profitable enough compared with other NFL facilities. Fans fear that no new stadium could drive the team to another city.
Along with the Arden Hills and current Metrodome locations, one possible Minneapolis site for the stadium is near the Basilica of St. Mary Catholic Church, not far from the Minnesota Twins' Target Field. However, the basilica's rector, the Rev. John Bauer, said last week that church leaders do not want the stadium so close to their building and that they are exploring legal options.
Dayton said last week another possible Minneapolis site, near the city's Farmer's Market, is no longer under active discussion.


Read more: Mark Dayton: Minnesota Vikings stadium must be at Metrodome - NFL - SI.com

[VeloClone]

The Metrodome, even rebuilt, will be nothing but another Minnesota project that is out of date before the punch list is complete. Dayton has continually played this like he has all of the cards. He will look like an even bigger fool when he loses the team for Minnesota.

Lakers, Northstars...will they ever learn up here?

[ItsCyence]

Dayton is a moron.

[BCClone]

Everything about the metrodome needs to be replaced. The building is awful, parking is a disaster and it isn't an "inviting" area. They need a different location. I want them around, because I like the rivalry with my packers and gives me a spot to get to packer games.

The jack is a better setup than the metrodome.

[chuckd4735]

Honestly, why don't they use that site? While the Metrodome completely sucks, I always thought it was in a great location. Tear that thing down soon, play next season in TCF, than open the 2013 season in the new place.

[Cyforce]

Must want to stay at the same site to save the cost of Hauling all their Lombardi Trophies.

[mj4cy]

To met is a no brainer. Play at TCF while you build one at the dome site. You already have train access and you won't have huge business loss at downtown places.

[mksmith2]

Sooo...guess the Vikings will be moving after all...Minnesota has made it clear they're not going to support them. If/When they move I won't be rooting for them and will probably just start rooting for the Browns just to see former cyclones being successful.

[clonehenge]

Honestly, why don't they use that site? While the Metrodome completely sucks, I always thought it was in a great location. Tear that thing down soon, play next season in TCF, than open the 2013 season in the new place.

Because the infrastructure there stinks and there isn't room for development...and no room for a large amount of parking that's close and gives the ability to tailgate...

Honestly, I thought the new Shakopee site that was put together at the last minute was a great site...and those guys put together a plan that was 10x better and they only did it in a couple of weeks...

Dayton is a moron.

This...

[VeloClone]

Honestly, why don't they use that site? While the Metrodome completely sucks, I always thought it was in a great location. Tear that thing down soon, play next season in TCF, than open the 2013 season in the new place.

First, the Metrodome site is pretty landlocked. A new stadium really should have a bigger footprint. It will not be cheap to expand the site (have to move several streets they can't afford to lose, move a ton of utilities, move the new light rail line) so they will be stuck putting ten pounds of **** in a five pound bag again.

Also, if they rebuild the Metrodome they are already saying that they will have to play 3 seasons at TCF. There are some problems there, too. The big three are:

• There are more Vikings season ticket holders than seats at TCF.
• The Vikings and TCF have conflicting advertising agreements (esp. Coke v. Pepsi)
• TCF is not set up for cold weather games. They had to cobble a lot of things together for the Monday Night game that got moved to TCF. If it is a regular thing there will be some big infrastructure needs.

They are estimating the team will lose well over 30 million to play at TCF.

Finally, the predicted "if you build it they will come" as far as businesses go around the Metrodome never happened. There is, what, one bar near the building? Does 10 home games a year really support new businesses around there?

The Metrodome site is as shortsighted as the original Crosstown-35W confluence was. They had a workable plan but due to budget and community concerns turned it into a huge Charley Foxtrot from the day it opened. The learned their lesson on the recent rebuild. Unfortunately they can't seem to transfer those lessons to other areas.

[VeloClone]

Dayton is a moron.

How can the dude be in the bag all the time? Every time they interview him he looks like and sounds like he just crawled out of a bottle.

He's almost as embarrassing as Ventura was.

[Clonefan94]

Because the infrastructure there stinks and there isn't room for development...and no room for a large amount of parking that's close and gives the ability to tailgate...

Honestly, I thought the new Shakopee site that was put together at the last minute was a great site...and those guys put together a plan that was 10x better and they only did it in a couple of weeks...



This...

Yup, I love the Vikings, but went to very few games there because the game day atmosphere absolutely sucks and there is no way of making it any better. Without available parking and tailgating, it's a waste. And in reality, a lot of money left on the table by not collecting parking fees for themselves. Football games are expensive enough, tailgating in a bar on game day just adds another $100 to the total bill for the day. I'd rather put that $100 towards a parking spot and divide that among all of us that go to the game.

It's almost like Minnesota doesn't want professional teams in their state.

[isuno1fan]

Heard this dispute might cause the Vikes to move to DSM :)

[BCClone]

Charley foxtrot? I think I need that clarification. Either I'm too young or too old.

[VeloClone]

Charley foxtrot? I think I need that clarification. Either I'm too young or too old.

Charlie and Foxtrot are the radio call signs for C and F - the first letters in "cluster ****".