Author: David Shama

With only a few weeks remaining in the legislative session, the Vikings stadium drive has surprisingly gained momentum despite the difficult economic environment.  The state’s economic woes may actually be hastening a stadium decision.

With the state perhaps facing a $5 billion deficit for the 2012-13 biennium, legislators might be more willing to approve a bill for a new Vikings stadium this year than next.  Prevailing wisdom has been that the legislature would put off a decision until 2011 because 2010 is an election year and many legislators prefer to distance themselves from stadium legislation, but the state deficit keeps growing and this year might be a more favorable budget time to act on a new facility.

If a stadium bill passes it could be for a retractable roof facility costing about $870 million, according to a Vikings source.  The facility is likely to be funded by taxes related to the stadium and the Vikings, and perhaps hospitality industry taxes paid by visitors.  The Vikings are expected to pay for about one-third of the stadium.

Various sites for the stadium will likely be mentioned but the Metrodome location appears to be the front runner.  That site has existing infrastructure, while locating the stadium in other places might add a few hundred thousand dollars more to the project.

A new Vikings stadium could be built in about three years, with the team possibly able to play one year of the construction period in the dome. The other two years would certainly have the Vikings playing at the Gophers’ TCF Bank Stadium.

Evidence of the Vikings’ legislative push includes a recent speech by owner Mark Wilf at a Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal Executive Briefing, and a re-launch of the Minnesota Momentum Website.  That site claims the stadium project will create 7,500 construction jobs for the state.

The Website encourages stadium supporters to recruit others to join the cause and provides other information.  www.minnesotamomentum.com

The Vikings choose No. 30 in the first round of Thursday’s NFL draft that begins at 6:30 p.m. Minneapolis time.  Rounds two and three start at 5 p.m. Friday. The draft resumes at 9 a.m. on Saturday with rounds four through seven.  The time allocated for each selection during the first round is 10 minutes, with seven minutes in the second round.  Teams have five minutes for each selection in the remaining rounds.  ESPN and the NFL Network provide draft coverage.

Instead of hosting a first round draft event this year at Winter Park, the Vikings are participating in draft parties at 12 metro area locations.  More at https://www.vikings.com/schedule/2010-vikings-draft-party.html.

Gophers football coach Tim Brewster told Sports Headliners that senior safety Kim Royston had successful surgery Friday on his broken left leg.  He expects Royston, who was injured during spring practice, to return “if not for the first game, certainly early in the season.”  The Gophers open on the road September 2 at Middle Tennessee State.  “His leadership will be missed,” Brewster said.

The Gophers’ spring game is Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium and offers free admission to fans.  The game begins at 1:30 p.m.

Cory Joseph, the nationally sought prep point guard who is considering the Gophers, told the Dallas Morning News yesterday his college choice will be made in the “next week or two.”   Don’t bet on him coming to Minnesota. https://collegesportsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/04/top-hoop-recruit-joseph-explains-his-tho.html

Tom Lehman will make a presentation to the Edina Country Club membership on Monday, April 26 to finalize plans for renovation of the golf course.  His design company will provide services for a major project that includes work on bunkers and greens, re-seeding fairways and a new irrigation system.  The front and back nines will be reversed, although the yardage of about 6,860 will remain the same.

The extensive renovation begins this spring and the private suburban Minneapolis course will be closed to members at the end of May.  Reciprocal agreements with more than a dozen other golf clubs, including Interlachen and Minikahda, will accommodate Edina members this spring and summer.  Edina’s new course is tentatively scheduled to open in June of next year.

Edina was one of the few local private courses to gain members during the off-season, according to a golf industry source.  He said the club’s initiation fee was reduced by more than $20,000 and the club added about 50 members.

Here’s a Target Field visitor’s tip: most fans enter the stadium at gates 29 and 34.  That traffic adds congestion at concession stands near home plate and first base.  Walk further away from those areas to find less crowded concession areas.

The Royals have won two of their last 12 games against the Twins after yesterday’s 10-5 victory at Target Field.

The Twins have won each of their first four series this season, a franchise record.

Michael Cuddyer of the Twins went hitless yesterday, only the second time that has happened in 13 games this season.

Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi told Sports Headliners that a contract extension for basketball coach Tubby Smith is being worked on.  Representatives for both sides are in discussions.

“We feel confident we will get something done,” Maturi said.

Maturi didn’t offer details on compensation or years, and said it could be months before something is settled.  He said that’s the nature of negotiations and although Smith came here in March of 2007 he didn’t sign his first contract until December.

Smith’s seven year contract paid him close to $2 million last season and it includes incentive bonuses.  A contract extension exemplifies commitment by Smith and the Gophers to one another.  Rumors of Smith leaving for another school have been numerous since he arrived in Minneapolis where he’s coached two of his first three teams to NCAA tournament invitations.

In addition to the contract, Smith wants a new practice facility and Maturi said fundraising will be the source of money for the venue that’s expected to cost about $20 million.  The location hasn’t been determined and fundraising is in process.

Asked if a $20 million practice facility raises a question of whether such money should be used toward a new basketball arena to replace 82-year-old Williams Arena, Maturi said a change won’t happen while he’s athletic director.  While Maturi acknowledged the building’s age will eventually become an issue, the athletic department already has sizeable financial commitments including for its 23 sports and isn’t looking to take on a project perhaps costing $300 million.

The budget could receive a boost in 2012 if plans develop to stage an outdoor January or February hockey game involving the Gophers men’s team and another college program.  Maturi has seen other athletic departments host successful outdoor games and wants to pursue the temporary installation of an outdoor rink at TCF Bank Stadium that might cost $600,000 with total operations expenses of $750,000.

Revenues could exceed $1 million.  While the outdoor rink is in place, Maturi believes it may make sense to have a series of other games involving the Gopher women, Division III programs and prep teams.