“It could be do-or-die this week. These things don’t stay hot forever.”
Those are the words of a local authority who spoke anonymously on Monday about the possibility of a stadium in Arden Hills for the Vikings. He believes Arden Hills proponents, including the Vikings, need to clarify costs this week regarding infrastructure and site clean up for a bill to be prepared and considered during a legislative special session.
The Vikings, after years of chasing a new facility, want to close the deal on a retractable roof stadium in Arden Hills. The team’s lease expires at the Metrodome after this season and in the background is chatter about the possibility of the Vikings’ ownership selling to Los Angeles buyers.
The public may wonder if the Wilf family could soon be so frustrated by the ongoing stadium debate here and so tempted by the financial gain of selling the franchise that they would allow a purchaser to move the team. The Sports Headliners’ source said he thinks the Wilfs, who are enthusiastic NFL fans, will want to continue indefinitely as Vikings’ owners.
“They haven’t won a championship yet,” he said. “I also don’t think it makes sense for the NFL to abandon the 14th largest market even if it is to move (the franchise) to Los Angeles. The support here has been so strong.”
What happens if the Arden Hills site doesn’t win approval this summer? The source believes the focus shifts next to downtown Minneapolis. Either the Metrodome or Farmers Market sites seem most likely to gain attention.
Based on past reports, the Vikings wouldn’t receive as much revenue downtown as in Arden Hills. The source said the Vikings are likely to offer $250 million or so as their contribution to a downtown stadium, not the $407 million pledged by the club and NFL for a facility in Arden Hills.
Does that kill a downtown deal for a fixed roof stadium? “That’s where negotiations begin,” he added.