Denny Schulstad, the prominent former Minneapolis city councilman who is now retired, told Sports Headliners recently he doesn’t think there will be a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings.  Schulstad, who was a leader in the movement that resulted in the building of the Metrodome, believes renovation of the 26-year-old facility will be the ultimate solution to the Viking stadium problem.

Although the Vikings have repeatedly said a renovated Metrodome isn’t an acceptable alternative, there’s growing skepticism about the likelihood of funding a new football stadium at a cost of nearly $1 billion on the dome site.  About $250 million of the cost is expected to come from the Vikings and NFL, but presently no public funding option such as a portion of the state sales tax has been offered.  With the state budget pressed for other needs and economic growth slowing, both the proposed stadium cost and timing are difficult.

“I don’t think the economics will allow a billion dollar Vikings stadium,” Schulstad said.  “… I think that the site the Metrodome is on right now is the perfect site in downtown Minneapolis.  What they need to do is to totally remodel that stadium for the Vikings to use and for the community to continue using.  This roofed stadium was in use virtually every day of the year.

“And the Wilf family then needs to be given the development rights to develop some retail around the Metrodome which would be the moneymaker for them.  That’s good for Minneapolis because it dramatically increases the tax base.  It’s good for the Vikings because they would have a newly remodeled stadium in exactly the right spot. And it’s something that I think the state of Minnesota can afford, but they can’t afford a billion dollar stadium.”

Although Schulstad said he didn’t know how much a renovated dome will cost, some people will guess $400 million or more.  The Vikings have been adamant that only a new stadium will solve their revenue problem that for years has placed them near the bottom among NFL team revenues.  If plans develop as discussed in the past, Vikings owner Zygi Wilf and his ownership group would also benefit from commercial development near the stadium.

Schulstad wants to see the $250 million from the Vikings and NFL go toward a renovated Metrodome, a stadium that has excellent sightlines for football and serves the community for a long list of money making and community events, but lacks the best in amenities that can generate revenues similar to most other NFL stadiums.  “If the Willf family is willing to put in their $250 million that they’ve been talking about and then they come to ask for some public support for a couple hundred million dollars, that’s do-able,” Schulstad said.  “When they come back asking for three-quarters of a billion dollars, that’s not going to happen.”

Schulstad doesn’t have a financing plan he’s advocating but suggests that new retail development near the stadium might be part of the formula.  A “tax increment financing district” where taxes from the new buildings “go into the pot” is a possibility, he said.

“There are a lot of creative people who are a lot smarter than I am to figure out that kind of financing,” Schulstad said.  “I just don’t see that the state or the taxpayers are going to be willing to throw in three quarters of a billion dollars.  I don’t see that happening.”

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Meanwhile, Governor Tim Pawlenty, during an interview with Sports Headliners last week, said he doesn’t disagree that the Vikings need a new stadium.  However, he expressed no intent to provide support this legislative session.

“We don’t dispute that the Vikings need a new stadium,” Pawlenty said.  “It’s just a timing issue and how it gets structured and who pays for it. …So what we’ve tried to suggest to the Vikings is in light of the current economic challenge– in some peoples’ minds there’s a recession and a state budget deficit– they’d be well served to just let us address that first before we are asked to tackle the Vikings’ stadium issues.

“And Zygi Wilf said he will not move the team and we take him at his word but we also realize that the Metrodome is not going to be viable indefinitely and that it’s served us well, but we’re going to have to find another alternative for the Vikings.  We’re willing to work on that, but they can’t try to jam it this year when they know we’ve got bigger fish to fry and more important fish to fry this legislative session.”

With the Vikings’ Metrodome lease expiring after the 2011 season, there’s no doubt the stadium issue will be addressed more carefully by the legislature in 2009.  Escalating construction costs make delaying a new or renovated stadium a poor decision.  Plus, a new stadium will likely require three years or more to build, meaning the Vikings will temporarily relocate to the new Gopher stadium and likely lose further revenues.

Those with knowledge of the stadium situation believe Wilf won’t move the team but might sell the franchise if he doesn’t receive a stadium deal to his benefit.  Presumably a new ownership group mau then move the franchise that began here as an expansion team in 1961.

Where could the Vikings go? Any of several cities in the United States, plus Toronto, Canada, seem possibilities.  The enormous popularity of the NFL and the small number of games compared with other professional sports makes for a likelihood of success in various markets.

The kicker, though, is that any market will need a stadium offering top shelf revenues.  And that’s not easy to finance.  We know that.

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A team spokesman said there were about 30 Vikings, including off-season acquisitions Bernard Berrian and Thomas Tapeh, working out on Monday morning at Winter Park.  Players are running and lifting weights in preparation for the team’s spring mini-camp and summer training camp.

There are about 750 tickets remaining for the 2008 Miller Lite Vikings’ Draft Party on Saturday, April 26 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.  The event will be in the Winter Park field house with Vikings players and cheerleaders in attendance.  Capacity for the event is 3,000.  Tickets are $10 in advance, or $15 on April 26.  Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com, at the Vikings’ ticket office in the Metrodome, or the Vikings’ Locker Room store locations.

Former Viking Leo Lewis, now associate athletics director with the Gophers, e-mailed information regarding the sixth annual Leo Lewis Celebrity Golf Classic on Thursday, July 10 at Ridges Golf Course at Sand Creek in Jordan.  The classic benefits the Leo Lewis Sports Foundation that helps youth develop life skills.  More information on the foundation and the golf outing is available at www.lewissportsfoundation.org

Jason Kubel is second on the Twins in home runs with three and RBI with 11, trailing Justin Morneau in both categories.  Last year he had career highs in at-bats with 418, home runs, 13, and RBI with 65.  Kubel, 25, looks like he will be the team’s primary designated hitter and could have another career year.  Management has always liked his hitting potential and although he first came to the big leagues in 2004, he’s been slow to develop after missing all of 2005 following surgery on his left knee.

Sean Avery of the Rangers finished first in a Sports Illustrated NHL players’ poll regarding the “dirtiest player” in the league.  Chris Pronger of the Ducks was second while Chris Simon of the Wild and Jarko Ruutu of the Penguins tied for third.

The first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive a free Al Jefferson Coin Bank courtesy of U.S. Bank tonight at Target Center when the Timberwolves end their season against Milwaukee.  As part of fan appreciation night fans can win prizes, including a free trip to Mexico from NWA WorldVacations.  Fans will also have the opportunity to receive autographed merchandise from the players following the game.

The Minnesota Thunder is back in town after pre-season games that included Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Carolina.  Andrew Barron, a former player in New Zealand and an important off-season acquisition as a midfielder, scored the Thunder goal on Sunday.  The Thunder opens its USL regular season at Portland on April 24 and plays at Vancouver on April 26.  The home opener is May 4 against Rochester at James Griffin Stadium in St. Paul.

Burnsville native Colin Achenbach of the Swarm scored his first National Lacrosse League goal Saturday night at Xcel Energy Center in the second quarter against the Philadelphia Wings. Minnesota won in overtime, 15-14, improving to 6-0 at home this season. The Swarm’s average attendance is over 11,000 per game, a franchise high  since debuting in 2005.  Colorado leads the league in average attendance at 17,000, followed by Buffalo and Toronto, both drawing over 14,000 per game.

Following the completion of the fall and winter NCAA Division III championships, six of 10 MIAC schools are ranked in the top 100 of the U.S. Sports Academy Directors’ Cup standings. St. Thomas is in 18th place among 400 Division III schools with 340 points. The Tommies have scored NCAA team points in eight sports to date — volleyball, women’s cross country, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s hockey, women’s swimming, and men’s and women’s indoor track.

Bethel is in 48^th place with 203.5 points.  Other MIAC schools in the top 100 are: Saint John’s (198.5 points, 51st place); Gustavus (192 points, 56th place); Carleton  (170.5 points, 66th place); and St. Olaf (147 points, 76th place).  The standings are considered unofficial until the completion of spring sports.

 

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