The Lambrecht vision for the Metrodome area is to see the facility torn down and replaced not only by commercial and residential development, but also by greenspace development. Lambrecht’s ideas for the area he calls Downtown East include a new medical facility by the University of Minnesota that would work with the existing Hennepin County Medical Center.
In their letter to the governor, Lambrecht and his colleagues reference the lack of forethought and cohesive planning in addressing metropolitan area stadium issues for more than a half century. They have taken inspiration from the Metropolitan Airports Commission, an agency formed in the 1940s to promote not only air travel but to minimize cost and duplication by the area’s multiple airports.
The Metropolitan Entertainment Commission is Lambrecht’s answer to better sports and entertainment planning, starting with the Vikings stadium project. The letter to the governor makes this pitch: “It is time to get the house in order. Between now and the regularly-scheduled legislative session it would be possible to convene a group of qualified and engaged citizens to form the MEC. They could consider governance, operations and financing options. Additionally this group could act as an arbiter for site selection.”
Lambrecht believes with planning from the MEC a $1 billion stadium might be built on the Farmers Market site without using new public taxes or gambling revenues. A varied combination of private and public funds ─ including from the Vikings, corporate community, existing entertainment taxes, and sale of the Metrodome land ─ might satisfy the financing needs.
Critics will have their doubts about parts or all of Lambrecht’s dreams regarding a Corridor-Farmers Market-MEC solution, but no one can deny he was right about the shabby Rapid Park site that became Target Field, a nationally acclaimed urban ballpark sitting on a tight parcel of land surrounded by 21st century transportation and a variety of big city entertainment options.
The man has vision.
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