Sunday’s Super Bowl will be played in the Phoenix area, continuing an almost exclusive pattern of warm weather sites for the NFL’s showcase game. Since the game’s inception in 1967, only three games have been played in northern cities, two in the Detroit area and one in Minneapolis in 1992.
Could another Super Bowl be played here? It’s certainly possible, according to Vikings executive Lester Bagley who is a leader in the effort to build a new stadium on the Metrodome site. The Vikings and the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission are hoping for a legislative bill in 2009 that will authorize a $950-plus million retractable roof stadium.
Bagley told Sports Headliners that as progress is made on the stadium issue, there may be a visit here from NFL officials talking about a future Super Bowl. “When Detroit got their new facility (Ford Field), they got a Super Bowl (2006),” Bagley said. “There’s no guarantee. It’s a vote by the owners, but we would make the case internally that a Super Bowl is going to be a huge economic return to the state of Minnesota. It’s a $200 to $300 million return to the communities that host it every year.
“So it’s very important not to the Vikings, but for the community. … In order to have that, we’ve got to solve the problem (of a new stadium). The facility has to have a retractable roof because we’re not interested in a fixed roof, and the league has got to step up. But I think that the feedback that we’ve gotten has been positive. There’s no guarantee but commissioner (Roger) Goodell…he’s had conversations with folks in Minnesota about the likelihood of getting a Super Bowl back in Minnesota once we solve the facility problem.”
The Vikings have been lobbying for a new stadium since the 1990’s, a span that covers three ownership groups. There’s a growing acceptance of this position: Zygi Wilf and his group will NOT move the franchise if a new stadium doesn’t become a reality. Instead, the speculation is the present owners might sell the club and new ownership could move the team from Minneapolis where the Vikings’ stadium lease expires after the 2011 season.
Bagley praises the Wilf group saying this ownership group will invest money in building the new stadium and developing the surrounding neighborhood, plus continue a commitment to spend resources to have a winning team. “If we can’t solve this issue with these guys as owners, we never will,” Bagley said. “…There may be a point where they throw in the towel, but right now I think they feel confident. … I think 2009 is a crucial year for us. We understand 2008 is going to be difficult (for gaining legislative approval) but we need to move our issue forward and try to set it up, resolve it in ‘09.”
The Vikings have for years ranked among the lowest of the 32 NFL teams in stadium revenues, despite consistently selling out the Metrodome. Bagley said 25 of the 32 franchises have new or renovated stadiums since 1992.