Passionate football fans, the Wilfs want a Super Bowl team. Although the state legislature didn’t put a stadium plan to a vote this year, the franchise appears closer to a new venue than at any time during the last 10 years.
The plan the Wilfs continue to support is building a stadium in Arden Hills. The Vikings would welcome a special legislative session this year to pass an Arden Hills bill.
Vikings executive Lester Bagley, who has been involved with the stadium issue for years, told Sports Headliners the Vikings are “100 percent committed” to the Arden Hills plan that would have Ramsey County, the state and Vikings contributing to build a facility expected to cost about $1 billion.
“We’re adamant and optimistic we’re going to get it done,” he said.
Bagley declined to predict whether a special session will be called to address the stadium issue before 2011 ends, saying a decision is up to political leaders. He reminded, though, that the franchise’s Metrodome lease expires after this season, and also said that delaying approval of a stadium will cost about $53 million more because of inflation.
Specifics of a deal between the Vikings, county and state are so close to being finalized that Bagley said remaining details could be “ironed out in a few hours.”
Based on sources Sports Headliners hears from, St. Paul backers are worried the stadium may be built in Minneapolis, likely the Farmers Market site. Minneapolis stadium supporters believe Arden Hills is clearly in the stadium derby lead.
Either the Arden Hills or Farmers Market sites will allow the Vikings to continue to play in the Metrodome until a new stadium is built. The third option of building on the Metrodome site would force the Vikings to play at TCF Bank Stadium for a few seasons. That is not a temporary transition the franchise ownership would welcome because the club will generate less revenue at the Gophers stadium than playing at the dome.