At its monthly meeting tomorrow the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission will hear results of the Metrodome Next study announcing new stadium costs and design, plus a proposed stadium schedule. The announcement follows 18 months of study by two companies, HKS, Inc. and Mortenson Construction.
An MSFC spokesman told Sports Headliners the report will have a reduced stadium cost from the $950 million that’s been used in the past but he didn’t offer a figure. He said the retractable roof stadium will be “state of the art,” comparing favorably with other new NFL facilities. With a nod to the environment, he said it will also be the “greenest” in the NFL. The facility will be located on the Metrodome site.
A Vikings spokesman said neither team executives nor ownership will attend the meeting tomorrow. Vikings leaders aren’t happy about a commission resolution that in exchange for extending the Metrodome lease by two years the Vikings would receive reduced stadium expenses for playoff games.
The Vikings (11-2) can clinch their second consecutive NFC North championship on Sunday night in Carolina but the team has the ultimate prize in mind. “You gotta go win every single game because our goal is not just to make the Super Bowl but to win the Super Bowl,” defensive end Brian Robison told Sports Headliners.
On Sunday night quarterback Brett Favre can become the Vikings record holder for the most 100+ rated games in a single season. Favre has eight games this season with a 100+ rating (tied all-time with Daunte Culpepper).
Near the end of Sunday’s 30-10 win over Cincinnati, defensive tackle Pat Williams, 37, and quarterback Brett Favre, 40, were having a good laugh on the sidelines. Williams said the two were talking about how the Vikings had returned to playing “smash mouth” football after a loss to Arizona last week. “We were just laughing about it,” Williams said. “Like a couple old guys do.”
Vikings defensive tackle Jared Allen said that even a win late in the season (game No. 13) builds team confidence. “Absolutely,” he said. “This is just how we expect to play. Our expectations are high. You always build confidence with every win.”
Linebacker Ben Leber, who has been with the Vikings since the 2006 season and was on a playoff team in San Diego before that, was asked if this is the best Vikings team he has played for. “Certainly,” he answered. “It’s probably the best team I’ve played on in my career both (in) San Diego and here. It’s just the way these guys’ attitude is during the week and on game day. The way we can go out and perform. It’s a heck of a fun…team to play on.”
Rob Neyer of ESPN.com named his top 100 baseball players of this decade and ranked Joe Mauer No. 40. Former Twins Johan Santana, David Ortiz, Torii Hunter, Corey Koskie, Brad Radke and Kenny Rogers ranked No. 10, 53, 70 , 92, 93 and 99 respectively. https://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?id=4740695