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Nov 25, 2009 6:29 pm US/Central
Vikings Want To Raise The Roof With A New Stadium
AUSTIN, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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Team owner Zygi Wilf said he supports a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings, and would like to see one with a retractable roof.
CBS
For the first time, the Minnesota Vikings say they'd support a new stadium -- one with a roof.
Those comments are coming as a surprise to people who've been working on stadium plans. Supporters say the most valuable thing about the Metrodome may be the Dome itself. Until now, it's been financially self sufficient, because it has year round activities inside, besides NFL football.
But the Vikings are now sharpening their stadium pitch.
They want a new stadium on the site of the Metrodome. The team opposes retrofitting, or renovating. And at a speech to Vikings fans in Austin, Minn. team owner Zygi Wilf said for the first time he supports an indoor stadium.
"Our plans are to have a retractable stadium," Wilf said to applause. "But most important is to have a facility that can have indoor activities."
For the Vikings, raising a roof raises the stakes in their fight for a new stadium. An open air facility could cost up to $750 million. A retractable roof could add up to $250 million. That means a $1 billion stadium.
"It can't be a billion dollars," said Bill Lester, executive director of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission. "It's got to be less than that."
The Commission plans to unveil next month a less costly design for a new, indoor NFL-ready facility.
It considers a roof necessary for public support.
"TCF Bank stadium is open air. Target Field is open air. This is the last chance for this generation to have an enclosed climate-controlled facility. As a community you are better to seize the opportunity," Lester said.
But budget-strapped Minnesota lawmakers remain extremely reluctant to debate a Vikings stadium next year while cutting funding for schools, cities and the poor.
It's bad now -- and new budget numbers next week could make it even worse, according to Minnesota's governor.
"We need to make sure we take of first things first," said Gov. Tim Pawlenty. "And we are going to have a lot of challenges here. Much more challenge this session than I think people realized."
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