Jul 18, 2008 6:08 pm US/Central
Plan Would Smash, Rebuild Metrodome For Vikings
(WCCO)
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The bold new plan takes the Metrodome field and literally turns it a different direction, facing downtown.
CBS
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The Vikings have not yet endorsed the plan from the Commission, but they haven't rejected it either.
AP
A new plan has been unveiled to give the Vikings a brand new stadium, sort of. The proposal from the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission would recycle parts of the Metrodome for use in a new stadium. That could mean a cheaper price tag.
The bold new plan takes the Metrodome field and literally turns it a different direction, facing downtown.
Computer images provided by Ellerbe Becket architects show a massive renovation of the Dome, blowing out the walls and Teflon cover, and replacing it with glass and a retractable roof.
Greg Peterson from Roseville bought Vikings pre-season tickets at the Vikings ticket office Friday with his daughter Tatyiana. He's interested.
"It's time for us to do something different. I mean, we've been in here since '82 so a new one with a retractable roof would be a great idea," said Peterson.
The signature feature of the stadium would be a goal post view of downtown. The Dome's seating bowl would be reconfigured, and the concourses doubled in size.
There are still many questions that remain, including where the Vikings would play while a stadium is under construction. One game plan has them at the new Gopher stadium, currently under construction.
What no one has yet figured out is how to pay for it. The Commission said it will cost $854 million. That's $100 million less than the Vikings plan, but most of it would still come from taxpayers.
The road to the stadium passes through the Minnesota House Tax Committee, where the committee chair predicts bumpy travel.
"People are pretty upset about the price of gas right now, the price of food right now, the job market is not doing well, our economy is not doing well, and we're looking at a deficit," said Rep. Ann Lenczewski, D-Bloomington.
The Vikings have not yet endorsed the plan from the Commission, but they haven't rejected it either. Team spokesman Lester Bagley said the team is taking a close look at the design. He added that it's urgent to get something, anything, moving.
The Vikings also said that because the lease on the Dome is up in 2011, construction should begin as soon as possible.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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