Apr 25, 2006 8:54 am US/Central
Good Questions About The Metrodome
by Ben Tracy
Minneapolis (WCCO) ―
The Minnesota House may vote this week on a funding proposal for a new Minnesota Twins outdoor stadium. The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Minnesota Vikings are also looking to leave the 24-year-old Metrodome behind.
That has prompted many "Good Questions" about our current sports haven.
Steve in Minnetonka, Minn. wanted to know about the owner of the Metrodome.
"The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission which was created in 1977 and built the Metrodome," said Bill Lester, the commission's executive director.
The MSFC is made up of seven members appointed by the Minneapolis City Council and the Governor. The commission has operated the dome since it opened in 1982.
"It was built on time and on budget," said Lester.
The $75 million Metrodome was paid for by the state and a Minneapolis hotel tax which was collected until 1984. After that, the dome used its own revenue to pay off its debt.
While the Metrodome may no longer be our field of dreams, it is where many of them came true.
"This is where Kirby Puckett played all 12 years of his career," said Lester. "This is where those two world championships occurred."
Guy in Minneapolis wanted to know what's wrong with the dome.
"The building itself could function forever," said Lester. "The real cutting issue is the ability to generate money."
Professional sports teams want more revenue to cover costs, especially player salaries. The Metrodome's lack of luxury seating, restaurants and other amenities make that difficult.
Mary from North St. Paul, Minn. wondered what would happen to the dome if we build these new stadiums.
The stadium sits on 20 acres of prime real estate in downtown Minneapolis, complete with its own light rail stop.
"You just don't find a developable parcel of land like that in or near a downtown core," said Lester.
Residential and commercial development is expected to follow if the Metrodome is ever torn down.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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