Vikings Stadium

In May 2006, the Vikings were left out of legislation that provided funding for stadiums for the Minnesota Twins and the University of Minnesota. It appeared that the Vikings had reached an agreement  to have a new stadium built when the team announced that they had reached an agreement with Anoka County to build a new stadium in September 2005.  The team and county had announced plans to build a stadium as part of a new development project in Blaine, MN. Plans called for a $675 million, 68,000 retractable roof stadium. The stadium would have been built as part of retail shops, office buildings, natural preservers and private residences. Unlike the Vikings current home, the Metrodome, the new facility would have had 8,000 club seats and 150 luxury suites. Additional features of the stadium complex would have included on site parking, a Vikings Hall of Fame, merchandise store and a Vikings themed restaurant. The stadium complex would have been publicly owned by a future stadium authority and the Vikings would have operated it.

However, in November 2006 the Vikings and Anoka County parted ways and the team officially announced there preference for a new stadium in downtown Minneapolis. The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission has now hired an urban planner to conduct a revitalization study of the east side of downtown Minneapolis. In April 2007, the Vikings proposed that a new retractable roof stadium be constructed on the site of their current home, the Metrodome. Furthermore the team has began buying land surrounding the Metrodome. The proposed downtown stadium would feature a retractable roof and removable glass windows to the west that would allow for views of the downtown skyline. The main seating tiers would be on both sides of the field allowing fans views that cannot be found at the Metrodome. At a cost of nearly $1 billion the stadium would seat nearly 70,000 fans and could open in 2012. The construction of this facility is contingent on funding from the Minnesota State Legislature. Both the Vikings and the Minnesota Sports Commission hope to get the State Legislature to approve this project. In July 2008 the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission unveiled concepts plans for a $853 million retractable roof stadium for the Vikings. It would be built on the same site as the Metrodome and reuse the stadium foundation and a small part of the seating bowl. By doing this it would save an estimated $100 million. The stadium would have more seats, wider concourses and more luxury seats. State officials have said they would not support public financing for a new stadium. The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission intends to have an architect and contractor in place by January 2009 when the state legislature meets.