A five-game winning streak late last season, an active free agency period that has included the signings of impact players WR Bernard Berrian and S Madieu Williams, and an ever-growing interest surrounding the NFL Draft has the Minnesota Vikings and their fans excited for the upcoming 2008 season.
The addition of core players through free agency and the draft coupled with the retention of key veterans gives the team a solid foundation for future success.
As committed as the Vikings are to bringing a Super Bowl championship to the fans and the state, the franchise is equally devoted to securing a long-term home for the team in Minnesota. The Vikings remain one of the few NFL franchises without a stadium solution, but the team is determined to collaborate with the State Legislature, the Governor and local leaders to resolve this issue.
Working with the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission (MSFC), the Vikings are moving forward on a public-private partnership that will open a new multi-purpose stadium on the current Metrodome site in the year 2012.
This economic development proposal includes three critical elements that go beyond hosting Vikings home games:
- A retractable-roof stadium that will give Minnesotans a state-of-the-art venue to be used year-round for high school and amateur sports, trade shows, community and cultural events, as well as national and international happenings.
- A Winter Garden light rail train station that will serve as a connecting point for the future Central Corridor light rail line and the existing Hiawatha line. This gathering place is integral to the Vikings vision of the overall development and will host indoor/outdoor activities for transit riders, neighborhood residents, downtown workers and stadium attendees.
- A privately financed redevelopment of the Downtown East area that will include office buildings, residences, shops and restaurants. This exciting project will create jobs, boost the economy and bring a renewed energy to this area of Minneapolis.
“The Metrodome site makes great sense for a new stadium because most of the necessary infrastructure is already in place,” Vikings Owner/Chairman Zygi Wilf said. “While Minneapolis is the proposed location for this stadium, the facility will be a statewide asset used for events that student-athletes and fans from across Minnesota will attend and benefit from.”
In order to allow Minnesotans an opportunity to hear details on the stadium development proposal and give them a chance to provide necessary feedback, the MSFC spent the last several months conducting a “Listening Tour” throughout the state. Members of the Commission emphasized the urgency in which Minnesota must act due to cost inflation and the Vikings Metrodome lease expiring in 2011. They also underscored that the state of Minnesota benefits from a year-round facility that hosts many types of events with significant economic benefits for our region. The MSFC received positive feedback regarding a new facility throughout the tour and is now in the process of completing a report to the Legislature on the findings.
An improving football team, a detailed stadium plan and leadership from the MSFC are all contributing to the stadium issue moving forward; nonetheless, given the feedback the Vikings have received from state leaders, it is clear a stadium decision will not be reached in 2008. Instead, the Governor and Legislative Leadership told NFL executives visiting Minnesota that 2009 is the year to resolve this issue. The Vikings will work with these state leaders to ensure the project stays on this timeline.
“With rising construction costs and our Metrodome lease set to expire in 2011, it is critical to remain on the 2012 timeline to open a new stadium,” said Wilf. “Financing a stadium in the spring of 2009 keeps us on that 2012 timeline and prevents considerable cost inflation.”
Much work remains between now and the 2009 legislative session, and the franchise is reaching out to its fans to help re-energize Minnesota Momentum, a grassroots coalition comprised of Vikings fans, NFL fans and Minnesotans from all walks of life who believe in a timely resolution to the team’s stadium issue. Click here to find out how you can join and help on the effort.
In the meantime, the Vikings continue to push forward during the offseason to add key pieces to the roster. These pieces, along with the dedication of a talented coaching staff, have the team on the rise, with a commitment to bringing a world championship to Vikings fans.