While the Vikings coaching staff and personnel department is hard at work preparing for the 2011 NFL Draft, Vikings ownership is working hard with state lawmakers to find a long-term stadium solution in Minnesota. That effort continued on Thursday, as Vikings Owner/Chairman Zygi Wilf visited the State Capitol to discuss the issue with legislators and also meet with reporters.
Following a busy afternoon huddling with decision makers at the State Capitol, including bill authors Senator Julie Rosen (R-Fairmont) and Representative Morrie Lanning (R-Moorhead), Wilf and Senator Doug Magnus, R-Slayton, a co-author of the stadium legislation, gathered with reporters to address questions and provide an update on the status of the stadium bill. Both Wilf and Sen. Magnus were clear that now is the time to resolve this issue and that this particular piece of legislation provides a good framework in which productive discussions can take place.
"We're confident that we have the parts in place to get this done this session," Wilf said. "I'm optimistic that it will get done this session. I think it's important that it does only because of the circumstances of the home that we play in. It's antiquated and we all realize that for our fans and for everybody who enjoyed the Metrodome for all the years that it served the community, I think it's important that we as partners with the community get this project done."
It's important that the stadium issue is resolved this session because the Vikings lease at the Metrodome expires following the 2011 season. The introduction of stadium legislation was a big step toward resolution of this issue, but it was clear that both Wilf and Sen. Magnus know there are more hurdles to overcome, such as a local partner to help fund the project, the NFL labor dispute and the Vikings contribution to the project.
Wilf said the Vikings are committed to a "substantial private investment" and he also indicated progress was being made toward finding a local partner.
"We're working very hard to get a site and a location and a partner to make this project work," Wilf said. "We're very optimistic."
There is also good news on the NFL labor issue as the League and its players are currently in federal ordered mediation to try and reach a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
All-in-all, Thursday was a good day for the Vikings and for the hopes of a new stadium in Minnesota. There is still plenty of work to be done, but the current legislation provides an opportunity for resolution.
