Don Becker, Executive Vice President of Real Estate Development and Strategic Projects, began working with the Vikings organization in January, 2007 on the new stadium initiative, working side-by-side with the Vikings ownership and executive team on identifying the best location, best design and overseeing first-class quality construction to build U.S. Bank Stadium.
Serving as Project Executive for the stadium project, Don coordinated all design and construction activities for the new stadium, which went on to be awarded the International Stadium Project of the Year by Stadium Business in 2017.
Becker supported the key executives working on the project financing, sales and marketing initiatives, entitlements and sponsorships, branding and signage, transportation improvements, legal agreements and other stadium-related projects. Don worked hand-in-hand with Kevin Warren, Steve Poppen, Steve LaCroix and Lester Bagley as they managed these initiatives, and in partnering with the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, the State of Minnesota and the City of Minneapolis on the stadium project. Becker also worked with the executive team and ownership on the initiative to bring the Super Bowl to U.S. Bank Stadium in 2018.
After completing U.S. Bank Stadium, Don worked with the Vikings executive team and the Wilf Family in securing the land and completing the design and construction of Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center, the practice facility and headquarters for the Minnesota Vikings. Don also worked on the design and construction of the mixed-use development at the 200-acre Viking Lakes campus, including the medical office building and Training Haus for Twin Cities Orthopedics, and the Viking Lakes Innovation Center. Don led the design, construction and manager selection for the 320-room, 4-star Omni Viking Lakes Hotel opened in October, 2020, and is orchestrating the 800 units of residential apartments at Viking Lakes, which will begin opening in September, 2021. Don managed the development of the 204-unit residential apartment project at 240 Park Avenue in downtown Minneapolis, which opened in February, 2021.
Becker is also a principal and project executive for Garden Homes Development LLC based in Short Hills, NJ and Skylines Developers LLC in New York, NY. In his role with Garden Homes, he works with members of the Wilf Family and other team members in designing and constructing mixed-use development projects in Manhattan, and working on debt financings and equity investments undertaken by the Wilf Family.
Don graduated from Pace University with a BBA in accounting and MBA in taxation and finance, and has a JD degree from Rutgers Law School and an LLM degree from New York University School of Law. Becker and his wife, Julie, reside in New Jersey and have 3 children, Anna, Caroline and Daniel.
