With the Vikings just hours away from the deadline to sell their remaining tickets for tomorrow's Wild Card game against the Philadelphia Eagles, the organization decided this was the best time to push for a new stadium.Though the economy is crunching the country, Vikings owner Zygi Wilf decided that what Minnesota needs is a $954 million state-of-the-art stadium for his team. Wilf and his Vice President of Stadium Development, Lester Bagley, think that a new stadium will be a huge economic boost and keep jobs in the Twin Cities. He and Wilf also believe that Minnesota should use
The Minnesota legislature isn't putting this request very high on their list of priorities. The state is in a budget crisis and can't flip the over $600 million bill that Wilf wants them to pick up. Because of this, the threats are starting to fly.
"It's reality check time," Bagley said. "If we want an NFL franchise in this state, we have to resolve the stadium issue. Time is running out. If nothing gets done, then maybe the Wilfs throw in the towel."The lease at the Metrodome expires in 2011 so the Vikings could go elsewhere with very few strings attached.
The NFL would fall all over themselves to allow the Vikings to move to Los Angeles. Not only would it put a team in the nation's second-biggest market, it will also open the LA area up to the Super Bowl again.
The state has been investigating how viable building a new stadium will be. Right now, Minneapolis is constructing a new baseball stadium for the Twins and a new football stadium for the Golden Gophers. The state, though, hasn't invested a dime in the new Twins stadium and will not justify giving the Vikings a new stadium while so many people are in an economic crisis.
So, get ready for the Los Angeles Vikings in 2012.
