Stadium thread

[dead_poet]

Picking the location is the easy part. It's getting the state to help with the $1.057 billion that's going to be the sticking point.

The Vikings will commit $407 million to the stadium project - 44% of the stadium costs and 39% of the overall costs.

Incidentally, the emcee would be great in The Office.

Lastly, can they please stop referring to it as the "largest super fun site"?

[denburch]

Jim Marshall speaking now...here comes Bud Grant!

[denburch]

Bud Grant: "This is a historic place...fate has saved this for the Vikings...Bring on Green Bay!"

[thatguy]

Get it done!

CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS!

[denburch]

Zygi has wanted the Vikings to play outdoors since he got here. With the retractable roof, this will become a reality!

[denburch]

Zygi says a Vikings hall of fame, as well as other developments, are part of the plan.

[Juice]

The guy who introduces everyone is terrible. When he talks it's cringe worthy. He probably had a few before the announcement.

I thought everyone else has been great.

[dead_poet]

Get it done!

CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS!

Seconded! And it's even more important now than ever. There's a group out there (I'm not going to post the web site) that's campaigning AGAINST this happening. Legislators need to hear significant more voice FOR this than against.

[denburch]

The guy who introduces everyone is terrible. When he talks it's cringe worthy. He probably had a few before the announcement.

I thought everyone else has been great.

Agreed on all counts!

[dead_poet]

Ramsey County's share is $350 million (33%). The state's share, which still must be approved by Legislature, is $300 million (28%).

[denburch]

50 acres vs. 260 acres. This is incredibly exciting, if it can get done!

[dead_poet]

Interesting that county folks want Vikings to move facility to Arden Hills and out of Eden Prairie if this happens.

Judd Zulgad on Twitter

Vikings don't intend to move practice facility out of Eden Prairie at this time. Could down the line.

Tom Pelissaro on Twitter

[canadaviking08]

Definitely a step in the right direction, get it done Minny, we need the Vikings to stay there. I second thatguy plea, contact your legislators if you live in the area.

[dead_poet]

Told polls show 60% of taxpayers are against public funds for a stadium, Tony Bennett takes a long pause. "It's an interesting question." Bennett's eventual response was basically that this will create jobs (about 7,500 in construction alone) and jobs are good.

Stadium would be scheduled to open in Spring 2015

Tom Pelissaro on Twitter

[Juice]

Outline of the Deal
Total Cost: $1.05 billion
State share: $300million
County share: $350 million *
Vikings share: $407 million **

Cost breakdown:
Stadium construction: $884 million
Stadium: $670.3 million
Retractable Roof: $205.5 million
Site improvements: $8.2 million
Infrastructure: $70.9 million
Parking, site circulation: $87.1million
Site acquisition and remediation: $30 million

* County would also contribute $1.5 million annually to operating costs for public events and $1 million annually for a capital reserve fund (for major improvements). This will be funded by the sales tax increase
** If stadium is built with a retractable roof. Vikings share goes down slightly if stadium is built with fixed roof

Source: http://www.startribune.com/local/121585024.html