Stadium thread

[dead_poet]

Mondale says a provision exists to potentially bring in a Major League Soccer team.

[dead_poet]

Do any of you guys have an artist's rendering of what its going to look like? I saw one of the other posters said hosting super bowls. is it a dome?

Yep: http://yfrog.com/oej8ehvj

And hosting Super Bowls is a goal. Preferably ones we're in.

[dead_poet]

Looks like Zygi wants to own the MLS team, too. Agreement requires #Vikings to pay for all game-day expenses related to MLS games.

[dead_poet]

Stadium rendering also includes 650-space parking ramp, 450 more spaces below game-day plaza/transit station. Two other parking ramps shown with 900 and 500 spaces in surrounding blocks. Not sure if those are existing ramps.

I'm sure you'll all also enjoy the one-square-block area labeled simply, "Open Space Gameday Tailgating."

Another artist rendering (above view): https://twitter.com/#!/TomPelissero/sta ... 81/photo/1

[HardcoreVikesFan]

This all fine and dandy, but... we still have to get the votes for it to pass yet. I am not gonna hold my breath until that happens.

[dead_poet]

Getting emails/texts regarding roof - plan calls for fixed roof w/ flexibility to go retractable if cost savings allow for no cost increase.

Jeff Anderson on Twitter

Nice to see it's still a possibility, but I doubt it happens.

[dead_poet]

Story: http://www.startribune.com/politics/blo ... 27143.html

[bigskyeric]

I was just chatting with Jeff, he said the new stadium would run east/west. I thought you couldn't run a stadium east west because of the sun. I'm pretty sure it's an NFL rule that only Detroit got away with breaking because they had to use an existing warehouse as part of Ford Field.

[dead_poet]

I was just chatting with Jeff, he said the new stadium would run east/west. I thought you couldn't run a stadium east west because of the sun. I'm pretty sure it's an NFL rule that only Detroit got away with breaking because they had to use an existing warehouse as part of Ford Field.

From Wiki:

Ford Field is one of the few venues in the NFL that has end zones in the east and the west (the others being Arrowhead Stadium, Cowboys Stadium, Sun Life Stadium, the Georgia Dome and Cleveland Browns Stadium). The NFL has a rule against this type of construction, so that the sunlight can not be a major distraction to the players on the field. The NFL had to give permission for the east–west end-zone construction, because the Hudson's warehouse would have required alterations otherwise. The natural light is not a distraction to the players in a day game, because the light only reaches as far as the sidelines, leaving the field still properly lit with the combination of artificial stadium lighting and sunlight.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Field

[bigskyeric]

From Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Field

How did Dallas/Cleveland get away with it? The others are old or fully enclosed.

[Demi]

Where did you see open air?

No I was just asking. Of course it's not, have to build it as cheap as possible.

[dead_poet]

No I was just asking. Of course it's not, have to build it as cheap as possible.

Seems to me that open air would be the cheapest option. Fixed roof being #2 and retractable being the most expensive. I'm still holding out hope for the retractable, but there's probably only a 5% chance it happens. Provided this whole thing gets approved anyway, which is far from a guarantee.

[Rus]

Today, with that new stadium agreement, is the best day to be a Vikings fan since the day before the Finals game against New Orleans a couple years ago. I can't even imagine what a Vikings team in LA would be. It wouldn't feel the same, not the same identity, not the same faces on the sidelines, not the same personality. Like the Lakers in LA, or like the Stars in Dallas. Those locations are so fundamentally different in so many ways from Minneapolis that the soul of those teams just couldn't carry over no matter how many monuments they've built to honor their franchise's past.

Forget about Arden Hills or wherever else that wanted a stadium...the best spot is right where the Dome is. Everyone who's been to the dome in the past 30 years knows how to get there. There's the light rail transit center right there. There's already parking (and there will be a lot more when the old dome is finally torn down). It's just an ideal spot for the most people who would go see a game because they don't end up packing a freeway for a 2 hour drive.

We see that a lot here in Portland. Parking in the Rose Quarter is pretty bad. But our MAX light rail line is packed to the gills with Blazers fans who park at one of the other transit or public parking garages, so it works out fine and they (well, used to) sell out games. However, when everyone in Portland decides to go south to Corvallis or Eugene for an OSU or UO game, that freeway becomes completely congested. I know at one time there were rumblings about shipping the Vikings here, but my opinion is that I'd rather Portland establish their own NFL expansion (never gonna happen) rather than snatch another franchise away from elsewhere.

I think having the new stadium (retractable roof, I'm hoping) right there is the best for everyone, and it's going to be great for the fans. It may not have enough land to build "Wilfland" like Zygi was gunning for with Arden Hills, but honestly...I didn't think people are going to change their plans to do most of their window shopping at MOA to shop at Zygi's entertainment center. Especially if they had to drive an hour to get there. A retractable roof stadium, despite the cost, is what's needed there. Players get hurt more when it's cold, and anyone whose ever done athletics in a cold climate can tell you the same. Playing in cold weather isn't much worse than playing on turf. Granted, you'll have fewer nasty leg joint injuries, but you'll get strained muscles way easier in the cold. If they want to field a successful team, they're going to need to keep that field somewhat warm in the winter. It's just a matter of fact when building a stadium in a region that isn't environmentally highly conducive to year-round high performance professional athletics.

I know that when that stadium is built, I'm going to order tickets for the first game I can get to as early as I can and fly out there.

[DavidKarki]

Seems to me that open air would be the cheapest option. Fixed roof being #2 and retractable being the most expensive. I'm still holding out hope for the retractable, but there's probably only a 5% chance it happens. Provided this whole thing gets approved anyway, which is far from a guarantee.

It's a fixed roof, with a design that allows for subsequent alteration/upgrade to retractable. The Vikings would have to pay the entire tab for that upgrade.

I wouldn't get my hopes up about ever seeing that retracble roof....assuming we even see the new stadium, that is. This thing is still a long way from becoming realiity. A hostile Mpls City Council and a Legislative meat grinder await. Any committee in either chamber could kill it, or simply alter it enough that it all falls apart. Heck, the House/Senate conference committee could well be a repeat of the intense, behind-closed-doors negotiating that produced this bill.

As Churchill said, "This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. It is, however, the end of the beginning."

[purple guy]

It's a fixed roof, with a design that allows for subsequent alteration/upgrade to retractable. The Vikings would have to pay the entire tab for that upgrade.

I wouldn't get my hopes up about ever seeing that retracble roof....assuming we even see the new stadium, that is. This thing is still a long way from becoming realiity. A hostile Mpls City Council and a Legislative meat grinder await. Any committee in either chamber could kill it, or simply alter it enough that it all falls apart. Heck, the House/Senate conference committee could well be a repeat of the intense, behind-closed-doors negotiating that produced this bill.

As Churchill said, "This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. It is, however, the end of the beginning."

I agree. I dont think it will pass. If it does it will be after a ton of political posturing. While its certainly a step in the right direction, so far it means very little. In fact, IMO, this is something that should have probably happened years ago, an actual proposal offered for a vote. As long as the issue has been dragging on, this is the first time an actual proposal is available for an actual vote, and Id be shocked if it passes on the first try.