Vikings Stadium

In May 2006, the Vikings were left out of legislation that provided funding for stadiums for the Minnesota Twins and the University of Minnesota. It appeared that the Vikings had reached an agreement  to have a new stadium built when the team announced that they had reached an agreement with Anoka County to build a new stadium in September 2005. The team and county had announced plans to build a stadium as part of a new development project in Blaine, MN. Plans called for a $675 million, 68,000 retractable roof stadium. The stadium would have been built as part of retail shops, office buildings, natural preservers and private residences. Unlike the Vikings current home, the Metrodome, the new facility would have had 8,000 club seats and 150 luxury suites. Additional features of the stadium complex would have included on site parking, a Vikings Hall of Fame, merchandise store and a Vikings themed restaurant. The stadium complex would have been publicly owned by a future stadium authority and the Vikings would have operated it.

However, in November 2006 the Vikings and Anoka County parted ways and the team officially announced there preference for a new stadium in downtown Minneapolis. The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission has now hired an urban planner to conduct a revitalization study of the east side of downtown Minneapolis. In April 2007, the Vikings proposed that a new retractable roof stadium be constructed on the site of their current home, the Metrodome. Furthermore the team has began buying land surrounding the Metrodome. The proposed downtown stadium would feature a retractable roof and removable glass windows to the west that would allow for views of the downtown skyline. The main seating tiers would be on both sides of the field allowing fans views that cannot be found at the Metrodome. At a cost of nearly $1 billion the stadium would seat nearly 70,000 fans and could open in 2012. The construction of this facility is contingent on funding from the Minnesota State Legislature. Both the Vikings and the Minnesota Sports Commission hope to get the State Legislature to approve this project. In July 2008 the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission unveiled concepts plans for a $853 million retractable roof stadium for the Vikings. It would be built on the same site as the Metrodome and reuse the stadium foundation and a small part of the seating bowl. By doing this it would save an estimated $100 million. The stadium would have more seats, wider concourses and more luxury seats. State officials have said they would not support public financing for a new stadium.

The Vikings 30 year lease at the Metrodome runs out after the 2011 lease. However, the team has publicly stated that they will not play at the Metrodome past 2011. In December 2009, the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission unveiled plans, dubbed Metrodome Next, to be built on the same site of the Vikings current home. This proposal would seat 65,000 fans, 7,500 club seats and 148 luxury suites. It would feature a retractable roof, with the covering similar to the fabric used at the Metrodome. The roof would be held up with cables rather than air. A trapezoidal-shaped transparent roof would slide off the top and down onto the side of the building when the weather was nice enough to go open-air. Massive windows would allow fans views of the downtown Minneapolis skyline. Under this proposal, the Metrodome would be demolished after the 2010 season. The Vikings would play the next two seasons at TCF Bank Stadium, home of the Golden Gophers (NCAA). Vikings officials have not endorsed this plan, keeping their options open to other sites. The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission hopes to push a stadium bill into the state's legislative session in 2010.