A preliminary agreement has been reached to build a US$ 975 million stadium for the National Football League’s Minnesota Vikings in downtown Minneapolis, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
The newspaper cited numerous sources in reporting the development, which would involve the team committing $ 427 million towards the project, the city contributing $ 150 million and the state providing $ 398 million. The city would also inject $ 180 million in operating costs over the next 30 years. A full agreement is expected to be finalised this week before the city and state votes on the venture.
Senate Majority Leader David Senjem said a vote on the stadium funding package could be reached “with the two-month framework” before the legislature adjourns in late April. The project would allow the Vikings to remain in Minnesota, with the new stadium set to be built next to the franchise’s existing home, the Metrodome, which has been the team’s home since 1982.
Owing to uncertainty surrounding the Vikings’ long-term base, the franchise has been linked with a move away from Minnesota, with Los Angeles a possible destination as it is attempting to attract a team to the city to play at a proposed new stadium of its own. Vikings vice-president Lester Bagley said: “Everything is subject to negotiations. We’re working hard on an agreement, but we’re not there yet.”
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