Stuff about Minneapolis

New pricetag for a new Vikes’ stadium: $870M

Building a new stadium on the site of the Metrodome would cost $870 million, according to a report presented today to the Dome’s landlords.
That compares to the most recent $954 million pricetag of a new stadium, primarily because of lower product and labor costs, according to Bill Lester, executive director of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission.

Here are some comments by readers on the Star Tribune website with feedback by me…

Why don’t they think of building it in Robbinsdale or at the abandoned Brookdale Center? Good Parking, Easy Traffic. Who stands to benefit from putting it downtown? Certainly not the fans?
Where the hell in Robbinsdale would they put this? On top of my house? The Brookdale Center location might have some wheels…plenty of land, freeway access, and it would boost a depressed area. Then again it wouldn’t be centrally located in downtown Minneapolis, and outside of buses or driving, there aren’t any other transit options to get there.

Only slightly more expensive than the Metrodome was and will get lots more events.
Lets see, the construction cost on the Metrodome was $68 million, and this stadium would be $870 million. So that would be a difference of…(hold on a sec…870 - 68, carry the two, e=mc2)
What are you talking about!?

Let the entire state pay, not just Hennepin County
This is the MN Vikes, not the Hennepin County Vikes. We are already paying off Target field. How about a sales tax increase for the entire state, excluding Hennepin or a user fee for each ticket?

Hmmm..that’s right. As Hennepin County residents, only we were taxed to help build the new Twins stadium. So you say we should add another tax for all Minnesotans to pay? You know what? That sounds like a great….NO!

I’d love an “all-in” economic impact of the Vikings (plus additional shows/events that wouldn’t otherwise come to Mpls). The costs of the stadium are clear, but I don’t feel that the public gets a clear picture of the tax revenue and business impact to the city, county and state. For example, my neighborhood bar/restaurant is strongly in favor of keeping the Vikings because their Sunday business depends on them.
So you want us to spend $870 million so the bar you work at can sell an extra dozen Bloody Marys for eight home games a year? (Me- deep sigh/rubbing temples)

I say lets stop putting off the inevitable and get it done now and get it done right. I’m afraid that we will do our best to get it done on the cheap again (see metrodome) and we will end up with a new version of the same crappy stadium. Can you imagine the crap we will have to take from every Packer fan we know if we somehow let the Vikings slip away? Guess what our shining modern metropolis becomes to every one outside of MN if we lose the Vikings…Omaha, Nebraska or worse, any place in Iowa………………………WHO HATES IOWA?!?
Crap from Packer’s fans? Omaha? Iowa? Oh no, not that! My fragile Minnesota psyche couldn’t stand for it if I knew people thought less of us as a state! Build It, Build It, Build It!!!