With the release of the 2012 NFL schedule, it is quite likely, if not probable, that you missed the far bigger NFL news that also broke yesterday. The 2012 edition of the Vikings’ stadium legislation is dead, and with that death came a hard-line stance from the Vikings that may effect the NFL for years to come.
“There is no next year,” Vikings V.P. of public affairs Lester Bagley said to the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
Earlier in the day, Minnesota Governor Mark Daytona indicated that he expected the Vikings to stick around for one more legislative cycle in 2013 in hopes of securing a new stadium, but Bagley’s comments indicate that the Vikings have no such plans.
While there is no immediate action expected from the Vikings, it does seem likely that they will begin looking for a new home at some point this season. They have until February 15th of next year to notify the NFL of their intent to relocate, giving them less than 12 months to find a suitable home, if only for a short while.
The obvious expectation, of course, is that any team relocating would eventually find themselves playing in a brand new stadium in Los Angeles, but the short-term solution for a relocating team remains unclear, especially if that relocation happens suddenly as was the case with the Colts in the 80s. Still, there is hope that Minnesota can get their ducks in a row and make a legitimate offer to the Vikings, but for the first time, there seems to be a definitive time limit on when that offer can come.
