When the Minnesota House of Representatives raised the Vikings’ share of the team’s stadium bill by $105 million Tuesday — an amendment the team called “not workable” — football fans in the Land of 10,000 Lakes once again began to panic regarding the future of the team in their state.
But that they voted in favor of the bill was really the key, and relief came when the conference committee charged with finding common ground reportedly sliced off $55 million of the team’s share late last night.
Assuming the House, the Senate and the Vikings are on board, that would mean that the state would be on the hook for $348 million, the city of Minneapolis would owe $150 million and the franchise would pay $477 million to build a new stadium near downtown Minneapolis.
The House and Senate still hadn’t approved those numbers last night, but that is expected to happen today. In fact, by law, it has to. The team could have stubbornly refused to cave on the extra $50 million it is being asked to pay. If an extra $105 million is “not workable,” then what is? But the really good news is that, after midnight, Zygi Wilf and his partners signed off on the plan.
The Vikings didn’t have much of a choice. Killing the entire bill and essentially saying goodbye to Minnesota over $50 million is pretty much as petty and ridiculous as it gets.
There’s no way $55 million keeps this stadium from being built. Even if the House digs in, the Senate, the team and/or private investors will find a way. We’re talking about approximately five percent of the total cost of the venue.
So while fans won’t be satisfied until the I’s are dotted and the t’s are crossed (and I don’t blame them when politics are at play), every logical scenario now points to the Vikings staying put.
