Vikings Stadium Update - The Global Stadium Proposal
Saturday, March 12, 2011 at 8:12AMThe Minnesota Vikings chances for a new stadium are improving, it seems, based on a proposal from the Minnesota Timberwolves. MPR broke the story of a "Global Stadium Solution" prepared by the basketball team. But what does it mean for the Mill District neighborhood?
I'm speculating here, but the proposals call to keep the Metrodome operating as a community sports center probably means the new Vikings Stadium would be built on the other side of Downtown Minneapolis:
1. The Star Tribune site being considered is adjacent to the Metrodome - would 2 stadiums side-by-side make sense? No.
2. The other downtown location is near Target Field and Target Center (home of the Timberwolves.
3. Core business district movers and shakers are working to locate the new stadium near Target Field.
Trying to read between the lines, including the dome does not make sense except to preclude our neighborhood as the new site. Minneapolis City Council Predident Barb Johnson seems to agree the the dome aspect of the proposal is a bad idea in a Star Tribune article in today's paper:
Barb Johnson, the Minneapolis City Council president, said Friday that while she favors a global solution to the Twin Cities' professional stadium issues, the plan's aim to build a new Vikings stadium and keep the Metrodome was a "red flag." The Vikings have played at the Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis for 29 years.
"There'd be two football stadiums, and I just don't think that's very practical," said Johnson, who said she had only recently seen the plan.
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