The Minnesota Vikings will finally get the stadium they have sought after for so long. On Monday, the Minnesota House approved financing on a 73-58 vote. And while deliberating, the Minnesota House also increased the amount of private money required to do the deal: It’s now at $532 million, up from $427 million.
The Monday vote on Vikings Stadium eliminates the possibility that the team and organization would move to Los Angeles and play in the planned Farmers Stadium in Downtown LA. The same Farmers Stadium is the focus of a to-be unveiled 3D fly-through video to be released Tuesday (today).
According to CBS, Vikings vice president Lester Bagley said “It was the first hurdle, a couple more to go” as Monday’s vote is the first of four needed before the bill goes to the desk of Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton.
The only problem rests with the Vikings, as Lester Bagley said the team’s not prepared to give the $105 million more that’s asked. Trouble is, the taxpayers aren’t either.
The Vikings have a Farmers Stadium problem, because in LA, that naming rights agreement stands at $700 million, the largest of its kind. And the next largest deal is in Washington DC, where it stands at 27 years for $205 million. Given those numbers, it would appear easier for the Vikings to close that $105 million than the Minnesota legislature.
Stay tuned.