This is an archived version of a Field of Schemes article. Comments on this page are closed. To find the current version of the article with updated comments, click here.
November 18, 2009
Vikings "outraged" by Metrodome lease extension offer
Minnesota's Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission issued an unusual carrot and stick to the Vikings yesterday, offering to give them a greater cut of revenues if they extend their lease at the Metrodome beyond 2011 — and threatening to make them start paying $4 million a year in rent if they refuse. (The Vikings are actually supposed to pay rent at the dome, but have been absolved of that for the last nine years after whining that none of their other NFL friends have to pay rent.) The goal here, commission finance chair Paul Thatcher told the Minneapolis Star Tribune, was to "kick the can down the road a ways" until such time as the economy recovers enough for public stadium subsidies to have a shot in the state legislature.
Vikings management's response? "Our ownership is outraged for the sports commission to advance a proposal that they know is completely unacceptable to the Vikings," Vikes stadium chief Lester Bagley fumed to Minnpost.com. "Without the simple courtesy of a phone call or a heads-up they drop this radical proposal on us. ... We're the last remaining tenant. We expect to be treated with some level of respect, and I guess we'll have to continue to wait. The Wilfs are landlords. You don't do this to a tenant whose lease is up."
That would be a "no," then.
Looks like Minnesota is going to have to join the San Diego/Bay Area bandwagon and start the stadium hunt sooner rather than later lest they become one of LA's would be targets.
Posted by Dan on November 18, 2009 06:24 PM