A bill for a new Minneapolis stadium for the Minnesota Vikings passed the state legislature Thursday, after weeks of heated debate. Current estimates have the Vikings opening their new home in time for the 2016 season. On Friday, KFAN reported that the Vikings reached a deal with the University of Minnesota to play the 2015 season at TCF Bank Stadium while the new facility is built.
Terms of the deal call for the Vikings to pay the University for any changes required during the NFL team's stay. The team will also pay a $250,000 fee for each game played at TCF Bank Stadium and a split in concessions, advertising and sponsorship during that time, which could total around $3 million.
The team will play its games in the Metrodome through 2014. Construction is expected to begin next year.
Hopes for the new facility are already high. Team owners Zygi and Mark Wilf told ESPN on Friday afternoon that they hope to bid for the 2017 Super Bowl. The Wilfs also told KFAN they plan to explore a retractable roof for the stadium. Estimates put such a feature in the neighborhood of $40 million, which would be funded by the Vikings under the terms of the stadium bill.
The Minneapolis City Council still has to approve the deal. They are expected to vote May 25. Mayor R.T. Rybak told the Star Tribune that he expects the measure to pass.
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