Wilf statement
The Vikings just released a statement from owner Zygi Wilf regarding Monday's announcement that the state legislature is unlikely to consider a proposal for a new Vikings stadium during the 2008 session.
Here's the statement:
"We appreciate the willingness of Minnesota's state leaders to meet with the National Football League this week and address the state's stadium situation. The seriousness of the stadium issue has risen to a priority at the League level. The Vikings and the NFL understand and respect the priorities and pressing issues facing the state, but at the same time, the stadium issue needs to be resolved in the near future. Construction costs are rising significantly each year that we delay and there is an urgency to reach a solution.
"We are confident that state leaders and the Vikings will work together to reach a solution, just as many other NFL cities have done in recent years. We look forward to advancing the stadium issue during the 2008 legislative session."
Here's the statement:
"We appreciate the willingness of Minnesota's state leaders to meet with the National Football League this week and address the state's stadium situation. The seriousness of the stadium issue has risen to a priority at the League level. The Vikings and the NFL understand and respect the priorities and pressing issues facing the state, but at the same time, the stadium issue needs to be resolved in the near future. Construction costs are rising significantly each year that we delay and there is an urgency to reach a solution.
"We are confident that state leaders and the Vikings will work together to reach a solution, just as many other NFL cities have done in recent years. We look forward to advancing the stadium issue during the 2008 legislative session."
posted by Don Seeholzer at 4:24 PM
5 Comments:
At least he is not threatening to leave yet. I hope it can get done. I think if they continue winning, it will solve a lot of issues.
I cannot understand the delay in getting the ground work in place for the new stadium. There is a fantastic issue in todays paper regarding the upside of the metrodome and the return on investment that it has provided to the state and the city. I can say with a certain amount of surety that not many businesses show a return on investment like the metrodome has. I'm sure the legislators would rather just keep raising our taxes and get some more money out of our pockets for things that we don't want or approve of. I think it's time we tell them to put our money into an investment that they will earn money back on. A NEW STADIUM.
I think the state of MN has been burned by Pohlad in that he was approved for his stadium deal and is now cheating the state of MN by letting his top players go via trade/free agency. I want a new stadium more than most anyone and I'll pitch in more than my share, but why would anyone agree to it now that Pohlad has shown how greedy billionaires thank the local community?!
Dean C, just stop. The Twins have *never* made teams full of high dollar players and have virtually always put together a scrappy team of low-buck players that can get to the playoffs consistantly. When players like Torii and Johan get to the elite level they are at currently, they move on to markets that dump buckets of cash into their team, it's the way of baseball. As far as the stadium goes, Hennepin county is taxed enough. Trying to squeeze another stadium into downtown Mpls. just isn't gonna happen. Anoka county's offer was perfect for the Vikings and would have been the ultimate stadium for them. It would have dispersed the taxation to pay for it and that entire area was perfect for huge growth. When all is said and done it's gonna be one of two options. A stadium somewhere other than downtown, or hello Los Angeles Vikings!
I just read an article in Sports Illustrated about Paul Allen, the owner of the Blazers and Seahawks. He had the arena built for the Blazers and I'm not sure about what he did w/ the Seahawks. I understand that a basketball stadium is not as expensive as a football stadium but the owner stepped up. I live in Denver and I will tell you that Invesco Field, Coors Field and the Pepsi Center have not hurt this city one bit. Lets hope that Zygi and his real estate savy can get this thing done and keep the VIKES in MN.
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