Monday, May 28, 2012

Vikings stadium approved. Now what?


Pioneer Press
"State and local funding for a new Minnesota Vikings stadium has been approved on paper. Now, the work begins.
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak said one of the first steps will be the creation of an implementation committee to examine key details of the stadium plan, such as local hiring for construction jobs and ways to connect the stadium to the West Bank and the surrounding community.
The stadium legislation requires the creation of a five-member sports facility authority, with two members chosen by the mayor and three chosen by the governor's office. Rybak's spokesman, John Stiles, said those members will be picked within the next two weeks.
Jeff Anderson, a spokesman for the Vikings, said he envisioned architectural design and planning for a new stadium would take 10 months to a year. A construction firm would be hired through a public process. Crews could break ground on a stadium next spring.
"We've been anxiously awaiting this vote for a couple of weeks," Anderson said.
Minneapolis City Council member Elizabeth Glidden said many hope to see the sports facility authority evolve into a regional body, scheduling concerts and conventions at the stadium, the Minneapolis Convention Center, the Target Center and perhaps even the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. "

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