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U.S. Bank Stadium

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U.S. Bank Stadium

Ariel view in 2016
Address 401 Chicago Ave
This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors).
Minneapolis Minneapolis, Minnesota]
United States
Coordinates 44°58'26.4"N 93°15'28.8"W
Owner Minneapolis Sports Authority
Operator SMG
Capacity 68,860 (football)
Stadium type Enclosed
Roof type Fixed roof
Turf Artificial grass
Construction
Broke ground December 3, 2013
Opened July 23, 2016
Construction
cost 		US $1 billion
Architect HKS Inc.
Tenants
Minnesota Vikings (NFL) (2016-present)
Minnesota Golden Gophers (NCAA)
(2017-present, part time)

U.S. Bank Stadium is indoor stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota currently serves home field for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL) . Located on the site of the former the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Downtown East, the 68,000 capacity stadium is their third.[1] It has been referred to as Metrodome Next.

It is the first new fixed roof stadium in the NFL since Ford Field opened in 2002. Ford Field is home to the Detroit Lions, which like the Vikings, play in the NFC North. 0001/minnesota-vikings-unveil-glass-centric-design-new-stadium</ref> 0000

Current Metrodome lease[]

The Vikings' lease with the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission (MSFC), as signed by both parties in August 1979, kept them in the Metrodome until 2011.[2] The lease was considered one of the least lucrative among NFL teams; it includes provisions where the commission owns the stadium, and the Vikings were locked into paying rent until the end of the 2011 season. For the past 9 seasons, however, the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission has been waiving the team's nearly $4 million rent.[3] The Vikings pay the MSFC 9.5 percent of its ticket sales; the commission "reserves all rights to sell or lease advertising in any part of the Stadium" and the team cannot use the scoreboard for any ads and does not control naming rights for the building; the commission controls the limited parking and its revenue; and the commission pays the team 10 percent of all concession sales, which in 2004 and 2005, amounted to just over half a million for the team each year while the MSFC takes roughly 35 percent of concessions sold during Vikings games.[4] The Vikings were 30th out of 32 NFL teams in local revenues in 2005.[4] The Vikings, as well as the stadium's other tenants, have continually turned down any proposals for renovating the Metrodome itself.[4] A plan for a joint Vikings/University of Minnesota football stadium was proposed in 2002, but differences over how the stadium would be designed and run, as well as state budget constraints, led to the plan's failure.[5] The university would eventually open its own TCF Bank Stadium in 2009.

Downtown Minneapolis[]

From the outset, Zygi Wilf, a billionaire from New Jersey and principal owner of the Vikings since 2005,[6] had stated he was interested in redeveloping the downtown site of the Metrodome no matter where the new facility was built.[4] Taking into consideration downtown Minneapolis' growing mass transit network, cultural institutions, and growing condo and office markets, Wilf considered underdeveloped areas on the Downtown's east side, centered on the Metrodome, to be a key opportunity and began discussing the matter with neighboring landholders, primarily the City of Minneapolis and the Star Tribune.[4] An unrelated 2008 study explains that the effect of the media, in this case an uncritical Star Tribune, matters a great deal in helping a stadium initiative.[7] As a result, once the negotiations for the Anoka County location had been put aside, the Vikings focused on proposing a stadium that would be the centerpiece of a larger urban redevelopment project.[4]

Wilf's Vikings began acquiring significant land holdings in the Downtown East neighborhood around the Metrodome in June 2007, the Vikings acquired four blocks of mostly empty land surrounding the Star Tribune headquarters from Avista Capital Partners (the private equity owner of the Star Tribune) for $45 million; it is also believed the Vikings have first right of refusal to later buy the paper's headquarters building.[8] In May 2007, the Vikings also acquired three other downtown parking lots for a total of $5 million, and have made a bid for a city-owned, underground parking ramp next to the neighborhood's light rail station.[8]

Proposal timeline[]

2007[]

On April 19, 2007, the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission (MSFC) and Vikings unveiled their initial plans for the stadium and surrounding urban area, with an estimated opening of 2012.[9] The plan included substantial improvements to the surrounding area, including an improved light rail stop, 4,500 residential units, hotels with a combined 270 rooms, 1,700,000 square feet (160,000 m2) of office space and substantial retail space.[9]

As of 2007, the stadium would have held approximately 73,600 people and was to have been complete by August 2011. The initial proposal did not have the final architectural design renderings, but did include key features that were to have been included in any final plan, including the plans for neighboring urban development. These included demands for a retractable roof, an open view of the surroundings (particularly the downtown skyline), a glass-enclosed Winter Garden alongside the already-existing adjacent Metrodome light-rail stop, leafy urban square with outdoor cafés and dense housing around its edges, aesthetic improvements to roads connecting the stadium to nearby cultural institutions, and adaptive reuse of neighboring historic buildings.[10] The roof would have allowed Minneapolis to remain a potential venue for the Super Bowl and Final Four, both of which had been held at the Metrodome. The proposed urban plan itself was received with cautious welcome.[11]

The 2007 proposed cost estimate for the downtown Minneapolis stadium was $953,916,000.[12] The total broke down to $616,564,000 for the stadium, $200,729,000 for a retractable roof, $58,130,000 for parking, $8,892,000 for adjacent land right-of-way, and $69,601,000 to take into account inflation by 2010.[12] The estimate compared to then-upcoming stadiums in Indianapolis at $675 million (retractable roof, completed 2008), Dallas at $932 million (retractable roof, completed 2009) and New York at $1.7 billion (open-air, completed in 2010).[12] In addition, according to Wilf, taking into account the costs for the surrounding urban developments put forth in the proposal would have brought the estimated total to $2 billion.[8] The estimated costs were based on projected 2008 construction and material costs, so it would have been possible that the stadium costs could have hovered near $1 billion if the Minnesota State Legislature had not approved the project in the 2008 session.[13]Template:Update after

No proposals were made, at that time, for paying for the stadium.[9] The MSFC and Vikings made initial pitches to the Minnesota State Legislature during the end of the 2007 session, but expected to make serious efforts during the 2008 legislative session.[14] The Vikings proposed creating a Minnesota Football Stadium Task Force, which they expect would take 24 months to plan the stadium.[14]

2008[]

Following the September 2008 MSFC vote to start feasibility studies for re-using the Metrodome, an unrelated study released for 38 U.S. cities[15] found that "when a [NFL] team wins, people's moods improve,"[16] and that personal income for residents of a city with an NFL team with 10 wins increases about $165 per year.[16] While true for NFL football, for comparison, professional baseball and basketball gain no personal income for residents.[16]

2009[]

Feasibility studies for Dallas-based design and local construction of a new stadium were expected in early 2009.[17] Roy Terwilliger, a former Republican state senator from Edina, Ray Waldron, an AFL-CIO leader, and the Dome engineering expert and CEO, Bill Lester and Steve Maki of the MSFC selected architectural firm HKS of Dallas and construction manager Mortenson of Minnesota over the objections of Paul Thatcher and Timothy Rose of Minneapolis-St. Paul, who preferred Ellerbe Beckett and Kraus-Anderson, both of Minnesota. Loanne Thrane of Saint Paul, the sole female member of the commission, voiced opposition and later voted with the majority.[18]

In December 2009, commission chairman Terwilliger said, "We know what the art of the possible is at this particular location." A new proposal for 65,000 seats with a sliding roof was unveiled at $84 million less than the previous proposal, but with $50 million per year more scheduled for each year that construction is delayed.[19] Vikings officials boycotted the presentation which estimated the total cost at $870 million, or $770 million if the sliding roof is omitted.[19]

2010[]

The 2010 Vikings stadium proposal was dealt a setback on May 5, 2010, when a Minnesota House panel defeated the proposal by a 10-9 vote.

The stadium debate was revived in the aftermath of the Metrodome's roof deflation on December 12, 2010; which forced the relocation of the Vikings' final two home games of the 2010 season and led to more calls for a new stadium from various sources in the local and national media.[20][21] Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton discussed the matter with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, but said "any new stadium must first benefit the people of Minnesota".[22]

2011[]

City of Minneapolis Proposal[]

After Hennepin County stopped their pursuit of a Vikings stadium,[23] the city of Minneapolis submitted a plan for a Vikings' stadium at the downtown Metrodome site. The Minneapolis plan is for a fixed-roof stadium costing an estimated $895 million. The proposal also included funding solutions for $95 million in renovations to the Minnesota Timberwolves' Target Center. The team reacted with skepticism to the proposal and did not want to play at nearby 50,000 seat capacity University of Minnesota TCF Bank Stadium during three years of construction.[24] Because the Minneapolis dome site is a cheaper option, football fans were expected to return to the Minneapolis plan if the shortfall in the Ramsey County plan were not realized.[25]

Ramsey County Proposal[]

In May 2011, Ramsey County officials announced they had reached an agreement with the Minnesota Vikings to be the team’s local partner for a new stadium, subject to approval by the Minnesota Legislature and to approval of a sales tax by the Ramsey County Board.[26] The site of the stadium would be the former Twin Cities Army Ammunitions Plant in Arden Hills, which is about 10 miles from the Metrodome in Minneapolis and is a Superfund clean up site. The agreement called for an $884 million stadium and an additional $173 million for on-site infrastructure, parking and environmental costs.[27]

Ramsey County said the Vikings would commit $407 million to the project, which would have been about 44 percent of the stadium cost and 39 percent of the overall cost. The county's cost would have been $350 million, to be financed by a half-cent sales tax increase.[27] The state of Minnesota's cost would have been $300 million.[26] This totalled about $1.057 billion, leaving at least a $131 million shortfall.[25] Minnesota Vikings and the State of Minnesota agreed the total of fixing roads would have been $131 million.[28]

2012[]

On March 1, 2012, an agreement was announced by Minnesota governor Mark Dayton for a new stadium to be built on the site of the Metrodome, pending approval by the state legislature and the Minneapolis city council.[29] The $975 million project, half of which will be publicly funded, will be patterned after Lucas Oil Stadium. It will utilize part of the footprint of the Metrodome and will only require the Vikings to play at TCF Bank Stadium during the final year of construction.[30] The agreement met with mixed reaction, and some criticized the proposal as being unfair to taxpayers and a giveaway to team owners.[31]

On May 10, 2012, the Minnesota Legislature approved funding for a new Vikings stadium on that site. The project is projected to have a $975 million price tag, with the Vikings covering $477 million, the state covering $348 million, and $150 million covered by a hospitality tax in Minneapolis. The city of Minneapolis must pay a total of $678 million over the thirty year life of the deal, including interest, operations and construction costs.[32] The bill was signed by Gov. Dayton,[33] and received the approval of the Minneapolis City Council on May 25, 2012.[34][35] The Vikings will play in the Metrodome through the 2013 season, as construction would not require the immediate demolition of the Metrodome. The Vikings will then move to TCF Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus until the new stadium is complete.

2013[]

On May 13, 2013, The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA), the Minnesota Vikings and HKS Sports & Entertainment Group together unveiled the design of the State’s new multi-purpose stadium, a major milestone in getting the $975 million stadium built on time and on budget. The design package will now be submitted to the Minneapolis Stadium Implementation Committee and the City of Minneapolis for review.

Charitable gambling funding shortfall[]

The State of Minnesota's portion of the cost of the stadium was to be funded by revenue from a proposed new charitable gambling source, which was dubbed electronic pulltabs. When the stadium funding bill was passed in the legislature and signed by the governor on May 14, 2012 the new revenue from the games was estimated to be $34 million for 2013, and rising each year thereafter.

November 2012 revenue forecast[]

Six months later, the first budget estimate from the Minnesota Office of Management and Budget was released, revising the projected revenue from the electronic pulltab games. This first revision cut the estimated revenue from the game for 2013 by 51%, to $16 million (versus the legislation's estimate of $34 million)

From page 15 of the Minnesota Management and Budget Complete Forecast, November 2012: "For FY 2013, the projected reserve balance has been reduced from $34 to $16 million. Projected new gambling revenues from stadium legislation are expected to be $18 million (51 percent) below end of session estimates." -- "The forecast reduction reflects a slower than expected implementation of electronic gaming options and reduced estimates for daily revenue per gaming device."[36]

February 2013 revenue forecast[]

In March of 2013, the Minnesota Office of Management and Budget released another updated budget forecast for Fiscal Year 2013 to 2017. Included in this forecast was another revision in the projected revenue from charitable gambling sources, from the previous estimate of $16 million, down to $1.7 million. A further 90% reduction in the estimate for 2013 revenue. This total a 95% reduction from what was estimated in the stadium bill passed in May of 2012.

From page 12 of the Minnesota Management and Budget Complete Forecast, February 2013: "The forecast for lawful gambling revenue has been reduced $15 million in FY 2013 and $46 million in FY 2014-15. Slower than expected implementation of electronic gambling options and a reduction in estimates for daily revenue per gambling location were the reasons for the revenue reduction".[37]

Political fallout from projected shortfall[]

As a result of the projected shortfall, members of the Minnesota Legislature and the Governors office began discussing ideas to fix the shortfall.[38] The legislature decided to impose a tax on cigarettes to make up for any shortfall over the next two years of construction.

Construction[]

In August, 2012, the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA)—the stadium's newly created owner—received bids and plans from five architectural and engineering firms, all nationally recognized stadium designers, including Populous, AECOM, EwingCole, and HNTB.[39][40] On September 28, 2012, the MSFA selected the Dallas firm of HKS, Inc., which had designed both Cowboys Stadium and Lucas Oil Stadium within the previous decade, to serve as the project's architect.[41] HKS Inc. also designed Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, home of the Texas Rangers; the Milwaukee Brewers’ Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and renovations to the Chicago White Sox’s U.S. Cellular Field. Initial design plans have not been released to the public, but Viking officials say they hope the budget will allow the new stadium to include a retractable roof, walls or windows. The design team also plans to incorporate interactive technology into some elements to create a more engaging fan experience.[42]

On December 7, 2012, the MSFA announced that construction of the facility was slated to begin in October 2013.[43]

Soccer Friendly[]

There has been discussion about making the stadium soccer-friendly, conforming to FIFA standards and recommendations, thereby making the field slightly larger to accommodate United States Men's National Soccer Team matches, international friendlies from large European soccer clubs, soccer tournaments (regional or international), as well as even attracting a Major League Soccer (MLS) team. Those reports have mentioned Minnesota's current NASL team, Minnesota United FC, playing at the site either as part of the NASL (minor league), or with promotion to MLS. If designed properly and a financial fit, it could match CenturyLink Field, home of the Seattle Sounders, a team also promoted from the NASL. This would provide the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro area with another sports team, MLS with a presence in the upper Midwest outside of the Chicago Fire, and another tenant for year-round activity at the stadium.

References[]

  1. ↑ Metrodome Next. Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission. Archived from the original on February 10, 2010. Retrieved on March 15, 2010.
  2. ↑ Scheck, Tom. "Anoka County Walks Away From Vikings' Plan", Minnesota Public Radio, November 20, 2006. Retrieved on November 20, 2006. 
  3. ↑ Weiner, Jay. "As Interim Solution, Stadium Commission Offering New Deal to Keep Vikings in Dome", November 17, 2009. Retrieved on December 23, 2009. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Anderson, Jr., G.R. (January 3, 2007) Eye of the Beholder, City Pages. Retrieved January 3, 2007
  5. ↑ Scheck, Tom. "Committee Kills Vikings stadium plan", Minnesota Public Radio, February 18, 2002. Retrieved on March 18, 2013. 
  6. ↑ Borzi, Pat. "Vikings' Owner Makes a Name for Himself", August 19, 2005. Retrieved on December 23, 2009. 
  7. ↑ Delaney, Kevin and Eckstein, Rick (February 2008). Local Media Coverage of Sports Stadium Initiatives Journal of Sport & Social Issues pp. 72–93. Retrieved on December 23, 2009.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Levy, Paul. "Vikings, Star Tribune Close Land Deal", June 21, 2007. Retrieved on June 21, 2007. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Levy, Paul. "Vikings Stadium: Great View, But Who Pays?", April 19, 2007. Retrieved on April 17, 2007. 
  10. ↑ "The Plan's Key Ingredients", April 19, 2007. Retrieved on April 19, 2007. 
  11. ↑ Peterson, David. "Urban Planners See Sketches As First Step", April 19, 2007. Retrieved on April 19, 2007. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 "Cost Comparison", April 19, 2007. Retrieved on April 19, 2007. 
  13. ↑ Levy, Paul. "Stadium Could Cost $1 Billion", June 21, 2007. Retrieved on June 21, 2007. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Paul Levy, No Vikings stadium bill now, but next year, maybe?, Star Tribune, May 19, 2007.
  15. ↑ Davis, Michael and End, Christian M. (undated). A Winning Proposition: The Economic Impact of Successful NFL Franchises (PDF). Economic Inquiry (planned) via Copley Press. Retrieved on October 4, 2008.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Stetz, Michael. "Winning Football Season is Found to Convert Into Cash", Copley Press, October 4, 2008. Retrieved on October 4, 2008. 
  17. ↑ Vomhof, John. "Commission Picks Designers for Metrodome Project", September 26, 2008. Retrieved on September 28, 2008. 
  18. ↑ Weiner, Jay. "New Vikings Stadium: High Drama at Stadium Commission", September 26, 2008. Retrieved on September 28, 2008. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Bakst, Brian. "New Vikings Stadium Proposal: $870M, No Pay Plan", Google News, December 18, 2009. Retrieved on December 23, 2009. Archived from the original on December 24, 2009. 
  20. ↑ Erskine, Chris. "Metrodome Roof Collapse Had to Be a Sign From Above", December 13, 2010. Retrieved on December 14, 2010. 
  21. ↑ Borzi, Pat. "With Their Dome Deflated, the Vikings Still Need a Home", December 14, 2010. Retrieved on December 14, 2010. 
  22. ↑ Kaszuba, Mike. "Dayton Meeting with NFL Commissioner", December 17, 2010. Retrieved on December 17, 2010. “On December 26, 2010 the Zigi Wilf the Vikings owner agreed to accept an outdoor stadium.” 
  23. ↑ Duchschere, Kevin. "Vikings' Stadium Options Narrow", May 5, 2011. Retrieved on May 5, 2011. 
  24. ↑ http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/121518294.html
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Lambert, Brian. "Plenty of Doubts Ramsey County Can Pull off Stadium Deal", May 11, 2011. Retrieved on May 12, 2011. 
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Duchschere, Kevin. "Ramsey County Vikings? $1 Billion Stadium Agreement Says Yes", May 10, 2011. Retrieved on May 10, 2011. 
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Associated Press. "Vikings, Ramsey Co. Announce Stadium Deal", May 10, 2011. Retrieved on May 10, 2011. 
  28. ↑ "MnDOT: Stadium Road Upgrades to Cost $131 Million", May 18, 2011. Retrieved on March 18, 2013. 
  29. ↑ Template:Cite press release
  30. ↑ Dyste, Leslie. "Vikings to Play 2 Cold Seasons at TCF Bank Stadium", KSTP, February 15, 2013. Retrieved on March 18, 2013. 
  31. ↑ Goldstein, Tom (March 4, 2012). New Vikings Stadium Proposal Isn't For The People. City Pages. Retrieved on March 4, 2012.
  32. ↑ Ozanian, Mike. "Minneapolis City Council President Uses Bizarre Math To Push New Stadium For Vikings", Forbes, May 23, 2012. Retrieved on May 25, 2012. 
  33. ↑ 2012 Minn. Laws Ch. 299
  34. ↑ Hall, Brian. "Vikings Stadium Approved by State Lawmakers", Fox Sports North, May 10, 2012. Retrieved on May 10, 2012. 
  35. ↑ Roper, Eric. "Stadium Gets Final Sign-Off", May 25, 2012. Retrieved on May 25, 2012. 
  36. ↑ Minnesota Management and Budget. Minnesota Financial Report November 2012 (pdf). Archived from the original on 28 April 2013. Retrieved on 28 April 2013.
  37. ↑ Minnesota Management and Budget. February 2012 Forecast (pdf). Archived from the original on 28 April 2013. Retrieved on 28 April 2013.
  38. ↑ Richard Meryhew. "Time for a Plan B for Vikings stadium financing?". Retrieved on 28 April 2013. Archived from the original on 28 April 2013. 
  39. ↑ Meryhew, Richard. "Bids Are in on Vikings Stadium Project", August 31, 2012. Retrieved on August 31, 2012. 
  40. ↑ Nelson, Tim. "Architects Make Pitches for Vikings Stadium Contract", Minnesota Public Radio, September 7, 2012. Retrieved on September 7, 2012. 
  41. ↑ Meryhew, Richard. "Dallas Firm Chosen to Design Viking Stadium", September 28, 2012. Retrieved on September 28, 2012. 
  42. ↑ Keller, Tracy (October 17, 2012). Minnesota Vikings to Build New Stadium for Team, Fans, Community. Concordia University. Retrieved on October 17, 2012.
  43. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named expectedgroundbreaking

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