Stadium thread

[VikingLord]

I think the 2016 date is the absolute latest season they'd play in the new stadium. As I understand it, it could be sooner than that, but the thing is while the deal was getting hammered out with the city and state nothing concrete could be done. Once it clears the Minneapolis city council, that's when work can start in earnest. Assuming all of the planning work doesn't take the maximum amount of time it could, the stadium could be open for business sooner than 2016, perhaps even as early as the 2014 season from what I understand.

One thing the Vikes have going for them is that their owners do major developments in their day jobs. The experience and connections the Wilfs have in that area should pay dividends once people can start rolling up their sleeves and getting after it. Another thing that should speed this up is the fact that the construction industry has been depressed. They've had a lot of people waiting for work like this, so everyone on the labor and supplies fronts should also be eager to get contracts signed and start working.

My guess is the stadium will be nearly complete by the start of the 2014 season, and they may possibly be able to play a few games in it towards the end of that season.

[Eli]

the stadium could be open for business sooner than 2016, perhaps even as early as the 2014 season from what I understand.

I find it hard to believe that anyone could have an estimated timeline with that much variation. You're talking about over a year's difference, assuming we're talking late in the 2014 season vs. finishing up just after the 2015 season ends. Other than the possibility of adding a retractable roof, it sounds like the design has been finalized for quite a while. What would contribute to such a wildly wide-ranging time estimate? Delays due to weather?

Is the demolition of the Metrodome planned for immediately after the 2012 or 2013 season?

[CalVike]

My guess is the stadium will be nearly complete by the start of the 2014 season, and they may possibly be able to play a few games in it towards the end of that season.

I think the 2016 timing is calculated, allowing the team to minimize the time at TCF Bank stadium. Unless they change their mind on that aspect, 2016 is the likely timing.

[Eli]

I think the 2016 timing is calculated, allowing the team to minimize the time at TCF Bank stadium. Unless they change their mind on that aspect, 2016 is the likely timing.

"Minimize"?? If they begin demolition of the Met after the 2012 season and don't open the new stadium until 2016, that would mean a full _three_ seasons at TCF.

[CalVike]

"Minimize"?? If they begin demolition of the Met after the 2012 season and don't open the new stadium until 2016, that would mean a full _three_ seasons at TCF.

Early talk had them in the Metrodome during construction for two seasons before demolition. If that changed, I agree a faster timeline is likely. I am not sure all decisions on timing have been made. They want a fixed price bid with construction overruns on the Contractor. I would think that will come into play on timing.

[dead_poet]

Minneapolis City Council approves stadium deal, sort of

In a procedure that possibly was devised by the guy from Goodfellas who always said everything twice, Minneapolis City Council has approved the proposed Vikings stadium deal by a vote of 7-6 — one day before voting again. On the same proposal.

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Council voted to approve the plan Thursday. On Friday, Council will vote to ratify the decision that was made on Friday.

Barring an unexpected development, such as a swing voter suddenly remembering that Vikings owner Zygi Wilf’s son once stole her marble rye on the streets of Manhattan, the Vikings will be getting their stadium, getting their stadium.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... l-sort-of/

[CalVike]

http://m.startribune.com/sports/?id=153876455&c=y

Despite bitter divisions, the Minneapolis City Council made a decades-long commitment to subsidizing professional sports with a 7-6 vote Thursday to build a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings.

...

Throughout the public debate, opponents were united by an insistence that Minneapolis residents take a vote on the deal, citing the 1997 charter amendment.

The city attorney said the deal never triggered a vote since the taxes technically belonged to the state, but the final state legislation nonetheless included language to nullify the charter amendment.

[CalVike]

http://m.twincities.com/twincities/db_2 ... d=JXBv6PGk

The council will meet again Friday morning for a final vote, which is expected to be a formality.

[PurpleMustReign]

It passed! Thankfully! Let's build this thing!!

[Eli]

Let's build this thing!!

And let's try not to take 4½ years to do it.

[HardcoreVikesFan]

It is finally over.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... -official/

Once again, the measure passed City Council by a vote of 7-6.

Well, all I can say is that was one hell of an emotional roller coaster. It will be interesting to see what happens with the roof as we move forward. Nevertheless, I am just glad this whole ordeal is finally over.

[CalVike]

http://m.startribune.com/news/?id=154115495&c=y

Amazingly, it is done! Go Vikes. Onward to the Super Bowl.

[VikingLord]

I find it hard to believe that anyone could have an estimated timeline with that much variation. You're talking about over a year's difference, assuming we're talking late in the 2014 season vs. finishing up just after the 2015 season ends. Other than the possibility of adding a retractable roof, it sounds like the design has been finalized for quite a while. What would contribute to such a wildly wide-ranging time estimate? Delays due to weather?

Is the demolition of the Metrodome planned for immediately after the 2012 or 2013 season?

I think that's the rub and source of most of the disparity in the estimated timeline - when does the Metrodome come down and construction on the new stadium begin? That part of the timeline is still very much undecided from what I understand. All things being equal, the Vikes will play in the Dome as long as they can. If that is just the 2012 season, then the shorter timeline applies. If they play there the 2013 season as well, the longer timeline applies.

As for the demolition and construction timeline, as I understand it the 2016 estimate is the "latest possible". Should they be able to speed things up due to good weather, for example, it's unlikely to take a full two seasons to complete that phase. So, in essence, if they play 2012 in the Dome and then are able to demolish it and start construction following the 2012 season, and they find ways to optimize construction times, then the new stadium could be open as early as the last few games of the 2014 season.

My understanding of the contract with the University is that it covers them for the worst-case timeframe, as it should.

[glg]

I think that's the rub and source of most of the disparity in the estimated timeline - when does the Metrodome come down and construction on the new stadium begin?

From what I've seen lately, these aren't mutually exclusive things. The new stadium's construction would start before the Dome comes down. The footprints of the Dome and new building overlap, but not entirely. So, play in the Dome this year and next while as much as possible of the new building goes up, then day after 2013 season is over, down comes the Dome. 2014 and maybe 2015 at TCF. New place in either 2015 or worst case 2016.

[Eli]

I could see how you could *some* work done on the new stadium, but by this diagram, it doesn't look like it would be extensive. The footprint of the old Met runs right through the 50 yard line of the new one.