Minnesota Vikings: Lingering Fear of Team Leaving Will Haunt 2012 Season

It doesn't look good for the Minnesota Vikings and their fans.

In fact, it's downright scary. 

The team's proposed public subsidy for a new stadium was rejected by a Minnesota House of Representative panel on Monday evening, as reported by the Star Tribune.

Really, state rep Gene Urdahl said it best: 

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"Why should we help a billionaire build a stadium he can afford to build himself?"

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Owner Zygi Wilf has held a firm stance on not signing another lease to play in the Metrodome. Sounds like something's got to give.  

In this lengthy but extremely informative and astutely opinionated column by ESPN's NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert, the direction in which the Vikings may ultimately have to go is described: 

Says Seifert: 

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What's the secret to securing public financing for a new stadium? Relocation. (Or at least the threat thereof.) I truly don't think the Vikings, the Wilf family or the NFL want to move the franchise. But state leaders felt little urgency after the Vikings allowed the NFL's Feb. 15 deadline for relocation applications to pass. 

The Vikings don't have a lease, but they also haven't given themselves an option and have essentially asked state leaders to give them a break for playing by the rules. 

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With this dark cloud of possible relocation hanging over their heads, the 2012 season could be quite the somber one in Minnesota. 

The team has assembled the necessarily building blocks for a bright future, but in a division with the revamped Chicago Bears, up-and-coming Detroit Lions and offensively explosive Green Bay Packers, chances are it'll be another long season. 

There would be nothing worse than being a lifelong Minnesota Vikings fan, haunted by four Super Bowl losses, Brett Favre's ill-advised, across-his-body interception in the 2009-2010 NFC championship game and a Packers 2011 world title, then watching their rebuilding team struggle in what could potentially be their last season in Minneapolis. 

Uncertainty often yields fear. 

Sadly, that's what Vikings fans will be living in this season. 

Follow @ChrisTrapasso