Minnesota Vikings Inch Closer Toward New Stadium as House Approves Legislation

The Minnesota Vikings have won a major victory in legislation that greatly improves their chances of having a new taxpayer-subsidized stadium built in the near future.

This will go a long way towards easing fans’ anxiety that their Purple People Eaters were planning to take off for greener pastures after the upcoming season. 

According to an Associated Press report (h/t ESPN), the state House voted, 73-58, Monday to approve the $975 million stadium plan and the Senate will make a decision on a competing plan sometime Tuesday.

Here is a brief rundown of how the payments on the immensely expensive project were originally to be split:

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The plan negotiated by the governor, key lawmakers, the Minneapolis mayor and the team would have the Vikings cover about $427 million of the construction costs, or about 44 percent. The state would pay $398 million, with the money coming from an expansion of gambling. The city of Minneapolis would kick in $150 million by redirecting an existing hospitality tax.

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After the House made amendments, the owners will be taking on $105 million more ($532 million total) while the state would reduce their contributions by that same amount (bringing their share down to $293 million total). 

Of course, this could largely change. The plan still has to be approved by the state Senate and then go through compromises between the House and Senate before being voted on and finalized.

The news is definitely promising to Minnesota fans, who are only assured that their team will play in the Metrodome for the upcoming season.

The Vikings are free to leave after the 2012-13 campaign and speculation that the franchise would bolt to Los Angeles has been steadily mounting.

This House-approved plan will definitely quell some uneasy feelings and provide hope in the Twin Cities.

If any place deserves a new stadium, it would be Minneapolis/St. Paul. The Dome has been showing its age and starting to fall apart rapidly in recent years. 

We’ll keep you updated right here on B/R throughout the day and week with any new revelations regarding the Vikings’ new stadium project in Minnesota.