Aging Sports Stadiums in Minnesota: Big Dollars Needed, but from Where?

The state of Minnesota itself is in need of money due to the $6.2 billion that is needed to fix the budget shortfall the current legislature is facing.

But aging sports stadiums in the Twin Cities Metro area need some renovation or replacement, and franchise owners and city officials are hot on the money trail to get some dollars so that plans on the drawing boards can become realities.

The Vikings are not happy about playing in the Metrodome, which even if repaired in time for the 2011 football season is not exactly state-of-the-art anymore. Ted Mondale, chairman of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, is making the rounds at the State Capitol to try to get legislators debating a Vikings stadium proposal early in the session. There is an estimated cost of $791 million to build a new fixed-roof stadium.

An interesting proposal has been floated by Andrew Rosten, a contributor to bleacherreport.com. Rosten's idea: "Instead of the Vikings paying for one-third of the cost of a roof over the [new] stadium, the NHL's Minnesota Wild and University of Minnesota athletics should pitch in some money for a retractable roof."

Why? Rosten says it would help attract the NHL Winter Classic to be played at a new stadium that could have the roof open or closed, depending on the weather. Rosten writes: "Just imagine what kind of crowds and viewers the Wild and Minnesota hockey teams could attract by playing at the open-roofed new Vikings stadium. It would provide the potential for publicity that would more than make up for the cost of one-third of a retractable roof."

The Timberwolves would like to see a remodel to the 21-year old Target Center in Minneapolis. Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor and City Council President Barbara Johnson have announced a proposal that seeks $155 million to renovate the aging Target Center.

St. Paul officials were very happy when $20 million in funding for a new St. Paul Saints stadium in the city's Lowertown area was included in Gov. Mark Dayton' s bonding bill proposal. But does a bonding bill with non-emergency spending have any chance of advancing very far in this year's legislature?

In the meantime, the University of Minnesota Gophers team has been seeking private donors in the project they have on the drawing board. From a twincities.com article (1/28/11) written by Marcus R. Fuller:

"The bad news is the Gophers haven't raised any money and don't have a timetable for breaking ground on the project.

"But a desired design for the "player development practice facility" appears to be set, as well as the estimated cost at $15 million, according to Minnesota associate athletics director/director of development David Crum.

"The fundraising process also has started with the university looking for lead donors who can contribute $5 million to $6 million or more and would have a portion of the facility named after them."

And one more thing: The U of M baseball team needs a new field, something that Baseball Hall of Famer Dave Winfield supports. Winfield is flying from his home in Bel Air, Calif., to Minneapolis to co-host a fund-raiser Friday evening. The event is a 450-ticket sellout. Tickets cost $250 apiece, and more than 200 former Gophers baseball players will attend.

And so it goes. The state needs money; Universities need money, franchises want money, and taxpayers - uh, oh, the bucket is looking pretty empty. Where to from here? Only time will tell, but it sure looks like there will be interesting times ahead for sports teams and fans as debates are held on how to best address the issues surrounding the aging sports stadiums in Minnesota.

Build a New Stadium for the Vikings? it Might Happen!
The Metrodome Roof Issue: What Happens to the Vikings' 2011 Season?
Metrodome Roof Collapses: Vikings - Giants Game in Limbo
Super Bowl Party Recipes from Kowalski's Markets (MN)

Sources:
http://www.twincities.com/
http://www.startribune.com/
http://bleacherreport.com/