Vikings: We pay one-third of the roofless Stadium

But Minnesota State lawmakers likely to be EDEN PRAIRIE, Minnesota (AP) — that a roof part appear be any public deal for a new Vikings Stadium, the team is sticking with its offer to pay about one-third of the invoice - minus, what a roof would cost.

Vikings Vice President and Stadium point man Lester Bagley said in an interview with associated press on Wednesday that the Vikings but understood would prefer an outdoor Stadium, which could win not legislative approval when the request for a stadium partially financed by taxpayers legislators take up the team in February.

State Senator Julie Rosen, probably sponsor of stadium invoice at the Capitol, confirmed that hunch. She said that a body such as the Metrodome want most lawmakers can host not only the NFL football, but also dozens of high school and College tournaments and other public events.

Bagley, said would's not insist the Vikings, outside, despite team owner Zygi Wilf recent comments that he, preferred an outdoor Stadium to play. But Bagley said it saw the Vikings as precedent that the Minnesota Twins ponied up about a third of the costs of the outdoor target field.

"A roof does not use the Vikings provides", said in an interview at the team headquarters in Eden Prairie Bagley. "It costs a few hundred million dollars more in capital costs, in addition to the operating costs are much higher for a covered entity."

The team the lease for the current snow damaged set expires Metrodome next season Bagley, the team said he hopes legislators Act this year to replace a building called "no viable NFL facility", and be sure to stay the Vikings in Minnesota.

An outdoor stadium was estimated to be at least $700 million, with a permanent or retractable roof probably an another few hundred million dollars to the total cost. But a roof costs always that could Bill by the legislature, said Rosen, R Fairmont. "If you're going so much capital, so much sweat and tears poured, you're going to a 365 day facilities such as the Metrodome need", she said.

Rosen, said she expects that your Stadium Bill introduced in mid-February. You and Bagley offered some hints about its contents, but said, it would include a location for the new stadium, a total price tag and financing mechanism and the type of the stadium.

Sites that previously discussed the current site of the Metrodome, some other places within the city of Minneapolis as opportunities or which contain a suburbs several twin cities. Both the roses and the Bagley provided the financing proposal in some ways mimic would a previous plan to tap users directly through taxes on merchandise and related items partially Stadium.

"There will be no clean mechanism, as it was with the twins", approximately said Rosen, referring to the target field financing plan, one third of the costs of the twins and the rest Hennepin County taxpayer treats. "It is a cobbling of many sources to be together."

With over 6 billion US dollars budget deficit down state legislators, Bagley refused to speculate what would happen if the legislature failed to Act request to the Vikings this year. Other American cities search pro football teams, including Los Angeles, where two companies currently compete a new NFL stadium in hopes to build a team it is enticing.

President and CEO of among those groups to Anschutz Entertainment Group of Tim Leiweke, said he and Wilf "not in the middle of the extended talks" on the team status. Leiweke, said he and Wilf in late December said, but emphasized interest in the development of an entertainment district whose relationship and Wilf's similarly created which AEG in Los Angeles.

"My guess is that Minnesota is going to try to get that resolved so that we also about not getting to worked your situation in the near future," Leiweke said in a telephone interview. "Zygi made it more clear, he wants his problems to solve and get a stadium built." We do business there, and we will be very careful not to do to harm the process. "From a personal standpoint, I hope you figure it out."

Commissioner Roger Goodell said during a visit to Minnesota last month, the Vikings to move he hopes "safe".

"Our focus solely on ensuring that you here are successful in this market, Goodell said."

Rosen, Senator of the State, said that's where legislators are Minnesota.

"I feel the Vikings could easily pick up and move", said Rosen. "Because it is a business." Need to issues which the legislature if would do say target threatened State move? "It requires an answer."

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