Though it’s not time to pop the champagne (then again, the Vikings already did that last year when announcing a deal with the folks in Arden Hills), a “preliminary agreement” has been reached to build a new Vikings stadium, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Under the agreement, the Vikings/NFL would kick in $427 million for a building to be constructed near the Metrodome. The state would come up with $398 million, and Minneapolis would pay $150 million. Also, the city would cover $180 million in operating costs over the next 30 years, also known as “the period of time before the Vikings start trying to get another new stadium.”
The Legislature, the Minneapolis City Council, and the NFL still have to sign off on the deal. Which, as we saw after the Arden Hills deal was announced, may never happen.
In fact, the only difference between last year’s “deal” and this year’s “deal” at Arden Hills is that legislative leaders have given it their blessing. Unless the votes are there, the blessing will be as valuable as a marriage ceremony performed by a pizza chef.