To no surprise, the new Vikings stadium will cost more than originally imagined, as envisioned. So they’ll come up with a way to cover the extra costs, right?
Actually, it’s officially time to start throwing stuff out of the balloon basket.
According to Richard Meryhew of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, features are being trimmed from the new stadium.
Initially at risk are a 400-stall parking garage to be located a block north of the stadium, a skyway linked to a ramp a block south of the stadium, two large escalators, and up to 40 feet from the height of pivoting glass doors to be located at the main entrance.
“We only have $975 million in the budget, and there’s only so many things you can get under that number,” Vikings V.P. of stadium wrangling Lester Bagley said.
The Vikings have advanced $13.1 million to fund the cost overruns, and a $62 million contingency fund exists. Still, the message is that the powers-that-be won’t find a way to make the right stadium -- but to make a stadium at the right cost.
Apparently, those Stadium Builders Licenses don’t go as far as they used to.