Last May, the Vikings and officials in Arden Hills prematurely popped the cork on a stadium that never will be built on the site of a World War II ammunition plant. This May, the Vikings and the Governor and various legislators are sipping champagne and doing snow angels in confetti after the Minnesota Legislature finally turned into law a plan to build a new stadium near the site of the Metrodome in Minneapolis.
Once again, it could be too early to throw a party.
The Minneapolis City Council still must approve the plan. When City Council voted in April to express support for the project (in the hopes of helping get the Legislature to act), the resolution passed via a wafer-thin vote of 7-6.
Which means that, if only one person changes his or her mind, the deal could die.
Per a league source, neither the NFL nor the Vikings are concerned about a possible Mabel Choate-style change of heart. Still, all eyes will be on Council Member Kevin Reich, who was the swing vote in April and who could derail the entire effort on his own. Thus, until the full City Council votes on May 25 to accept the deal that the Legislature has ratified, there is reason for the Vikings, their fans, the NFL, and all stadium supporters to be a little nervous. Likewise, there’s hope for those who are opposed to $500 million in public money being used to fund a football stadium.
Bottom line? The deal won’t be done until the Minneapolis City Council says it’s done.