Mpls Business Group Proposes 2 Stadium Sites For Vikes
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Minnesota Vikings officials say they are focused on Arden Hills for a new stadium, but that isn't stopping a group of Minneapolis business leaders.
On Tuesday night, an organization called 2020 Partners put a face with two potential stadium locations: The Farmers Market and Linden Avenue.
Supporters of both sites made presentations to a group of city and county leaders.
"We love the Vikings and we want this to be a win-win all the way around," said Chuck Leer.
Leer is a fan of the Farmers Market. Not just because of what can be bought there, but because of what he thinks can be built there.
Leer, along with ESG Architects, are proposing a 34-acre site on the current Farmers Market location. There would be 63,000 seats in the stadium and that could expand for major events -- like a Super Bowl.
The stadium could be similar to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, with parking and tailgating. It would also include an elevated bridge that would connect the stadium to downtown, but how much it would cost and how it would be funded is still a major question mark.
"It has to work for the Vikings but it also has to work for the public," said Leer.
It's the same philosophy for the Linden Avenue site.
"We are in downtown Minneapolis which means there are a lot of facilities available to us," said Mic Johnson.
Linden Avenue is looking to combine a new stadium with a new park. It would be built on 33 acres and would include an event plaza and eventually a mixed-use district. But like the Farmers Market, the total cost is unknown.
"It has to do with what they want to do and we have to support them. We want them to stay in Minnesota," said Johnson.
In the Famers Market proposal, the market would actually be moved just north of its current location to Lyndale Avenue and Highway 55.
Supporters of a new stadium at the Metrodome site were also supposed to make their presentation Tuesday night, but were unavailable. They will present to 2020 Partners at a later date.
