Ain't Gonna Happen

I have a prediction.  The new Vikings stadium will not be built in Arden Hills.

Oh, there will be a new stadium.  But it will be in downtown Minneapolis.  It's what the Mayor, the downtown "brotherhood" and developers like the one interviewed on Almanac this weekend (10/7) want.  Why?  It's where the trains run.  I wouldn't be surprised to see it replace the Metrodome, with $150 million or so more to upgrade Target Center.  The "Downtown East" light rail station by the Dome will also be serving the Central Corridor line.

But it could also wind up around the Minneapolis Farmers market, since both the Northstar and Hiawatha tracks can be extended in that direction.  I think that was the real reason Target Field had to be shoehorned into its tiny site - it's where the trains meet!

I've mostly thrown in the Davis on this, that yes we'll wind up blowing another billion or so dollars on the Vikings.  I could at least live with this at the Arden Hills site under the Ramsey County sales tax plan.  We in Hennepin got stuck with Target Field, without a vote.  It's someone else's turn now.  I also somewhat like the idea of cleaning up the state's biggest pollution pit, since the government had much to do with polluting it in the first place.  And only Arden Hills will bring back tailgating.

We may have to wait a while, like after the recession, either 2013 or 2017 depending on the election.  And that's fine.  The Vikings aren't going anywhere.  Especially this season.

Comments

[J. Ewing]

I still think the taxpayers ought to give the Vikes the Metrodome site, Metrodome included, plus all the concession income, etc., and get the government and taxpayer completely out of the equation, as "our fair share" of their new stadium. Then they can buiid whatever they want, and make all the money they want as a private business, just as it should be.

[Hiram]

I think they should sell the Target Center, and use the proceeds to build the Vikings Stadium in Fairmont.

[Speed Gibson]

How about Redondo Beach?