While the Minnesota Vikings still prefer the site of Arden Hills for a potential new football stadium, multiple sites in Minneapolis have been taking the spotlight lately. One of the bigger sites, that is to say, the site of the current Metrodome, is the favorite of Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak. The mayor recently projected the costs of a major renovation of the current Metrodome site, while moving the Vikings to Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium for the duration of the time the renovations are ongoing.
This isn't a new proposal per se, but it's also received some of the least coverage as the Vikings are reportedly not seriously interested in pursuing such an option. Part of the reason the team is shooting for the site in Arden Hills is the development projects that could come with a new stadium - there is a lot to work with at the site, and the team would likely profit much more beyond their stadium itself. Building at the Metrodome site wouldn't invite those same opportunities for multiple sources of revenue and, of course, profit.
On Tuesday, Vikings President Mark Wilf wrote in a letter that TCF Bank Stadium has limitations that would cost the team at least $12.3 million in annual revenue, according to the Star Tribune. On top of that, another $11 million would be required for upgrades to host NFL games, and even more, a $19 million chunk due to development of more parking. In all, that's another $67 million unaccounted for in Rybak's proposal of around $895 million to rebuild at the Metrodome site.
This would bring the total up to around $962 million, which isn't much cheaper than the $1.1 billion that the Vikings have pitched for their stadium in Arden Hills. On top of that, if the Metrodome site was chosen, there might be a smaller private contribution from owner Zygi Wilf, though this is just speculation.