The Vikings are the closest they've ever been to getting their long coveted replacement for the deteriorating Metrodome. On Wednesday evening, after hours of meetings behind closed doors at the State Capitol, details of the final bill, which would still need to pass through the House and Senate and get the Governor's signature, finally emerged:
The reworked bill has the Vikings paying $477 million, a significant cut above the figure team officials had once described as "set in stone." But though the package was tougher, it also is the closest the team has come to winning a replacement for the Metrodome, a 30-year-old facility that the team says has outlived its usefulness. [...]
As revised, the $975 million stadium would draw on $348 million in state money, plus $150 million from the city of Minneapolis. The new stadium would be built on the site of the Metrodome near downtown Minneapolis.
Of course, the Vikings would have to agree to paying almost $50 more than the original bill suggested, but there's no indication that they will not be willing. It's believed that the Minnesota House will debate and vote on the bill overnight.
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