Minnesota Vikings Cancel Stadium Land Deal

The NFL's Minnesota Vikings this week canceled a $45 million deal to buy Star Tribune property near the Metrodome, "a move that could complicate the team's effort to build a new stadium at the site," according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Team officials "blamed the deal's collapse on turmoil in the nation's credit markets," but added that they "remain committed to building a stadium on the Metrodome site and are continuing negotiations for other nearby parcels."

In June, the Vikings had agreed to pay Avista Capital Partners, which owns the Star Tribune, a reported $45 million for the land, which includes several blocks of surface parking and the newspaper's 25-year-old Freeman building.

"We have no intention to pursue any other location other than the Minneapolis site,"
Vikings VP/Public Affairs & Stadium Development Lester Bagley said.

Stadium deals are always tricky. What's more amazing is how often teams become upset with stadiums that are relatively new and just HAVE to replace them. The Metrodome is only 25 years old.

It's never about the dedicated fan. It's always about constructing cookie-cutter sterile new arenas and stadiums with many more luxury suites to attract corporate customers.