And, of course, no stadium. The stupid, flat roof stadium that seemed like a sure thing was shot down in committee last night, leaving the Vikings and stadium supporters stunned. This was the furthest along a stadium bill had proceeded, and for it to fall flat now seems to indicate that there is no way the state of Minnesota will financially subsidize a team.
The only real route for the Vikings to travel now is to explore relocation, because it’s the only alternative to building a stadium that is at all threatening. Clearly, it’s been in the back of Minnesotans’ minds anyways, but it might be time for the team to openly court sites outside of the state. Credit to the Wilfs, though, for operating without using the threat of moving as leverage. The McCombs wouldn’t even negotiate, instead simply seeking to move the team outright. Maybe Red had it right.
The difference, of course, is that McCombs wanted the Vikings in San Antonio, a city not really capable of supporting a team. Now, the Wilfs, businessmen, can simply look to move the team to Los Angeles, a city that is rife with people and money but not professional football. For a businessman like Wilf, the move is something to seriously consider.
This all sounds bleak, doesn’t it? It should. There is some hope, though. For one thing, Minneapolis is too good a market. The fan base is strong and still selling out the Metrodome. The Twin Cities economy is fantastic. The Packers and Bears love having the Vikings around. This is not a market the NFL wants to lose. Not only that, the San Diego Chargers are a much more attractive prospect for Los Angeles, as there is already a fan base in southern California to go along with the team.
So, it’s not good. The Minnesota Vikings do need a stadium, and the state isn’t willing at this time to subsidize one. The Vikings will likely start to hang Los Angeles over our head. The important thing right now, if you are a Vikings fan, is not to panic.
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