Where Do You Expect The Vikings To Play In 2012?

Bring the Rams to the NFC North!

and need to stay that way.
All the distasteful rivalry shit has been built over the majority of our lifetimes.
Try not to let the rivalry frustrations and dislike get in the way of what is right. They are the Minnesota Vikings and need to stay that way.
Unfortunately, it looks like politics and short-sighted thinking will push them away.
I support the Vikings efforts to get a real field and stadium.

the stadium debate unfold and fold back up many times here and I’ve just lived here for 12 years. The taxpayers here are very reasonable and sensible. They don’t want to foot the majority of the bill (especially in these economic times) so the Wilf family can turn their healthy profit. Makes complete sense. The fan base cannot hang its hat on restoring the glory since the franchise is littered with playoff failures.

Agree that the Gophers do not want the Vikings in TCF and vice versa. When the Lambeau expansion is complete it will have very close to double the seating capacity of TCF. The Vikings will take a significant hit financially over the period of time they would play in TCF which, by most estimates would be 3 seasons.

The Wilfs are sold on the fact that if they build Viking World in Arden Hills, complete with a retail and entertainment complex/venue, it will become a year round destination. This is obviously a way for the Wilf family to line their pockets with more $. Its a very short sighted approach and would likely fail miserably based on location alone.

The optimal site for the new stadium would be the West bottoms just a stones throw south and west of Target Field where the Twins play. All of the transportation and parking infrastructure is present and they would have space to establish a true tailgating atmosphere. Building at or near the current Mall of America Field/Metrodome site again locks the team into that sterile confined urban environment, which is probably one of the worst places to tailgate in the country. I refuse to take my kids to a game in that current hellhole with pumped in crowd noise. We make the trek twice a year to Lambeau. We’re so fortunate to have the stock sale option where people who want to support the team can give the Packers a huge financial boost when they need it.

the majority of the tax (if not all) would be footed by twin cities metro residents since they would be the “beneficiaries” of the projected economic spoils of having the stadium in their county. The Arden Hills site would be footed more by Ramsey County. The current Metrodome/MOA Field site would place the burden on Hennepin Co. There are rumblings of other means to raise funds since the tax burden has failed in its last several attempts. Those ideas range from establishment of pull tabs/ gambling, racino/betting tracks or even an added restuarant tax on food/ beverages. Doubtful you would notice any significant impact in Rochester.

Needless to say, anything could happen in the current climate. There is probably stronger legislative support for the Vikings to stay this time around since they are backed up to the deadline of the Metrodome lease and the impetous for LA getting a team is stronger than it has been in a long time. Would not surprise me either way if the team stays or goes. Even though I don’t attend games here, I would like to see them stay here in the NFC North in MN, if for no other reason than to keep the continuity of the division and reduce the travel time of GB’s away games ( although I would never let my friends and neighbors hear the end of it, if they moved).