Venue News: Minnesota Officials Unveil Stadium Plan, Vikings Not Impressed

Minneapolis officials on Monday unveiled a billion-dollar plan to build a new Vikings stadium at the Metrodome site. The plan includes a bevy of new or expanded taxes. The proposal, introduced by Mayor R.T. Rybak at a state capitol news conference, would have the Vikings paying 45% — $400 million — of an $895 million roofed stadium on the Dome site. However, Vikings VP Lester Bagley said the Vikings appreciated the proposal but a $400 million contribution was too much. He also noted that playing in the University of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium for three years while the new field was built would cost the Vikings $40 million in lost revenue…

…Further hindering the new Vikings stadium plan, a large majority of Minnesotans still oppose using public subsidies for the project, even though they agree that keeping the team in the state is important. More than 60% of respondents in the latest Star Tribune Minnesota Poll said the Vikings should simply keep playing in the Metrodome. Nearly three in four said Vikings owner Zygi Wilf should not get taxpayer money for a new stadium…

…At its meeting tonight, the Glendale, AZ, City Council will likely approve the allocation of $25 million to cover the Phoenix Coyotes’ financial losses again for the next season. Tonight’s council vote involves Glendale’s covering $25 million worth of the hockey team’s losses next season, giving the city and the NHL more time to sell the Coyotes. It’s expected to be approved by a 4-3 vote…

…Two years after the Columbus, OH, Blue Jackets floated the idea of a public purchase of Nationwide Arena, no one has agreed on a way to help the hockey team stem its financial losses. Key city and county officials haven’t met about the issue since October, despite initial suggestions that a solution was urgently needed. In May 2009, the Blue Jackets announced that the team had lost about $80 million over the past seven years, mostly because of its lease deal with the arena owners. Last year, the team said its deficit runs about $12 million per year…

…Australia’s Blacktown Olympic Park is to be renamed Blacktown International Sports Park Sydney, effective July 1. Developed as a major playing and training venue for athletics, baseball, and softball for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, the park has continued to grow and develop, welcoming AFL, cricket, and the International Goalkeepers Academy within its confines over the past 10 years.