Minnesota Vikings stadium design unveiled
Mark Reilly
Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal
A chorus of architects, government leaders and Minnesota Vikings officials announced the design Monday night for the team’s $975 million Vikings stadium, which will be nearly twice the size of the old Metrodome.
The new stadium won’t have a retractable roof but will allow plenty of light in anyway, courtesy of plentiful use of glass. That including five, 95-foot-tall pivoting glass doors that will open towards the downtown side of the stadium. Half of the roof, meanwhile, will be made of transparent ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) membranes, a type of polymer that was used in the Beijing Olympics’ “Water Cube.”
The roof’s angle is steeply pitched to help keep snow off — a feature that designers, mindful of the 2010 collapse of a snow-laden Metrodome roof, clearly valued.
http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2013/05/13/vikings-stadium-design-unveiled.html
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Minnesota Vikings stadium
View images of the new Vikings stadium that were released on Monday, May 13, 2013.
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Video: Minnesota Multi-Purpose Stadium
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Minnesota Vikings, University of Minnesota reach agreement on use of TCF Bank Stadium
Source: Minnesota Vikings Football, LLC
The University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Vikings have agreed to terms on a Facility Use Agreement that allows the Vikings to use TCF Bank Stadium for the 2014 and 2015 NFL seasons. The agreement also allows for two additional seasons, if necessary.
The agreement is subject to approval by the University’s Board of Regents, which will vote on the proposal during its meeting Friday, May 10, 2013.
The use agreement stipulates that the Vikings will reimburse the University for any required TCF Bank Stadium capital improvements, as well as all game-day operational expenses. In addition, the Vikings will pay the University a per-game rent of $250,000 for the 2014 and 2015 seasons, with minimal increases if additional seasons were to be required. The team will also share $50,000 per game in concessions, advertising and sponsorship revenue. In total, the Vikings will pay the University $300,000 per game, with a maximum of $3 million for each NFL season.
The agreement also includes the creation of a Minnesota Vikings Good Neighbor Partnership Fund, which will be established and administered through the existing University Good Neighbor Fund. The Vikings will contribute $125,000 per NFL season, a combination of cash and in-kind contributions, to the Partnership Fund, which will be used to implement tangible and visible projects during the years the Vikings play at TCF Bank Stadium. The projects selected must be beneficial to the nearby neighborhoods and businesses, allow for participation by the Vikings and their partners and be approved by the Vikings.
The Facility Use Agreement stipulates the following:
Lease Duration/Scheduling Restrictions
The Vikings are expected to play at TCF Bank Stadium for the 2014 and 2015 seasons, but the agreement allows for use through the 2017 season with proper notification.
•A standard NFL season includes 10 football games (two preseason and eight regular season games), plus any home playoff games.
•TCF Bank Stadium will be available for Sunday games as well as for Saturday games when there is not a conflict with a scheduled Gopher football home game. The Vikings may play one weeknight game per season when University classes are not in session and on a date approved by the University.
•The Vikings will work with the NFL to minimize conflicts with the University’s academic calendar, intercollegiate athletic activities and other campus events.
Compensation:
Along with reimbursing the University for all Vikings game day expenses, the team will provide $3 million annually in compensation:
•$250,000 rent per game.
•$50,000 share of concessions, advertising and sponsorship revenue per game.
Capital Improvements
Certain improvements to TCF Bank Stadium are necessary for winter stadium operation and to meet specific NFL mandates, including:
•Installation of new turf and an appropriate heating element for the playing surface to be determined by Vikings and University officials.
•Installation of heat trace pipe to ensure cold weather plumbing functionality.
•Potential installation of additional temporary seating in the western end zone plaza, subject to approval by the University’s building code division (number of seats yet to be determined by Vikings and University officials).
•Any necessary modification of existing video platform to meet NFL broadcast requirements.
•Installation of additional insulation in various locations around TCF Bank Stadium.
•Build-out storage space within TCF Bank Stadium.
Alcohol Sales
Alcohol sales and consumption will be allowed in TCF Bank Stadium on Vikings game days, subject to Board of Regents policies and restrictions.
Tailgating
Tailgating will be allowed in parking lots designated by the University under the same rules in effect for University football game days.
Metrodome
Dilemma X 
May 15, 2013
Athletics