Oct 27, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers take the field prior to the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at TCF Bank Stadium. The Gophers defeated the Boilermakers 44-28. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
The Vikings have hammered out a formal agreement with the University of Minnesota to use TCF Bank Stadium as their home venue for 2 seasons while they wait for their new permanent home to be constructed on roughly the site of the current Metrodome. This deal will reportedly call for the Vikings to shell out around $3 million-per-year for the 2014 and 2015 seasons. The Vikes will pay $250,000 per game plus an additional $50,000 in concession and ad revenue.
U of M president Eric Kaler crowed about the deal, saying, “I think we’ve reached a very fair agreement for both sides. It’s the classic example of a win-win.”
The Vikes will have to pay for all upgrades to the stadium – and it will reportedly need plenty of upgrades to be viable as a winter venue. The University also gets to keep all parking revenue. So the U gets around $6 million plus free upgrades to their stadium plus parking revenue? And the Vikings get to play outdoor football in November and December for two years.
I can’t find a loser in this deal. Players who hate playing outside in the cold, I guess. But they’re being paid handsomely too so they can just shut up. Oh and in case you’re wondering, the Vikes have to foot the bill for all of this themselves. Unless they figure out a new way to fleece the taxpayers of Minnesota.
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