state + local

What a useless page. I was expecting a depiction of what the stadium might look like on the site. Not a wall of the Humpty Dome and a parking lot. I could have looked that up on a sat image and gotten a better feel for the site.

I'm surprised that the best idea never found its way to the forefront. And that was to build a multi-level, 10,000 car parking ramp around the perimeter of the current dome that would support a retractable roof over the existing field. Into the new ramp could go new concourses and concessions and on top, new and more suites and a new second deck with 10,000 more seats. It would include all the bells and whistles like scoreboards etc. About the only thing that would stay is the field and lower deck seating. It would remain multi-purpose and could be done in phases to allow the Vikings to continue playing there during construction. Most importantly, anyone who lives North of the Twin Cities and traveling by air could expect to get a deal to park there and hop the Light Rail to the airport except for 10+ game days per year. The Metrodome site had too much value from the start. They were wasting our time chasing other sites. But they still haven't made the most of the HHH site just yet.

Not bad ScottSimon, not bad. To be honest, I think the only reason they're rejecting something like that is that the Vikings want to keep playing in the dome during construction as much as possible. Your plan would mean playing down at the university stadium for 3 years and the Vikings are pretty strongly opposed to this.

tranquil17 I don't think they would need to play at the TCF stadium more than one season or maybe even one half of a season and even then, if the NFL could schedule their games during the final season at home early, most of those games would be outdoors at the BANK and odds are they would face good weather. They would start and conclude building of the parking ramp and new food concession concourses during the first season while football went on as usual inside the HHH. At the top level of the parking ramp would be all the mechanicals and tracks for the sliding roof over the field. Following the conclusion of the second season, the existing roof and second deck would be peeled off and the new roof installed. After this is done, the new suites and second deck with 10,000 addition seats would be built making the building much taller than the existing Metrodome. Remember while this is going on, the parking ramp would be in full use. The final step is the installation of all the scoreboards, speakers, signage and concessions along with furniture/seating/facilities etc. Open the roof, let the sunshine in and kick-off at an exhibition game in mid-August. It could be done . . . faster, cheaper BUT ALSO BETTER. Learn from some of the best and worst of the Vancouver BC Stadium experience.

From the video, I just cannot believe the amount of entertainment businesses that were created around the stadium that has been there for 30 years. It is just like the stadium supporters said would happen! Do you see all the neon signs?! The area looks so vibrant and people-friendly. I mean, stadium supporters say that having the Viqueens brings tourism to this state so the Dept of Tourism should place this video on its website, right? Sorry but all of the aforementioned was total BS. A picture tells a thousand words and this video certainly kills most stadium supporters' claims. The 'new' stadium, the Wasteland Stadium 2.0, will be NO BETTER than what is there.