Vikings fans fill TCF Bank Stadium as Vikings take on the Bears (12/20/2010) - Photo: Aj Mansour (KFAN)
By: Aj Mansour | KFAN.com
@AjMansourKFAN
Minneapolis, MN - Following the MN Legislature's passage of the Vikings Stadium Bill on Thursday, the Minnesota Vikings have announced that they have officially come to an agreement with the University of Minnesota to play one to four seasons at TCF Bank Stadium while construction on the new stadium continues.
"The Minnesota Vikings are an important asset to the state and we were pleased to work with them on reaching a mutually beneficial arrangement to host them on our campus," Kaler said. "The Vikings will remain part of the Twin Cities region during construction of their new stadium, while the proceeds from this arrangement will be invested in our athletic department to enhance Gopher sports."
Initial plans have had the Vikings playing the 2012-2014 seasons at the Metrodome as construction on the new stadium begins. In 2015 the Vikings will play one season at TCF Bank Stadium as the Dome is destructed and construction is completed on the new stadium.
The agreement announced that the Vikings would reimburse the University of Minnesota for any and all changes or updates that they will require to make to TCF. Rumored changes include installing specialized heating coils beneath the turf and adding temporary bleacher-style seats in the western end zone plaza (the current capacity of TCF Bank Stadium is 50,805).
"The university is committed to proactively addressing stadium and campus operational issues and to minimizing any potential impact on the university community and our neighbors," Kaler said. "For Vikings games at TCF Bank Stadium, the university will control stadium and campus operations and will exercise the same level of care for traffic and noise management, litter control and public safety as is our standard for Gopher events."
The Vikings will pay the university a fixed fee of $250,000 per game. Additionally, the university will receive around $50,000 per game in split concessions, advertising and sponsorship dollars totalling an estimated $3,000,000 for the one season that is scheduled to take place at TCF Bank.
Other details surrounding the agreement outline the fact that TCF Bank Stadium will be available for Sunday games only and one weeknight game per season (on a date that is approved by the university).
The terms of alcohol sales at TCF Bank Stadium during Vikings games will be subject to the ruling of the Board of Regents approval that will come at a future date.
Aj Mansour covers Minnesota Sports for KFAN.com. Feel free to leave comments and questions regarding this post in the space provided below. For Vikings' updates and breaking Vikings' news, follow Aj on Twitter. @AjMansourKFAN
