By: Aj Mansour | KFAN.com
@AjKFAN

Minneapolis, MN - Now that the official unveiling of the Minnesota Vikings new stadium is only a few hours away, we can really have fun with some of the speculation behind the design.

We can assume that the nearly $1 Billion stadium will have all the technical bells and whistles that 21st century stadiums are equipped with. But big questions remain surrounding what will the design look like?

Will it look more like Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis) or Cowboys Stadium (Dallas)? Will it have a retractable roof or some sort of retractable "feature"?

So it got us thinking, what's the single most important feature that you want to see included in the designs for the new Minnesota Vikings stadium? Let us know and cast your vote in the poll below...

Photo -Aj Mansour (KFAN)

Eden Prairie, MN (May 9, 2013) – 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.

“We’re pleased to enter into an agreement with the Vikings to allow them to play at TCF Bank Stadium,” said Vice President for University Services Pam Wheelock. “With Board of Regents approval, we plan to start work right away to ensure the facility is ready for the Vikings in 2014.”

“This partnership benefits the University, its neighbors, the Vikings and all Minnesota football fans,” said University President Eric Kaler. “The Vikings will remain part of the Twin Cities region during construction of their new stadium, while proceeds will be used to enhance Gopher Athletics and invest in the fabric of our surrounding neighborhoods.”

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.

“This collaborative process between the Vikings and the University has led to an agreement that will benefit all parties,” said Vikings Vice President of Legal Affairs and Chief Administrative Officer Kevin Warren. “With this agreement solidified, we can now move forward on finalizing a plan that ensures the Vikings provide a great game day experience for our players, coaches and fans while having a positive impact on the University and the surrounding neighborhoods.”

“We appreciate the University’s commitment to host the Vikings while the new downtown stadium is being constructed,” said Vikings Owner and President Mark Wilf. “We look forward to hosting our fans in TCF Bank Stadium in 2014 and 2015.”

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.

Photo - Aj Mansour (KFAN)

By: Aj Mansour | KFAN.com
@AjKFAN

Minneapolis, MN - If there's one thing that we've learned with the recent explosion of Social Media, it's this. More often than not, when athletes take to the internet and begin spouting off about politics and hot button topics, it usually backfires. We are also learning that the same can be said when politicians jump into the business decisions that go on behind the scenes in the world of sports.

Wednesday afternoon, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton did just that. Following heavy meetings to discuss adjusted funding options for the Minnesota Vikings stadium, Dayton was approached by the assembled media and asked to comment on the Vikings recent decision to part ways with outspoken punter Chris Kluwe after eight years of commendable service.

"I don't feel good about it," Dayton told the press. "I mean I'm not in position to evaluate the role and their punting abilities. But it seems to me the general manager said right after the draft that they were going to have competition. Well, then he brings [rookie Jeff Locke] in, he kicks for a weekend and that's the competition? I mean, I just think sports officials ought to be honest about what the heck is going on. Same way I think public officials should be honest about what's going on. So that bothers me probably as much if not more than the actual decision."

Kluwe gained national notoriety this past season as he took his opportunity as a public figure to speak out against the issues of prejudice surrounding the heated gay marriage amendment that rolled through the State of Minnesota in the fall of 2012. Kluwe's comments pushed the buttons of those on both sides of the debate empowering some to speak out more and others to push back against himself, the movement and the Minnesota Vikings.

When this year's NFL Draft came about, the Vikings through everybody, including Chris Kluwe, a curve ball by selecting punter Jeff Locke out of UCLA in the fifth round. Normally, fifth round selections stick around and usually teams don't carry more than one punter on roster at any given time. The always savvy Kluwe could see that the writing was on the wall for his dismissal.

"If you're going to check and see who's the better kicker under the pressure of an NFL season, seems to me you at least go into the exhibition games and have them both kicking under that kind of pressure," Dayton continued. "If you're to have true competition, that's how I would think you'd resolve it in a straightforward way...But that's their decision to make. They don't give me political advice. I don't give them coaching advice."

In fairness to the Vikings, Kluwe's production dipped during the 2012 season and he was scheduled to make $1.45 million in 2013. We often forget that there is also a business side to professional sports and cutting ties with Kluwe allows the Vikings flexibility under the salary cap to fill other voids left heading into the next season.

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. @AjKFAN

We Day Minnesota will bring together 18,000 young people to celebrate the power of youth to create positive change in their local and global communities. You can’t buy a ticket to We Day – you earn it through service. We Act  is a comprehensive service learning program that supports schools and youth groups in taking tangible action to make a difference in the world. Groups take on one local and one global action and report back to Free The Children to earn their way to We Day. In turn, schools and groups get tools and resources to make their We Act commitments come to life. More than an event, We Day celebrates a movement of young people leading change through We Act.

CLICK HERE to learn more about WE Day and find out how to register your school!

By: Aj Mansour | KFAN.com
@AjKFAN

Minneapolis, MN - For the last seven days the writing has been on the wall but Monday morning it became official. Chris Kluwe's eight year career punting for the Minnesota Vikings has officially come to a close. Kluwe announced the move through a tweet Monday morning.

So long, Minnesota, and thanks for all the fish!

— Chris Kluwe (@ChrisWarcraft) May 6, 2013

Thank you to all the fans, my teammates, and the Wilf family for the past 8.5 years. I wouldn't have traded it for anything.

— Chris Kluwe (@ChrisWarcraft) May 6, 2013

The Vikings made a surprising and potentially controversial decision during the fifth round of the last weekend's NFL Draft by selecting Jeff Locke, a punter out of UCLA. Common sense then told you that Kluwe's time in Minnesota may be numbered.

Originally cut by the Seattle Seahawks in 2005, Kluwe landed with the Minnesota Vikings where he fit in and made a decent NFL career out of an undrafted situation. In his eight years with the Vikings, Kluwe only missed one game his first season and averaged 44.4 yards per punt throughout.

While his career on the field was respectable, Kluwe gained notoriety as it was marred with off-the-field controversy. Still Kluwe stayed strong towards what he believed was important, human rights. Kluwe's very public stance for gay marriage and his national plea to get Ray Guy into the Pro Football Hall of Fame landed Kluwe in the headlines on a regular basis.

The move leaves rookie Jeff Locke as the only punter on roster as the Vikings continue through their offseason programs.

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. @AjKFAN

Photo - Aj Mansour (KFAN)

By: Aj Mansour | KFAN.com
@AjKFAN

Minneapolis, MN - Friday morning at Winter Park marked the beginning of a new era for Minnesota Vikings football. Two days after the veterans opened up the teams off season programs, Friday the rookies, undrafted free agents and tryout invitees took over the Winter Park field house marking the beginning of a new wave of future Vikings.

Headlining the group of nearly 70 players is the Vikings' 2013 draft class. With three selections within the first round of this year's draft, the Vikings are hoping to get a good amount of run out of their new players.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS:

Sharrif Floyd - Bearing the honor of being the Vikings first selection in this year's draft, Floyd hit the practice field for the first time Friday morning. Displaying why he was originally projected to go near the top of this year's draft, Floyd displayed good speed and technique as the day went on.

Xavier Rhodes - You can't judge NFL talent off of one mini camp performance but if I had to make a pick towards which rookie I think will hold a starting job on this team day one, it would Xavier Rhodes. All the things that we were told about Rhodes were in full display at today's mini camp. He's physical, he presses well, he has closing speed and he has instincts. In fact, Rhodes intercepted the first ball that was thrown his way once the wide receivers and defensive backs broke into one-on-one drills. Rhodes deflected a few other passes in the team's 7-on-7 drill and only once was he made to look silly (it was double move towards the inside).

Cordarrelle Patterson - Filling in the role of punt returner and wide receiver, the unpolished project out of Tennessee rose above the pack Friday morning as his athleticism reigned supreme. The Vikings don't appear to have questions about Patterson's physical attributes but will work with him on a regular basis to continue his education of the game. Patterson's interesting path to the NFL may prove to be a blessing. Now that he has found a somewhat long-term home with the Vikings the hope is that he will be comfortable for the first time and roll some of that stability into professional success.

Gerald Hodges - Stemming from "Linebacker U" (Penn State), Hodges looks to fit the bill. Leading the LB group through all of their drills, Hodges rarely had to stop or redo his repetitions. Speed is likely his best asset at the OLB position and it was evident that he was a converted safety as his ball instincts shone clearly.

Jeff Locke - Locke was present at the beginning of the morning session of rookie mini camp but after the first drill hopped in a car with special teams coach Mike Preifer and went down to the Metrodome to do some kicking. It is believed that Locke will be replacing Chris Kluwe as the Vikings full-time punter this season and if today's session went okay, Kluwe could be released as early as this coming Sunday.

Duron Carter - When it was announced earlier this week that the Vikings were extending an invitation to Hall of Famer Cris Carter's son (Duron), the blogosphere blew up quickly deducing that the only reason an invite was extended was because of who his father is. Having seen Carter at this morning's mini camp session I can say that these assumptions are likely correct. To the eye, Duron looks like fits the bill. 6-foot 3-inches tall, Carter is long and lean and fairly swift of foot. Beyond that, Carter dropped the first three balls that were thrown his way Friday morning and looked as if he knew he was living on borrowed time. Body language can't tell the whole story, but it can surely point you in the right direction.

Michael Mauti - Originally on track to work his way towards a first round selection, Michael Mauti suffered his second ACL tear on November 17th of 2012. Because the injury carries with it a long road to recovery, Mauti was present at Friday's mini camps but was observing from the sidelines with a baseball cap upon his head. Currently on schedule to the field sometime during training camp, Mauti will surely be behind schedule but is expected to push for some time in the middle if Erin Henderson were not able to hold down the position.

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. @AjKFAN