Goodell Claims NFL Will Help Fund New Vikings Stadium

National Football League (NFL) commissioner Roger Goodell has stated that the league is prepared to make a financial contribution towards a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings after a section of the roof collapsed under heavy snow at its Metrodome arena in December.

Speaking after a meeting on Tuesday, May 17, with Governor Mark Dayton and supporters of the proposed new Vikings stadium, Goodell confirmed that efforts to build the facility are securing the team’s future in the state.

Goodell told the Associated Press: “I think the commitment here is to get something done and I think that will ensure the success of the Vikings.”

The NFL commissioner met with Dayton, legislators sponsoring the stadium bill and state Transportation Commissioner Tom Sorel to talk about the team’s partnership with Ramsey County to build a US$1.1bn stadium in suburban Arden Hills. As part of its deal with Ramsey County, the Vikings pledged to pay $407m towards stadium construction, about 39 per cent of the total project cost.

Related road improvement projects surrounding the stadium are yet to be clarified, although Sen. Julie Rosen and Rep. Morrie Lanning, the chief legislative sponsors, have insisted public funding will not exceed the designated $300m for the entire development.

Lanning added: “We still have work to do in terms of pinning down what are the transportation needs over and above what’s already planned. That is the most important issue.”