Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings stadium project may have a $50 million problem

Published Jul. 23, 2015 1:47 p.m. ET

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The $1.1 billion construction project to build the Minnesta Vikings' new U.S. Bank Stadium may have hit its first major road bump. A $50 million dispute is brewing between Minneapolis-based contractor Mortenson, Dallas-based architect HKS and the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA), according Rochelle Olson of the Star-Tribune.

"I don’t think we should be hesitant to say, 'We have a problem' and air it out," outgoing MSFA board member Duane Benson told the Star-Tribune. Benson's "worst-case" estimate is between $35 million to $50 million in unaccounted for costs, although it could be more or less.

The dispute, which has to do with change orders and cost adjustments, is over who's responsible for the additional costs. The Star-Tribune reports that, unless someone pays more, the stadium could risk having its amenities scaled down. The Vikings have not been involved in MSFA's closed-door negotiations to find a solution.

Taxpayers are shouldering $500 million of the total costs, per the report. The Vikings originally agreed to pay $477 million, but team owners Mark and Zygi Wilf have since contributed an additional $95 million to the project. The MSFA has $29 million set up in a construction contingency fund.

"There needs to be a singular voice saying, 'This is all we’re going to put in and not a dime more.' I don’t think that point’s been made," Benson said, via the Star-Tribune. "Somebody or everybody is not going to be happy when this is over."

The 66,000-seat venue is 65 percent complete and slated to open for the 2016 NFL season.

(h/t Star-Tribune)

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt

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