National Football League

Report: Deal reached for Vikings home

Published Feb. 18, 2012 12:00 a.m. ET

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A preliminary agreement was reached to build a $975 million stadium for the Minnesota Vikings in downtown Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported Saturday, citing multiple sources.

Under the current proposals, the franchise will pay $427 million toward the project to replace the Metrodome as the team's home, with the remainder of the costs split between the state, which will put up $398 million, and the city, which will contribute $150 million.

The city also will contribute around $180 million in operating costs over the next 30 years, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The parties are continuing to negotiate but expect to announce a finalized agreement next week, the sources said, before the project can be officially sanctioned by the state and local government.

Senate Majority Leader David Senjem said a vote on the stadium funding package could be reached "with the two-month framework" before the legislature adjourns in late April.

The sources said the new stadium could be built next to the existing Metrodome, the team's home since 1982.

An agreement could see the team return to the Metrodome while the new stadium is built on the adjacent parking lot, rather than reluctantly playing its games at the University of Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium while awaiting a permanent home.

Vikings vice president Lester Bagley declined to comment Friday on the proposed funding figures and played down suggestions that a deal with the city and state officials was almost complete.

"There is no agreement," he said. "Everything is subject to negotiations. We're working hard on an agreement, but we're not there yet."

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