National Football League

Report: Vikings close to staying in Minny

Published Dec. 25, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Vikings and officials from Minnesota are close to a deal that would see the team remain in the state, Peter King reported on NBC's "Football Night in America" Sunday.

"Look for the Vikings to sign a long-term deal and build a new stadium in Minnesota so that they will not be a candidate to move to Los Angeles," King said.

"Everybody had been rumoring that they were going to LA. The Vikings are going to stay in Minneapolis."

The Vikings' lease with the Metrodome runs out at the end of the regular season and, with the NFL intent on moving a team to Los Angeles, it had been speculated that the Vikings would relocate if they were unable to arrange a deal for a new stadium in Minnesota, NFL.com reported.

At least one of the two groups hoping to build a new NFL stadium in LA were expected to make an aggressive push for the Vikings once the lease expired, according to NBC Sports.

It was unclear where exactly the new stadium would be built. The team's preferred location is Arden Hills in Ramsey County, but some state officials prefer downtown Minneapolis.

The Vikings have been located in Minnesota since entering the league in 1961.