Stadium thread

[glg]

I could see how you could *some* work done on the new stadium, but by this diagram, it doesn't look like it would be extensive. The footprint of the old Met runs right through the 50 yard line of the new one.

1/3-1/2 of the structure isn't extensive?

[Eli]

You cannot build 1/3 to 1/2 of the structure from the ground up. It's impossible. They could maybe lay the foundation for the one end, build a tier of stands, finish whatever internal rooms are under the stands at that end. Build an entrance ramp or two and finish a fraction of the exterior. Very little else.

[CalVike]

http://m.twincities.com/twincities/db_3 ... d=UIQoU44O

Behind the scenes story.

[PurpleMustReign]

http://m.twincities.com/twincities/db_3 ... d=UIQoU44O

Behind the scenes story.

Well kudos to everyone for getting it done, but it still makes me mad that the "leaders" of the state pulled the crap that they did. I am so glad we have Wilf as the owner of this team. I wonder how many other owners would have put up with this state's crap like he did?

[Eli]

Man, the new stadium is really shoehorned in there, isn't it? What's parking going to be like at this stadium? Looks like they're wiping out all of the surface lots.

[bigskyeric]

Man, the new stadium is really shoehorned in there, isn't it? What's parking going to be like at this stadium? Looks like they're wiping out all of the surface lots.

according to that map, there will be 1100 parking spaces between the ramp to the north and the spaces to the west.

[Eli]

according to that map, there will be 1100 parking spaces between the ramp to the north and the spaces to the west.

All available parking will be in parking garages? That sounds like a nightmare.

Wait, there's a tiny 'surface lot' shown at the SE corner of the stadium. That must be where team buses will park.

What is "Open Space Gameday Tailgating" on that map? Doesn't really sound like parking ... do they have a different definition for 'tailgating' in Minnesota?

[bigskyeric]

All available parking will be in parking garages? That sounds like a nightmare.

Wait, there's a tiny 'surface lot' shown at the SE corner of the stadium. That must be where team buses will park.

What is "Open Space Gameday Tailgating" on that map? Doesn't really sound like parking ... do they have a different definition for 'tailgating' in Minnesota?

The fact they call green space a 'tailgating' area is pretty absurd. I think 'they' should knock everything down 4 blocks in each direction and make a proper parking area for proper tailgating. The city is missing the fact that football fans don't want parks, and ice skating areas. They want a place to park their truck, bust out the grill and 'Tailgate'. So to answer your question....yes, they have a different definition apparently.

[PurpleMustReign]

What is the latest rendering of the new stadium?

Those of you who are good with photoshop, I have always thought it would be cool to have the stadium in the shape of a Viking ship... like the field would be the floor of the ship and the seats would surround it like the sides... and there would be flags and stuff like the sails of the ship and stuff.. Idk. Would anyone be able to make something like that? Just for fun?

[Knoxx]

I would think that the tailgating area will be for parking but it will cost too much for the average Joe to park there. With the tailgating craze why not try to cash in on it?

[Rus]

Doesn't look that bad to me. The Metrodome sold out repeatedly for many years while being shoehorned into downtown, I don't see how much better it would have been to drop a stadium 40 miles out in the middle of nowhere just to grab more cheap and plentiful tailgating land. And when I say that, I mean that. Buying some overpriced buildings nearby just to tear them down and turn them into tailgating land would have never, ever, gotten through the legislative process.

If you want to pitch a grill outside the back of your truck, I recommend you drive out to the suburbs, find a nice park with wifi, get out your laptop, and put on the game while grilling. The tradeoff that most people understand is going to happen with a stadium in an urban area is that you get mass transit + shorter commute at the expense of cheap land for massive parking lots. Better that than having the team move to LA.

[Eli]

Doesn't look that bad to me. The Metrodome sold out repeatedly for many years while being shoehorned into downtown, I don't see how much better it would have been to drop a stadium 40 miles out in the middle of nowhere just to grab more cheap and plentiful tailgating land.

The Arden Hills site was only 10 miles from the current downtown location. It would have meant not having to play at TCF while construction was taking place, as well as the other benefits of the location.

I think the politicians balked at "giving" Ziggy all that money for a location that he'd develop and make additional money from. Instead, they felt more comfortable going with the status quo, even if it means a less than ideal situation for both fans and the team.

The tradeoff that most people understand is going to happen with a stadium in an urban area is that you get mass transit + shorter commute at the expense of cheap land for massive parking lots.

Shorter commute? That would be assuming most people attending games live where they can walk out of their homes and jump on mass transit, which I doubt is the case. Without parking, I imagine what many people are forced to do is either drive to a mass transit transit hub, park their cars and ride in, or else park 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 mile out and walk in.

Better that than having the team move to LA.

Yep. In the end, you take what you can get.

[Purple bruise]

THE NEW STADIUM:

http://cdn1.sbnation.com/imported_asset ... medium.jpg

[Rus]

The Arden Hills site was only 10 miles from the current downtown location. It would have meant not having to play at TCF while construction was taking place, as well as the other benefits of the location.

I think the politicians balked at "giving" Ziggy all that money for a location that he'd develop and make additional money from. Instead, they felt more comfortable going with the status quo, even if it means a less than ideal situation for both fans and the team.

No, it's because of the NIMBY factor. Everyone wants a stadium, no one wants to pay taxes for it...so...not in my backyard (if I have to pay for it). The economy isn't quite churning fast enough yet for people to feel good about taxes going to a stadium that will effectively make a billionaire wealthier. Most of the politicians that made big promises about "not raising taxes" and "fiscal responsibility" painted themselves into a corner. Also, the votes to approve the stadium were far, far closer than people seem to be making them out to be. It came down to just a few politicians really that felt like they had sufficiently dogged the bill enough that they could have it both ways...they could say they got the stadium while being "fiscally responsible". But buying some crappy buildings where the owners were probably looking for huge $$ from the billionaire owner just to be torn down for tailgating lots? NO WAY that's ever going to fly.

Shorter commute? That would be assuming most people attending games live where they can walk out of their homes and jump on mass transit, which I doubt is the case. Without parking, I imagine what many people are forced to do is either drive to a mass transit transit hub, park their cars and ride in, or else park 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 mile out and walk in.

Here's the thing about cities: There are more people in them than the countryside. True story. Shorter commute for more people usually happens when the stadium is closer to the most people. If you live near Arden Hills, then..."I feel yer pain!" But the most people live in and around the Twin Cities, and putting a stadium in the middle generally means the majority of people don't have to drive as far. If you want to whine about mass transit, then don't whine at me. I live in Portland. We have two stadiums in downtown and everyone takes mass transit to get there. People have adopted that practice and take pride in it...and honestly, it's easier than driving. When you're standing on a train next to a bunch of other fellow Vikings fans getting pumped up for the game, it's a great socialization thing. Blazers fans do it all the time in Portland, as well as Timbers fans. Portland can sell out SOCCER games that way. It IS a shorter commute for a whole lot of people. Not to mention, if you stick the stadium 10 miles out in the suburbs to the north, it's a long commute for anyone south of the Cities. If you stick it in the west, it's a long way for people on the east side. See what I'm saying?

Bottom line, though, tailgating doesn't sell as many tickets as just having a good product on the field. The point for Wilf is to sell tickets and be profitable. When the team is profitable, it will put a better product on the field. I wouldn't really call tailgating a "craze", as well, it's been around for decades. There's definitely a segment that enjoys that, and that's all fine and good, but it doesn't guarantee the team will sell as many tickets.

[CalVike]

I think they ended up figuring a plaza type atmosphere where the team could increase revenues was preferable to the BYO culture of tailgating. I'm not doubting the team was all in on the tailgating at Arden Hills when they had complete control of parking revenues. In Minneapolis, they changed the dynamic away from tailgating, for solid business reasons.