A seven county Twin Cities Metropolitan Area liquor tax is collected from 1977-1979.ġ978: A district judge finds the public debt portion of the bill passed in 1977 unconstitutional since it was not passed by the House and Senate with at least 60% of the votes. Employees of the Metropolitan Sports Area Commission are transferred to the MSFC. The legislation doesn't specify a site but it does state that no public money may be used to purchase the land that the stadium will be built on. It creates the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission (MSFC) and includes financing provisions for sports facilities in the metropolitan area. The Minnesota Legislature passes and Governor Rudy Perpich signs Laws of Minnesota 1977, chapter 89. Governor Rudy Perpich announces support for a covered stadium. Stadium proposals include remodeling Metropolitan Stadium, expansion of the University of Minnesota's Memorial Stadium, building a recessed stadium in Lakeville, building a $28 million open air stadium, and construction of a $126 million multi-purpose domed stadium.ġ977: The Vikings lose Super Bowl XI to the Oakland Raiders on January 9th. They issue A Report on Sport Stadium Proposals in 1976.
Governor Wendell Anderson instructs the State Planning Agency to examine stadium proposals. Governor Wendell Anderson states, in April, that he is convinced that the Vikings and the Twins will leave Minnesota without the passage of legislation for a new stadium.ġ976-1977: Stadium politics dominate the Minnesota State Legislature. The Minnesota Vikings lease agreement at Metropolitan Stadium is set to expire. They propose a multipurpose, publicly financed, domed stadium.ġ975: The Vikings lose Super Bowl IX to the Pittsburgh Steelers on January 12th. Paul task forces release a joint report, Analysis of Stadium Alternatives, Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, in September. Paul Chamber of Commerce Stadium Study Task Force is also created.ġ974: The Vikings lose Super Bowl VIII to the Miami Dolphins on January 13th.
It increases the seating capacity from approximately 41,200 to around 47,200 seats and is completed in time for the August 20th preseason game.ġ970: The Vikings lose Super Bowl IV to the Kansas City Chiefs on January 11th.ġ971: The Vikings voice their dissatisfaction with Metropolitan Stadium, stating it is too old, too cold in winter, and too small at its current capacity of 48,700.ġ973: The Greater Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce Stadium Task Force is created in October. The two teams share the stadium.ġ965: The Vikings finance the permanent east side grandstand expansion in exchange for stadium rent deduction. This same year, the Twins (formerly the Washington Senators) baseball team arrives in Minnesota. They then defeat the Chicago Bears in their first regular season home game on September 17th. They lose this preseason game to the Los Angeles Rams.
Minneapolis approves $8.5 million in bonds to expand Metropolitan Stadium.ġ961: The Minnesota Vikings play their first home game at Metropolitan Stadium on September 10th. The franchise group includes Max Winter, E. The seating capacity is about 18,200.ġ958: In September, Minneapolis approves $9 million in general obligation bonds to expand the seating capacity to 41,000, if a major league team is signed by January 1, 1959.ġ960: The National Football League (NFL) grants a football franchise to Minnesota on January 28th. Groundbreaking ceremonies are held for Metropolitan Stadium (The Met) on June 20th.ġ956: The Minneapolis Millers, a minor league baseball team, opens Metropolitan Stadium on April 24th against the Wichita Braves. The bonds are to be repaid through revenue generated by the stadium. The Minneapolis Minute Men, predominantly Minneapolis businessmen, help sell the $4.5 million worth of bonds issued by Minneapolis to help finance the stadium. It appears the Metropolitan Sports Area Commission is officially established by an ownership and operations agreement between Minneapolis and Bloomington entered into on August 13th.ġ955: The Minnesota Legislature validates the Metropolitan Sports Area Commission's agreement from Augwith the passage of Laws of Minnesota 1955, chapter 445.
#NEW MN VIKINGS STADIUM DESIGN PROFESSIONAL#
This timeline is intended to be a starting point for researching the history of the Minnesota Vikings and professional football stadiums in Minnesota.ġ954: 164 acres of farm land in Bloomington is chosen as the site for a major league stadium in the Twin Cities. It introduces the topic and points to sources for further research. This guide is compiled by staff at the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library on a topic of interest to state legislators. Last reviewed June 2021 Minnesota Issues Resource Guidesįootball Stadiums in Minnesota and the Vikings