Vikings stadium up in the air :: essays research papers

The man who is emerging as the lead possessor of the Minnesota Vikings isnt thrilled with Anoka Countys $1.6 billion stadium development concept in Blaine, and he has tossed the plan into flux, city and county officials state this week.Zygmunt Wilf, a New island of Jersey real estate developer who is scheduled to visit Blaine today, has told officials that if he and his partners buy the Vikings, a domed stadium is not a priority. He also verbalize that elements of the retail-commercial-housing development in the Blaine proposal dont appeal to him, and that he is examining land in nearby Lino Lakes as an alternative stadium site."Hes got something in attend that he wants," verbalize Blaine Mayor Tom Ryan. "But hes the only 1 who knows. We have to be sure his plan, whatever it is, works for the city." Wilf has not returned tell phone calls from the Star Tribune since February, when it was announced that he was a partner with genus Arizona businessman Reggie Fowle r in an effort to buy the Vikings. His scheduled visit today, his arcminute to Blaine in lead weeks, has officials curious about his intentions and vision."Were dying to find out," said Blaine Planning Director Bryan Schafer.Of the Blaine plan, Anoka County Board Chairwoman Margaret Langfeld said "Its just up in the air right now."Two years ago, after evaluating three potential locales in Anoka County, county officials landed on the Blaine site, which has more than 400 the three estates ready for development. It stands just west of Interstate Hwy. 35W, bordered by 109th course NE. to the north and Lexington Avenue to the tocopherol.Soon after, the county proposed a fixed-roofed stadium, with a 300,000-square-foot medical clinic, a 250-room hotel, 1.3 million feet of corporate office space, 200 townhouses and 650,000 square feet of retail and sport facilities.The total cost was estimated at $1.6 billion. The county and city presented the plan to Gov. Tim Pawlenty s Stadium check Committee last year and, with the concept, the Anoka County Board approved a three-quarter-cent sales tax increase to help pay for it.But in a meeting with city and county officials on April 14, Wilf was apparently indifferent to a roof, questioned the rent for the clinic and told political leaders that he would examine the Lino Lakes land, 8 miles to the east of the Blaine site, near Interstate Hwy. 35E."This isnt an exact quote," said Anoka County Commissioner Dan Erhart, "but he said something like, Im a builder.