Decision Delayed For Vikings Stadium Builder
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – There's a bit of a hold-up in the plans for a new Vikings stadium.
The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority had planned to choose the builder for the new home of the Vikings by Friday, but now they're holding off. Officials told Minnesota Public Radio they're not ready to sign on with either of the two finalists.
Hunt Construction built Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis, and local company Mortenson Construction built Target Field. We've seen mock-up designs of the stadium, but officials said the actual design plans are expected to be released in the next few weeks.
The delay comes as new numbers are coming in about the revenue being created from electronic gambling, and the numbers aren't good. State officials said electronic pull tabs are generating only about $500 per day at each bar. The machines have been installed in just 140 bars across the state, far fewer than the goal of 2,500.
The low numbers are forcing state lawmakers to start looking into new ideas for how Minnesota will pay its share of the new $1 billion stadium.
