Vikings: City underestimated stadium costs

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MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Minnesota Vikings officials say hidden costs mean building a new stadium where the Metrodome sits is not as economical as Minneapolis officials maintain.

Vikings officials say Minneapolis city officials haven't taken into account $67 million in costs such as $19 million to expand parking on the University of Minnesota campus so the pro team could use that stadium for three years while the new stadium is under construction, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported Wednesday.

Team officials said it also would cost $11 million to bring the Gophers' TCF Bank Stadium up to NFL standards and team revenues are expected to drop $12.3 million per year of construction.

The NFL team said the total cost of building a new stadium at the Metrodome site, where the Vikings have played since 1982, would be $962 million, more than the city's estimate of $895 million.

Building on the team's preferred site, in the St. Paul suburb of Arden Hills, would cost an estimated $1.1 billion and would give the Vikings owners greater ancillary development opportunities. The cost other potential building sites fall in between the Metrodome and Arden Hills sites.