ARDEN HILLS, Minn., May 10 (UPI) -- The Minnesota Vikings and officials of Ramsey County announced Tuesday they have reached an agreement to build a new football stadium for the team.
Vikings owner Zygi Wilf, along with several county commissioners, told reporters they have struck an agreement to construct an $884 million, retractable-roof stadium on the site of a former ammunition plant in Arden Hills a suburb north of St. Paul.
Another $173 million would go for infrastructure improvements to the site about 10 miles northeast of the team's current Metrodome home in downtown Minneapolis.
"An opportunity like this in such a location so close to both St. Paul and Minneapolis was too compelling to pass up," Wilf said.
Under the proposal, the Vikings would pay $407 million, or 44 percent of the stadium costs. Ramsey County would levy a half-cent sales tax to cover its $350 million share and the state of Minnesota would chip in $300 million.
The agreement must gain the approval of the Minnesota Legislature and Gov. Mark Dayton.
The agreement came a day after the city of Minneapolis unveiled a competing plan that envisioned replacing the Metrodome with a new, fixed-roof stadium.
