SavetheVikes.org is a grassroots, nonpartisan group dedicated to getting the Vikings a new home in Minnesota. The group is open to many forms of stadium solutions and financing, and does not advocate a specific agenda. SavetheVikes is for the fans & by the fans. This group is not affiliated with any company or political organization.

Why are we in jeopardy of losing the Minnesota Vikings? 

At the end of the 2011-2012 season, the Minnesota Vikings’ contract with the Metrodome and its governing body, the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission (MSFC) expires. The Metrodome is over 28 years old and cannot adequately support the team financially as it is one of the oldest stadiums in the National Football League (NFL). Additionally, the bathrooms and concessions were not designed to support the 63,000 plus fans that attend the 10 home games annually. Because of this, lines are extremely long, concession stands can’t take money as fast as people want to spend it and the team cannot raise ticket prices. This has led to the Vikings being ranked 31 out of 32 teams in terms of profitability in the NFL. 

And it’s only getting worse. Adding fuel to the fire, the NFL is doing away with its revenue sharing model that helped the lower third of the league financially compete with the rest of the league. Early figures indicate this is a 10 million dollar loss annually to the team. 

Because of the serious economic disadvantage the Metrodome puts the Vikings in, they will not be renewing their contract with the Metrodome unless we have a new stadium solution in place. Without a new stadium solution, this puts the team at risk for being contracted by the NFL or sold to another owner and/or market.

In the early 90’s Minnesota didn’t want to invest 20 million in renovating the Met Center. The result was Norm Green moving the team and leaving the state of hockey without its team for 7+ years. Only after spending hundreds of millions of dollars were we able to get an arena and an NHL franchise back in Minnesota.

We have seen the NFL do this before. Houston, Cleveland and Baltimore are all cities where the NFL has taken a team to only return later to award one back. If we let the Vikings go now, the cost of a new stadium and a new team would be well over 2 billion dollars.

What does a new stadium mean to me and the state of Minnesota?

• Opposition says we are in a deficit and can’t afford it. SavetheVikes.org says we need to create jobs and building a new stadium creates 18,000 contract and employment opportunities. The new stadium has a 1.3 billion dollar economic output which helps kick start the local economy.

• Opposition says we can’t spend the money. SavetheVikes.org says we will lose more money when $20+ million in tax base is lost every year we don’t have a team. Not to mention the economic impact on the hospitality industry from teams staying in hotels, visitors coming to Minnesota for the games and people going out to bars and restaurants before, during and after games when that is lost.

• Opposition says we already have a stadium. The fans say it is old, outdated, unsophisticated and incapable of generating revenue to support a long term successful NFL franchise.

• Opposition says the owner Zygi Wilf can pay for it himself. SavetheVikes.org says the typical stadium model is the owner pays 30% and the rest is financed by the public. That puts what was once thought to be a billion dollar price tag down to $600 million, and studies have shown this can pay for itself and then some. The state of Minnesota has invested $50 million in professional sports over the years and generated $450 million in tax revenue from it. The return on investment (ROI) is there.

• Opposition says a new stadium isn’t profitable. SavetheVikes.org says a new stadium would mean a Super Bowl in Minnesota which generates $200 million in revenue over the week it is in town. NCAA final four, other sporting events, religious and social events would utilize the stadium for another 200 days annually generating more revenue and business for the state of Minnesota.

What is SavetheVikes.org doing to help keep the Vikings in Minnesota? 

When we started this endeavor in October 2009, very little was being discussed in the media and things were relatively quiet coming out of Winter Park. Some people within the MSFC were essentially throwing in the white towel and saying nothing could be done in the 2010 legislative session. For the most part the public was unaware of the risk facing us and the increasing possibility of losing the team. 

Because of this, we went to task on accomplishing the following: 

• Educate the general public on the Vikings stadium issue and the real imminent threat of losing the Vikings through fan rallies, social media and the press
• Connect the public with their legislative leaders and show that by engaging state leaders we can make this an issue that can be worked towards resolving in the 2010 session.

We had no idea in the first 4 months before the legislative session opened that we would accomplish so much! Here is what we have done so far: 

• Had over 100,000 fan interactions
• Had over 100 media stories (radio, newspaper, internet and T.V.) covering our efforts and the stadium issue
• Collected over 26,000 followers on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Myspace
• Conducted 3 fan rallies which produced over 30,000 emails, letters and calls made to elected officials
• Made efforts to re-establish the relationship between the MSFC and the Vikings
• Had key meetings with elected officials, community and business leaders to influence and rally support for the effort
• Gained commitment from elected officials that will be working towards a Vikings stadium solution in the 2010 session

How can I get in the game and help?! 

While we are getting closer to the goal, we still have a long way to go. We need your continued support in gaining traction among other state Representatives, Senators and the Governor in the 2010 legislative session starting February 4^th, 2010. 

Over the next few months, we will show you who the supporters are, and who are not. From there, only you the fan, citizen and constituent can make a difference by calling, emailing and meeting with your elected officials asking for their support in finding creative ways to build a stadium. We are asking for your partnership and support. 

The Twins have a stadium today because their fans stood up and made a lot of noise. We need to stand up and let our Governor, Senate and House representatives know that keeping the Vikings in Minnesota is important to us as fans, the state as a cultural icon and economic contributor. We need to demand that they, along with the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, work with the team to KEEP THE VIKINGS IN MINNESOTA! 

You can start by making a difference now, click here to get started!