Vikings respond to Dayton: Don’t worry about stadium deal

Zygi Wilf (MPR Photo/Tim Nelson)
Zygi Wilf
Zygi Wilf (MPR Photo/Tim Nelson)

The Vikings have just issued a statement in response to Gov. Mark Dayton's "deep concern" about their legal troubles in New Jersey.

The team's owners, Zygi and Mark Wilf, have been admonished by a judge there in a real estate dispute over a 764-unit apartment development.

Superior Court Judge Deanne Wilson said the Wilfs and their cousin Leonard  committed fraud, breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty and violated New Jersey's civil racketeering law.

That prompted an admonishment this morning from the Vikings stadium's supporter in chief. Dayton said he was "deeply concerned by the judge's findings."

The Vikings answered back this afternoon. Here's what they had to say:

"The Minnesota Vikings and the Wilf family have long appreciated Governor Mark Dayton’s support for a new stadium. The Vikings have spoken with Governor Dayton’s representatives and the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority and have assured all parties that this civil lawsuit will have absolutely no impact on the stadium project.

"The team also has kept representatives from the NFL informed and has confirmed that league financing remains on track and unaffected by the ongoing legal proceedings. The Vikings’ guarantee of $477 million in private financing has gone through two years of review and due diligence by our public partners. We have engaged several leading financial institutions to finance this project, and the funding is secure.

"We look forward to our continued work with the MSFA to build this statewide asset on time and on budget."

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