What would you like to see happen with the Metrodome?

I’d like to see the Metrodome demolished and its tenants off to Los Angeles or wherever it is they’re threatening to go. I like watching football, but I’m done with professional sports teams. At a time when the state is trying to dig billions of dollars out of the couch cushions, cutting education and human services, and forcing cities to raise property taxes in order to maintain basic services – the Vikings want us to buy them a stadium? Have they even heard of shame? We’re better off without them. We could burn down the Target Center while we’re at it, too.

I think it’s a great place for HCMC to expand.

I think it should be retrofitted with a retractable roof. Then allow the Vikings to use it rent free.. The Vikings need to call Minnesota their permanent home.

Unlike the last stadium to go down and have a mall built upon its site, (you can still find homeplate in the kids universe thing), I would want to see it torn down and a newer, more efficient stadium built. The Twins went all out with their stadium getting top environmental awards and let’s face it, it looks pretty damn cool. What the Vikes need is some more money for top prospects and keeping stars and what better way than a new stadium! (Just ask the Twins)

First of all…….

You can’t use it without the roof. The inside was not designed to be out of doors.(drains, freeze protection, expansion joints, lighting, speakers, etc).

You can’t put a retractable roof on it.(Only built strong enough to support a fabric roof).

So, the only thing you can do to the stadium is a replacement roof.

The building is 30 years old. The mechanical systems(AHU’s, chiller, and fan coils) are getting near their life expectancy.

Any major retrofit of the Metrodome would cost a boatload of money and probably not worth it compared to a new building.

The problem is that the U of MN and all the small college baseball programs use the dome through much of the winter and spring. If we build a new Vikings stadium and it’s got a roof, does it have to be “multi-purpose” to accommodate baseball? The Vikings won’t buy into that. They want the keys to the new building.

Fix the roof, handle repairs as needed, and use it for all the multi-purpose events that it hosts right now. It’s the most cost effective way in today’s economy.

I’d say, let’s give the Vikes the key to the building and they can have all the revenues from all the events and concessions. Tell them, that’s it. You fix it up or build a new one on your dime. The building cost us $45M 30 years ago and is a bargain in today’s dollars.

Lease the land to a stadium developer dirt cheap, maybe $1 per year, for a replacement stadium; funded by private investment.

or

Convert it to public space

or

Raze the dome & use the land to attract a fortune 100 corporate headquarters. Boeing just moved to chicago, for instance.

Auction it off, land & building, lock, stock & barrel, to the highest bidder and put the money towards the deficit. (Although I do like the idea of a giant indoor park!)

The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome was insured for both roof replacement and lost revenue, so those funds should be used for repairs.

Even if a stadium deal is worked out immediately, the Vikings would most likely need to play at the Humphrey dome through the 2013 season. So the Vikings need the work done for the 2011 season, and also if they plan on staying in MN. Repair it as soon as possible, and develop better protocols for protecting the new roof when bad weather threatens it.

The overpaid, drug using, wife/GF beating, transients can fix their own play pen when and if they want.

If they leave, turn it into a shooting range.

Or, Naval battle reenactments has a certain appeal:-)

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DTOM

It’s funny to read all the comments about how MN can’t afford to build a new stadium. I ask all you people this question: If we can’t afford the one-time cost of 450 million dollars to build a new facility, then how can we afford to lose an annual $30 million dollars (the amount of tax dollars the Vikings bring to MN)? So many of you out there are treating this like an expense when it’s in fact an INVESTMENT. In 15 years, this stadium will have paid for it’s own costs if you ONLY look at what the Vikings revenue. 1/2 the total cost of this new stadium ($350 million $) will be spent on construction labor creating jobs! Not building this stadium takes that away. God only knows how many more businesses (bars, restaurants, hotels, etc.) will suffer the loss of not building this.

Fix the roof.

Whether the Vikings use it after 2011 is not the key consideration, in my mind.

The facility is paid off and heavily used for hundreds of spring baseball games and large events. Plus, insurance money will cover most of the roof replacement if they go with a similar material (though they could spend more and get a more permanent roof like the University of Northern Iowa did ten years ago with its domed stadium … not sure what the cost is or ROI on that).

And, frankly, it is in much better shape than a lot of 30-year old commercial builds in the area.

As for the Vikings, after 2011 it is anybody’s guess where they will be. Very doubtful it will be the Dome (unless as a temp. home while something is being built). But the NFL has a long history of enforcing lease agreements made by franchises, so for 2011 – if the lid is fixed – they will be in the Dome.

Update the current facility and negotiate the cost with all parties involved since it is a multiuse faciltiy. It troubles me to see architecture that only is “valid” for approximately 30 years. Seems like poor long-term planning for such a large facility.

Is there insurance that will cover the cost?

If so, how much?

What $ amount would it cost the taxpayers?

A bad investment if it will cost the public a substantial amount.

If insurance covers it, fix it up.

If there is no insurance, why not?

Who is accountable for buying insurance for the facility?

Fix It.,updated it, and put the Vikings in it.

tear if down. rebuild on the spot. retain City-county-state ownership of all new stadium revenues ( luxury boxes, concessions, other usage, ) until the entire debt is paid. when paid off – city-county-state retains in perpetuity the right to use the facility for certain public good or emergencies. – but the revenue streams can be turned over to the vikings for an annual fee to be paid to the citizens. the annual usage fee should be funds that are deposited into an account that will assist in paying for future upgrades or replacements. Do that.

I would like to see the stadium remodeled and refurbished at the Vikings expense. I think the current location is probably the best and worth coming up with a greener solution. If people want to “opt in” to pay additional tax or money to help, let them. Don’t make it mandatory for the rest of us. Especially in this economy.

Turn it into a city garden park green house growing trees, flowers, ganja/cannabis/hemp, vegetables fruits herbs and spices, with fountains, art and music.