It's been a while since we've fired up the blog machine and if this is your only source of news or connecting with the outside world, we got bin Laden.
There's a lot of ways I could go with this blog post, considering the Twins are staring their worst season since the mid-90s in the face, how the NBA playoffs have been better than I ever thought they could have been and why Ricky Rubio will never arrive.
For now, the thoughts will be focused on a potential new Vikings stadium and how they have suddenly gone from coming up with nothing over the last 10 or 15 years to two proposals in as many days, at either the Metrodome or in the northern suburb of Arden Hills.
I don't usually commend his work, but Patrick Reusse nailed the situation with his column on Wednesday on the matter. The Metrodome idea isn't a new one and the Vikings used to be behind that idea but I can't blame the purple-clad squad now, especially when they found a dance partner who could help them with their $1.2 billion Wilf World. The Vikings appear to be madly in love with Ramsey County and that is fine, because I will fight for the Metrodome.
The state has said that their contribution will not top $300 million, including infrastructure. Arden Hills could have that amount in highways and interchanges, alone. The upgrades in infrastructure would be around $25 million at the Dome and I have a feeling that with the Vikings now stepping up for around 40 to 45 percent of the total cost, the state might be willing to pony up for the extra $25 million. Toss in the light rail (that will expand in 2014, with the addition of the Central Corridor) and the Metrodome is the more attractive site from a transportation standpoint.
I favor the Metrodome site because it is ready now and leaves the facility more attractive to whatever may want to come to the Twin Cities (Final Fours, Super Bowls, World Frolf Championships). People want to be closer to everything else that is in Minneapolis or Saint Paul or the Mall of America. That doesn't happen when you are 11 miles north of both of those cities in Arden Hills, on a site that is unearthing more and more questions. Because of this, I think that the stadium does more for the economy downtown than it would being out in the suburbs.
With all of this said, I have my doubts that any of this actually occurs before the end of the legislative session in a couple of weeks, simply because there are a ton of hurdles to get past. I won't go crazy like Vikings play-by-play man Paul Allen has over these transgressions, considering it the greatest moment ever but it is some sort of progress.
