Insurance Will Cover Roof Replacement

From the Star Tribune:

"The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission said Thursday that it will receive $22.7 million from its insurer, Affiliated FM, to replace the 29-year-old roof ripped open during a Dec. 12 blizzard."

"According to the work schedule, the job of replacing the roof is expected to take 120 days, ending with inflation of the roof in the last week of July. New roof panels will arrive every week or so from now through late June."

That is definitely good news for the HHH Metrodome. I am glad to hear that they will receive a $22.7 million insurance boost and that it end in July.

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RT Rybak Only Supports New Minnesota Vikings Stadium At or Near Metrodome Location

The Minnesota Vikings are working on a new stadium. The mayor of Minneapolis, RT Rybak, wants to see a new stadium for the fans of the Minnesota Vikings. Last week, RT Rybak voiced his opinion on the ongoing location debate. Rybak only supports a new stadium at or near the current Metrodome location. While Rybak has said he believes the Metrodome is the best site available, he has stopped short of criticizing the Arden Hills location that poses as a possbility for a new stadium. Hopefully RT Rybak can help in the stadium negotations.

New Roof Installation Begins, Will Cost $25 Million

The new roof being installed to the Metrodome is officially underway. The new roof is coming from the same firm that put in the original Metrodome roof 30 years ago. The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission held a bid opening Thursday. The only bid received was from Birdair Inc. of New York.

Birdair’s bid was $18.3 million for the installation of the new roof with almost $700,000 in additional costs that included prior analysis of the roof to the decision being made that the entire roof would need replacing rather than just the five panels that tore away during the roof collapse in December.

The Metrodome Will Be Fixed

The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission approved an $18.3 million roof replacement for the Metrodome last Thursday. The roof will be completed by the beginning of August, which is only weeks before the Minnesota Vikings preseason begins. The commission voted unanimously to approve the 10-acre Teflon-coated dome, deciding against repairing the torn roof. The Minnesota Vikings lease with the Metrodome expires in a year, and the team has been seeking a long-term plan with funding a new stadium. Either way, I'm glad that we know where they will be playing in the 2011 season (barring a lockout).

Minnesota Gopher Baseball Feels Effect of the Metrodome

In the past, the Metrodome served as a stadium for the Minnesota Gopher baseball team. This season, there are some obstacles facing the University of Minnesota Gopher baseball team. 12 games there were supposed to be "home" have already been cancelled. The Metrodome and the University’s Siebert Field both are considered unusable, especially in cold weather. Anderson said he and his staff must operate under the assumption that neither stadium will host a Minnesota Gophers home game this year. This virtually means that every home game still on the schedule must be played somewhere

Will the Minnesota Vikings Play at TCF Bank Stadium?

The Minnesota Vikings may be without a stadium next season. The Metrodome's repairs probably won't be finished for another 5 to 6 months. Sid Hartman recently wrote that the Minnesota Vikings could use TCF Bank Stadium next season and that athletic director Joel Maturi would be on board with the decision. That would be pretty interesting considering Gopher football games would be played on Saturdays and then Vikings games on Sunday. That would be quite the busy area on fall weekends.

Metrodome Will Take 5-6 Months To Repair

The new head of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission said Thursday that replacing the snow-damaged roof of the Metrodome would likely take five to six months, raising the possibility of affecting next season's schedule for the Minnesota Vikings. This definitely signifies that the team NEEDS a new stadium. Five to six months to fix the metrodome could possibily spill into August, which would then affect the Vikings preseason. It isn't looking good for the Metrodome and hopefully this will speed up the process for a new stadium.