U.S. Bank Stadium

[J2K]

The beams that will hold the pivoting doors are starting to go up on the west side of the stadium. It looks like two of them so far. You can see the round white beams on the webcam.

[xandrex]

Did anyone post this? Anyway, the Wall Street Journal talks about the feds contemplating removing the ability to use tax-exempt bonds to pay for sports stadiums.

What's one of the biggest examples used? You guessed it.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/use-of-taxp ... 1425856677

[grant1simons2]

Sign on 5th st next to the stadium saying it will be closed March 30th. Anyone else think this will be a final closure?

[VAStationDude]

Another question along the same lines - will 5th between Chicago and Park be closed permanently at some point? If the only vehicle movements at 5th and Park are northbound Park, northbound Park to 5th and lrt that would significantly improve the current lrt backups at downtown east. Currently there is a light cycle for 5th to Park and 5th across the tracks to the lane just south of the strib.

[Silophant]

Sign on 5th st next to the stadium saying it will be closed March 30th. Anyone else think this will be a final closure?

This Strib article from January said it would close about April 1.

Another question along the same lines - will 5th between Chicago and Park be closed permanently at some point? If the only vehicle movements at 5th and Park are northbound Park, northbound Park to 5th and lrt that would significantly improve the current lrt backups at downtown east. Currently there is a light cycle for 5th to Park and 5th across the tracks to the lane just south of the strib.

I can't think of any reason for that block of 5th to stay open. But, I can't think of any reason for the block between Hennepin and 1st to be open either, and it is. However, it seems that that northern vehicle lane on 5th west of Park will be subsumed into the Commons, so those problematic light phases should disappear either way.

[xandrex]

^I assume part of the reason 5th is open between Hennepin/1st Ave is because of 5th's use to enter Ramp B as well as it being the closest road you can use to access 2nd and get into Ramp C.

[moda253]

Final concrete being poured at the site.

http://www.vikings.com/media-vault/vide ... ae87ff789a

[J2K]

Window install begins today.

http://m.startribune.com/sports/vikings ... ?section=/

[RailBaronYarr]

Am I crazy, or does it seem like this is moving along much faster than TCF Bank Stadium did, especially given the disparity in size/complexity? I lived near campus during construction and now ride by this every day on the 94 and the pace seems much quicker.

[nfschauer]

It's also not the bird safe glass, so all of the advocates are probably pissed. And yeah I agree, this seems like its going a lot faster than TCF stadium. I'm assuming there are double the workers though.

[moda253]

TCF had a LOT of environmental cleanup to be done on the site before they could get started. ONce the structure started being built it went fast in part because it was steel construction where this is poured concrete. With Steel construction they can make the parts offsite and assemble them into place. here the parts need to be made out of rebar and poured in place.

[moda253]

Nice slideshow here:

http://www.vikings.com/news/new-stadium ... 7655#start

[SixOneTwo]

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikin ... um=twitter

The Minnesota Vikings and the Wilf family will contribute an additional $19.5 million to the team’s new stadium. The contribution will be revealed at Friday’s Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority meeting.

The $19.5 million will be directed, among other things, toward plaza enhancements, food service equipment, seat upgrades and a deck that looks out toward Minneapolis, the team said in a news release.

“Our focus remains on providing a first-class experience to our fans,” said Vikings owner and team president Mark Wilf in the release. “When the process is over and we open this building in 2016, we want to say we did what we could to ensure the best game day experience possible.”

Other updates:

Construction is 50% complete.

Stadium authority expects "something to announce" in July @ steps to make @Vikings stadium glass safer 4 birds, 3M in "product development."

Minnesota based Cambria will be doing the counter tops (they bought 3 suites and will combine them into a mega-suite) and Daktronics will be doing the video boards.

[Nathan]

In the mpr article it calls out "a purple deck"

[David Greene]

The People's Deck.

[HuskyGrad]

Also announced yesterday. The Vikings are selling bricks for the plaza in front of the stadium.
http://www.startribune.com/local/minnea ... 69361.html

Another case of the public paying for the private portion of the stadium.

[Rich]

Another case of the public paying for the private portion of the stadium.

Voluntarily.

[HuskyGrad]

Another case of the public paying for the private portion of the stadium.

Voluntarily.

True. Seat licenses are voluntary as well. Have the Wilfs actually put any of their own funds into this project?

[Rich]

My understanding is that the Wilfs have thus far agreed to contribute $551 million. $351 million of which are their own funds. $200 million of which will come from an NFL Stadium Loan, which the Wilfs will repay using their own funds.

[mattaudio]

How charitable of them.

Oh wait...
2005 - Vikings purchased for $600 million
2012 - Vikings worth $831 million before stadium deal
2014 - Vikings worth $1,150 million.