The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission approved an $18.3 million roof replacement for the Metrodome on Thursday.
The roof will be completed by the beginning of August âÄî only weeks before the Minnesota Vikings begin the NFLâÄôs preseason.
The commission voted unanimously to approve the 10-acre Teflon-coated dome, deciding against repairing the torn roof. MSFC was confident that the price of the new dome will be covered by insurance.
The dome collapsed under the force of a blizzard in early December and forced the Vikings to play in other venues, including TCF Bank Stadium. The Gophers baseball team will have to move their home games.
The VikingsâÄô Metrodome lease expires in a year. Neither the team nor the commission view the roof fix as a long-term stadium solution.
The Vikings are pursing state funding for a new stadium in Minnesota.
