Building a new stadium at the Metrodome just became a little more expensive.
The hidden costs of building a stadium at the Metrodome will total $67 million, according to a letter sent Tuesday by the Vikings to Minneapolis officials. The team noted in its letter that the Arden Hills site remains its preferred choice.
If a new stadium was built on the Metrodome site, the Vikings would play three seasons at TCF Bank Stadium.
In order to meet NFL standards, TCF Bank Stadium would require $11 million in upgrades. Vikings spokesman Jeff Anderson said that would include installing heating coils under the field, according to his Twitter account. The Vikings played one game at TCF Bank Stadium last season after the Metrodome roof collapsed. It was the last place Brett Favre played after he was slammed to the ice-hard field.
The 50,000 seats at TCF is significantly less than at the Metrodome and other NFL facilities, meaning the Vikings will lose out on $37 million over three years, according to the letter.
The availability for more parking space was one of the draws of the Arden Hills site. If the Vikings build at the Metrodome site, they would need to spend $19 million for additional parking near the new stadium.
Ramsey County and Minneapolis leaders have until Thursday to present their final stadium plans to Gov. Mark Dayton.
