Los Angeles Vikings? It’s In The Air If Stadium Deal Can’t Get Done In Minnesota

What are your thoughts on the Vikings stadium issue?  Whether it's posturing to light a fire under those involved in getting a Vikings stadium deal done in the Twin Cities or not, Vikings brass has admitted to being one of 5 NFL teams that could move to LA.  If a local stadium deal is not completed, then all bets are off on whether Minnesota loses the Vikings.

A Los Angeles-based group has interest in the Vikings, but a team executive said Friday the organization remains "100 percent committed to getting a stadium deal done in Minnesota."

The subject of the Vikings heading west if they don't get public help to build a stadium isn't new, and came up again after Anschutz Entertainment Group President Tim Leiweke told the Orange County Register on Thursday that the Vikings were one of five NFL franchises with which he has spoken.

Leiweke added that billionaire Philip Anschutz is prepared to acquire majority ownership in a team in order to bring it to Farmers Field, the $1 billion downtown Los Angeles stadium proposed by AEG.

"I think it's pretty much where it has been," Vikings Vice President Lester Bagley said of the team's stadium situation. "While it's true we have been approached by [Los Angeles area] stadium groups AEG and [Ed] Roski in the past, we think we're in a position to get our issue resolved during the special session in Minnesota."

Leiweke told the Register he also has talked to officials from other cities. "St. Louis, Jacksonville, not extensively, certainly Oakland, San Diego, Minnesota are still in the mix," Leiweke said. "We're not packing any [moving] vans right now."

Leiweke revealed he last spoke with an NFL team "a week ago," and the Register reported the team was believed to be the Vikings. An AEG spokesman refused to confirm if that was the case.

The Vikings' 30-year lease at the Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis expires at the end of the upcoming season.

via Los Angeles Vikings? It's in the air | StarTribune.com.