5
May
2010
The L.A. Vikings?
Mike Kaszuba, of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune reports that the Minnesota Vikings stadium proposal suffered a 10-9 defeat in a state House committee Wednesday morning. “The defeat represents a major blow to the stadium effort,” Kaszuba writes, “but at this stage of the legislative session, set-backs for major bills can sometimes be only temporary.”
Despite what some are saying, there are truthfully only vague similarities between this Minnesota situation and the circumstances surrounding Art Modell’s moving the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore. Modell was given the opportunity to build a new stadium for the Browns, but the situation–for a variety of reasons–unraveled, and Modell actually stopped negotiating after he’d begun talking to the shadowy men from Baltimore. That said, Vikings fans may be feeling a disturbance in the force right about now.
We’ve all heard the rumblings about Los Angeles getting a pro football team again (despite the city’s ultimately passive reaction to the Rams and Raiders departing). It’s going to happen–and it may happen sooner than we expect. Los Angeles is in the running for an expansion team based on sheer market size alone, not a built-in, rabid, devoted fanbase–and certainly not because Norse explorers claim deep roots on California’s west coast (although this Viking might).
Actually, maybe these guys would fit well in L.A. (Source: Publicradio.org)
Jacksonville has been mentioned–in low-level chatter–as a team that might relocate to Los Angeles. The New Orleans Saints also appeared to be suitor, but their Super Bowl victory shelved that chatter. Some speculate that this stadium issue vaults Minnesota to the front of the pack. That would be a shame. Minnesota may not stand as the most shimmering of television markets, but Vikings fans are abundant, and loyal, and long-suffering. Do you agree: whenever you walk into a sports bar–anywhere–you’ll see a table, or two (or an entire bar) filled with purple-clad followers. They’re everywhere, but that could all change, as we are constantly reminded that this is a business.
