Good grief! Another billion dollar stadium

The price tag of a new Minnesota Vikings stadium is expected to flirt with $1 billion by 2009. The projected cost of a stadium with a retractable roof on the site of the Metrodome is $954 million, based on 2008 costs for materials. But this week the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, owners of the Metrodome and the Vikings' public partner in pursuit of a new stadium, said that stadium costs would rise by about $41 million if the Legislature approves a new stadium in 2009, rather than next year. That would bring the total cost to $995 million.

Meanwhile, the Vikings are movng ahead to acquire four blocks of land immediately to the west of the current Metrodome site, at a cost of $45 million. The plan is still to build a new stadium on the footprint of the current Metrodome and then redevelop the surrounding neighborhood as part of a comprehensive plan.

Football stadium plans unveiled in San Francisco

While the San Francisco 49ers have been quietly making plans for a new stadium in suburban Santa Clara, the City of San Francisco yesterday unveiled this plan for a complete overaul of Hunters Point and Candlestick Point, which is the current location of Candlestick, err... 3Com, err... Monster Park, err.... San Francisco Stadium. Included in the proposal would be thousands of new homes, retail, and public spaces and parks. And a commitment for open parking to keep an active and vibrant tailgate scene.

Mayor Gavin Newsom apparently wants to keep the heat on the 49ers to remain in the city. Whatever the outcome, 2012 seems to be the year everyone is circling for the replacement of their current stadium, which we have ranked as the worst venue in the NFL.

New Meadowlands stadium - a staggering $1.6 billion!!!

Appearing in today's Newsday is this report that has the proposed new stadium in the Meadowlands now estimated at costing$1.6 billion, and that number is seemingly climbing by the day.

Now the NFL owners will have to vote on whether to expand the borrowing capacity for the project. If owners nix the deal, both the Jets and the Giants might have to return to the drawing board on their stadium plans.