The Minnesota Vikings' plans for a new football campus in Eagan have the team's new neighbors in Mendota Heights concerned about more noise, but the Vikings say recent changes will help ease that worry.

The 185 acres purchased by the Vikings are in a largely commercial area on the northern edge of Eagan, but just across Interstate 494 in Mendota Heights is a residential development with about 500 homes.

Mendota Heights Mayor Sandra Krebsbach met with Vikings officials in November to discuss their plans to develop the former Northwest Airlines headquarters site, which would house team practice facilities and a stadium that could seat up to 10,000.

"With the Vikings coming in, I wanted to be clear with them from the very beginning," she said. "We are certainly pleased they are coming in and bringing attention to our city."

Krebsbach said that besides the noise from the property, she is also concerned that the development could make a new I-494 interchange at Delaware Avenue, something the city has long opposed, more likely.

Lester Bagley, the Vikings vice president of public affairs, said the Vikings have heard the mayor's concerns and are not advocating for an additional interchange nor do they think the facility will create a need for one.

Vikings executive Lester Bagley said plans for the Eagan site are evolving, but currently include a “high school-sized” outdoor stadium.

"People seem to be concerned that we're building another U.S. Bank Stadium," he said. "This is a small, high school-sized outdoor stadium."

The Vikings do plan to host public events at the stadium, but they haven't decided whether they will include concerts, Bagley said.

The stadium will be moved south and away from I-494 to a more sunken area, which will increase parking and mitigate noise, he said.

"By no means is this a finished product; we are continuing to work on this and evolve it," he said. "As part of the evolution of the project, we are downsizing [the stadium]."

The Eagan property would serve as the team's new training center, moving from its 12-acre facility in Eden Prairie that was built in 1981. The NFL team is still in talks with the city of Eagan to put together a business agreement.

Beatrice Dupuy • 952-746-3281