The new Vikings stadium, slated to open in 2016, could be on track to land a big-time event.

Vikings Vice President Lester Bagley confirmed to the Star Tribune that Minneapolis is one of three finalists to land Super Bowl LII on Feb. 4, 2018. New Orleans and Indianapolis are the others.

"Excellent!," said Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, after learning that the new Vikings stadium could be the host for the 2018 Super Bowl. "This is great nerws, but it shouldn't be a surprise because of course it should be in a great stadium and a great city."

The NFL will determine the host city for that Super Bowl sometime in May of 2014, Bagley said.

Minneapolis last played host to a Super Bowl on Jan. 26, 1992, at the Metrodome.

Check back to Startribune.com later for more details as they develop.

-- Staff writer Richard Meryhew contributed to this report