The Vikings' frustration in their quest for a new stadium is reaching a boiling point.

That became evident when Lester Bagley, the team's vice president of public affairs and stadium development, provided biting remarks Wednesday about the lack of engagement from Gov. Tim Pawlenty and intimated the clock could be ticking on the Vikings' time in Minnesota if something doesn't happen in the current legislative session.

"With all due respect, he's been governor for six years, and he hasn't done anything," Bagley said of Pawlenty. "He hasn't lifted a finger to engage in a problem-solving discussion to help us on our issue. And that's the frustration that the NFL feels, that our ownership feels and a lot of our allies [feel], whether they be elected officials or not. There's a lot of frustration, and there's been no meaningful engagement by the executive branch."

Bagley's remarks came as he provided an update on the team's hope to get public funding for a multipurpose, retractable-roof venue that would be built on the site of the Metrodome. Although a final cost analysis isn't finished, the Vikings are expected to ask for about $700 million in public funding for a $954 million stadium. Their lease at the Metrodome expires after the 2011 season.

The state's economic woes -- Pawlenty said Wednesday he expects Minnesota's projected deficit to be as high as $7 billion when the next economic forecast is released in March -- factor in, but Bagley pointed out the team brought this issue to the attention of politicians long before the country's financial troubles began.

"We've addressed this in times of surplus, in times of deficit, in election years and non-election years and they've chosen to put it off," Bagley said. "Now, they've put it off to a point where the risk is significant to the state."

Brian McClung, Pawlenty's director of communications, said that in March 2004, the governor outlined a proposal that would have resulted in stadiums for the Twins and Vikings.

Asked about Bagley's comments, McClung said: "Governor Pawlenty recognizes that the Minnesota Vikings bring a lot of enjoyment to a lot of people in our state. They are part of living in Minnesota. But the challenges we're facing, a nearly $5 billion state budget deficit ... so most of the activity at the Legislature is focused on balancing the budget and maintaining core government activities."

Bagley said Vikings owner Zygi Wilf isn't currently looking to move the franchise, but he did not close the door on that happening. The top possibility for relocation is the Los Angeles suburb of Industry, Calif., where billionaire real estate developer Ed Roski Jr. hopes to build a privately financed $800 million stadium. Roski contacted the Vikings last summer, but Wilf declined to meet with him.

Bagley acknowledged Wednesday that Roski's group, which should have all approvals in place soon, has since "periodically" attempted contact with the Vikings through a third party.

As for getting in front of the Legislature, Bagley said "there will be hearings on the facts of the situation," but that no date has been set, and it's not even certain if the Vikings will be asked to testify. The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, which runs the Metrodome, will be able to lay out the facts.

"We don't have a choice but to push the issue, and we will," Bagley said. "We also don't have the luxury of waiting until they invite us over, because they'll never invite us over and we're about out of time."

Bagley said the team has had ongoing discussions with lawmakers about public financing options. He continues to argue a stadium would help the economy by creating thousands of jobs. The team issued a study that found that the new Twins and Gophers stadiums resulted in 5,300 on-site jobs.

Bagley also referenced an RSM McGladrey report that found that since the Metrodome opened in 1982, the stadium has generated $245 million in tax revenue, with $234 million going to the state.

He argued that the cost for a stadium will continue to rise if there is no action and said the same stadium project would have cost $475 million in 2001, about half the current proposed cost.

If a stadium was approved in this session, Bagley said construction around the Metrodome could start in August. The Vikings would then spend the 2010 and 2011 seasons playing in TCF Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus.

And if that doesn't happen ...

"We have 30 games left at the Metrodome, and the issue isn't what the Wilfs will or won't do," Bagley said. "It's that other NFL owners, other potential NFL markets and potential owners will come after this team.

"If you let the market work, it's not going to be a favorable outcome for the Twin Cities in terms of the long-term future for the club."