In the Star Tribune story this morning on the Metrodome's roof being replaced, Dome's facilities and engineering director Steve Maki admits the plan to have the installation done by Aug. 1 sets up for "an aggressive timeline."

But considering the Vikings' preseason games are set to begin only a couple of weeks later, the team also needs to have a worst-case scenario plan that it can turn to if the roof work isn't completed.

Lester Bagley, the Vikings' vice president of public affairs and stadium development, reportedly said team officials have had discussions with the University of Minnesota about potentially playing its two home preseason games at TCF Bank Stadium.

The Vikings played host to Chicago at TCF Bank Stadium on Dec. 20, the second of two home games that had to be moved after the Dome's roof collapsed under the weight of 17 inches of snow about week earlier.

Playing a couple of exhibition games on the University of Minnesota campus would seem to be very possible. The stadium seats about 13,000 fewer than the Metrodome, but given that these are practice games that problem likely could be worked around. The biggest issue might be the fact beer is not sold at TCF Bank Stadium, taking away a source of revenue.

Nonetheless, that's better than the alternative to having the Vikings play four preseason games on the road.

While the Vikings again made it clear on Thursday that their priority is a new stadium, it is interesting that for now they are trying to get back into a building they can't wait to leave.