Five architectural and engineering firms bidding to design the new Vikings stadium will show off their résumés at an open house Thursday at the Metrodome.

The event, hosted by the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, the public body working with the Vikings to oversee development of the $975 million downtown Minneapolis project, will be held from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on the Metrodome field. Those interested in attending are asked to enter through Gate D.

Firms competing for the job are: AECOM, a Los Angeles-based company involved in designing the home of the NFL Seattle Seahawks; Ewing Cole, a Philadelphia firm that designed a new pro football stadium for the New York Giants and Jets; HKS Inc. of Dallas, architects for NFL stadiums in Dallas and Indianapolis; HNTB Corp. of Kansas City, which drew up plans for the new NFL stadium in Santa Clara. Calif., now under construction, and Populous, a Kansas City firm that designed the Twins' Target Field, the Wild's Xcel Energy Center and TCF Bank Stadium, home of the University of Minnesota football team.

The firms will display their work on the Metrodome floor, allowing the public to inspect past projects and ask questions. Representatives of each firm also will deliver a short presentation.

Authority members and the Vikings plan to interview the firms Thursday and Friday. A decision on the architect is expected at the authority's Sept. 14 meeting.

RICHARD MERYHEW