Monster truck rally locked in at new U.S. Bank stadium

U.S. Bank Stadium's operator already has shepherded 500 groups of prospective renters through the building's preview center — and has locked in a monster-truck show — even though the building won't open until mid 2016.

"You'd be surprised how many people in this market are very excited [the monster-truck show] is coming back," Patrick Talty, general manager of the new stadium for SMG, told the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority board Friday morning — as two members of the board raised their hands enthusiastically.

While the field area will be used for massive events like graduations and truck shows, SMG — the company that is running the stadium — is marketing the new club spaces in the stadium for meetings, weddings and parties. "We are booking for August; we are open and booking," Talty said.

In earlier business, the board voted — with some dissension — to approve staff raises on Jan. 1, mostly in the range of 2.5 percent.

Board Members Barbara Butts Williams and Tony Sertich approved the raises. Board Member John Griffith voted no, and Bill McCarthy was absent.

The vote was part of a packed year-end agenda that included adopting the authority's 2016 budget and hearing the first extensive update from SMG, which will operate the arena and book events for days the Minnesota Vikings aren't using it.

Griffith's barely audible "no" vote on the raises was the only moment of discernible disagreement. There was no debate or discussion before the vote. When asked after the meeting for an explanation, Griffith revisited a long-standing concern that Board Chairwoman Michele Kelm-Helgen and Executive Director Ted Mondale perform duplicative functions.

But everyone is getting more in 2016. Mondale will earn $165,333, an increase of 1.9 percent. Kelm-Helgen will be paid $130,275, an increase of 2.5 percent. Three MSFA staff members will receive 10 percent raises that reflect expanded duties to cover the work of three departed colleagues who weren't replaced. The three other staff members will receive 2.5 percent cost-of-living increases. Board members themselves are not paid.

Kelm-Helgen made a point of emphasizing that she is getting a bigger pay increase than Mondale because his salary already is at the highest amount allowed by the state — or he would have received 2.5 percent, she said.

Griffith and Mondale were the two most visibly excited about the return of the trucks, as each shot up an arm in enthusiasm when Talty mentioned the show.

The stadium, which cost $1.1 ­billion, is expected to open for the 2016 NFL season.