By ROCHELLE OLSON
The Minnesota Vikings are staying put in Minneapolis for at least another year.
Team Vice President Lester Bagley said Tuesday the team will not give notice to the National Football League of a desire to relocate the team to another city. The league deadline for providing written notice is Wednesday.
The Vikings want a new stadium as soon as possible and had held up the specter of a move as incentive to the Legislature for action in 2012 session. But even if the team provided notification, the moving trucks would take a while to get here. The move would be subject to league approval, selection of a new city and a franchise relocation fee.
The decision against notifying the league removes urgency for a stadium. Bagley, however, was optimistic. "We're making progress toward solving it this session," he said.
State stadium czar Ted Mondale has been working feverishly to draft a deal with the team, Minneapolis, the state and the league for a new facility on the site of the Metrodome, which celebrates its 30th birthday in April.
Bagley said "hopefully" there will be a deal that's "financially and politically achievable."
He noted the deal will be subject to approval by the Legislature and the City Council - neither of which is assured.
Bagley declined to put a drop-dead timeframe on the development of a term sheet and a legislative bill, but there's a growing sense from supporters that the clock is ticking loudly.
