Kirkendall Posted June 29, 2004 Report Posted June 29, 2004 The rumor mill has started kicking up the dust once again -- this time not that Red McCombs is going to sell the team, but move it to Los Angeles.The rumors of the Vikings being sold or relocating have been on the radar screen for years. Despite selling every seat in the Metrodome since 1998, the Vikings have been one of the frontrunners to fill the vacancy that exists in L.A. for a football team.Once again the rumors have started that the Vikings are that team to fill the void. In the past, the talk of relocation has been a ploy by Red McCombs to get the state involved in talking stadium. Now it sounds like the rumor mill is being fed by McCombs, but not about a sale to Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor. This time it's about McCombs taking his Vikings and heading west.As VU has discussed many times in the past, our understanding of the the contract signed by then-Commissioner Pete Rozelle with the state legislature guaranteed a NFL team in Minnesota if the Vikings broke the lease on the Metrodome -- which runs through 2011. VU has been told that McCombs believes he can buy out the final years of the lease for about $40 million and have the Vikings in L.A. for the 2008 season. Others contend that the lease won't be that easily broken, it will be difficult to get a 75 percent vote to move a team that sells every possible ticket to every game and that Minnesota will fight for its team. Keep in mind that the state fought the powerful tobacco industry in court and won.The bottom line numbers being thrown around are that the Vikings in Los Angeles would be worth about $800 million -- much more than Taylor is offering ($450 million) and even higher than McCombs' asking price for the team ($600 million).While the "Chicken Little" media in Minnesota continues to say the sky is falling, VU is convinced a deal will be struck for a new stadium -- whether McCombs is still the owner or not -- before the team is allowed to go away. But, until that happens, threats to move will continue, and, if nothing is done, it may be a threat McCombs tries to exercise. Quote
chrishcovga Posted June 29, 2004 Report Posted June 29, 2004 Aren't there enough armor-clad men in tights with swords in California already..? * Hell with Governator they could change their name to the Los Angeles Barbarians... Barb - we may have found you a team to root for... Quote
Barbarian Posted June 29, 2004 Report Posted June 29, 2004 The rumor mill has started kicking up the dust once again -- this time not that Red McCombs is going to sell the team, but move it to Los Angeles.The rumors of the Vikings being sold or relocating have been on the radar screen for years. Despite selling every seat in the Metrodome since 1998, the Vikings have been one of the frontrunners to fill the vacancy that exists in L.A. for a football team.Once again the rumors have started that the Vikings are that team to fill the void. In the past, the talk of relocation has been a ploy by Red McCombs to get the state involved in talking stadium. Now it sounds like the rumor mill is being fed by McCombs, but not about a sale to Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor. This time it's about McCombs taking his Vikings and heading west.As VU has discussed many times in the past, our understanding of the the contract signed by then-Commissioner Pete Rozelle with the state legislature guaranteed a NFL team in Minnesota if the Vikings broke the lease on the Metrodome -- which runs through 2011. VU has been told that McCombs believes he can buy out the final years of the lease for about $40 million and have the Vikings in L.A. for the 2008 season. Others contend that the lease won't be that easily broken, it will be difficult to get a 75 percent vote to move a team that sells every possible ticket to every game and that Minnesota will fight for its team. Keep in mind that the state fought the powerful tobacco industry in court and won.The bottom line numbers being thrown around are that the Vikings in Los Angeles would be worth about $800 million -- much more than Taylor is offering ($450 million) and even higher than McCombs' asking price for the team ($600 million).While the "Chicken Little" media in Minnesota continues to say the sky is falling, VU is convinced a deal will be struck for a new stadium -- whether McCombs is still the owner or not -- before the team is allowed to go away. But, until that happens, threats to move will continue, and, if nothing is done, it may be a threat McCombs tries to exercise. How would you like to be a fan of ANY Minnesota Team???Who's worse Carl Pohlad and Red Combs or Carl Lindner and Mike Brown?????Jesus!!! Even being a TimberWolves or Wild Fan would suck!!! Think about how much this would suck--BEING A GOPHER FAN. That includes getting your ass handed to you by either the Buckeyes or the Wolverines in football (sometimes both), then having your head coach be a whiny ass because he didn't get selected to coach the Buckeyes. Then get put on probation!!! Nice job!!!Uh, flight attendant--barf bag please.Here's why I can't see the Vikings leaving:1. The people of Minnesota and the Twin Cities love their Vikings. They won't let go.2. I always thought that the sound of LA Colts, LA Chargers, or LA Saints sounded much better. Especially the Colts--the Irsays are ready to bolt from Indy at any time now. I wonder if it's going to be in the middle of the night like they did in Baltimore???3. Los Angelites/So Californians don't care about the NFL. They proved it when the Rams and Raiders were there. It may be the 2nd biggest media market in the nation, but it would have the 32nd fan base interest. Per Capita, the LA Market for an NFL Team may be initially attractive but lack of fan interest would prove fatal. Quote
BengalszoneBilly Posted June 29, 2004 Report Posted June 29, 2004 I'm astounded that the second largest market still does not have a team! Out of all the ones mentioned, I expect the Dolt's to go... "because they said that Californy was the place they oughta be,so they'll be loadin' up the trucks for the move to Beverly...Hills that is!" Quote
Kirkendall Posted June 29, 2004 Author Report Posted June 29, 2004 The people of Minnesota and the Twin Cities love their Vikings. They won't let go. Not true. They (voters) crushed a measure that would have built a new stadium for the Vikings and the Twins; like the one in Cincy. If the Vikes didn't get it, then McCombs said he would pack and move to, and I quote him, "stay competitive in the NFL". Knowing this before the vote and to get it cut down really spoke volumes for the decaying fan base within the state of Minnesota.Personally I don't think it'll happen because they got Minnesota's professional basketball team with the Lakers. Not sure it that's good logic really, but damn, a Minnesota-less football team? That's just down right WRONG! Quote
kevnz Posted June 29, 2004 Report Posted June 29, 2004 I'd have a hard time seeing them leave when there are worse off teams...namely the Saints and the Colts. The thing is the Vikings haven't lost a fan base, it's not even eroding. But people are getting pissed at having to pay millions to build these cats a new stadium and then the owners and players get all this money and the fans are left paying higher ticket costs for the state of the art facility that they paid for....I can see how that can lead people to get a bit jaded....Plus you have to consider that not everyone is a football fan, not everyone cares, and worst of all, not everyone votes in those things.... Quote
Kirkendall Posted June 29, 2004 Author Report Posted June 29, 2004 The thing is the Vikings haven't lost a fan base, it's not even eroding. No, it really is. My father lives up there and one of my best friends lives up there.. they keep me updated on the attitude in the Twin City area. Quote
kevnz Posted June 29, 2004 Report Posted June 29, 2004 The thing is the Vikings haven't lost a fan base, it's not even eroding.No, it really is. My father lives up there and one of my best friends lives up there.. they keep me updated on the attitude in the Twin City area. Well, now that's a problem the NFL needs to address, and not by having the team move.....Eroding support is bad...But the team still packs them in, so it's hard to see the support vanishing by looking at the numbers...See teams really need to do PR work at the grass roots level to a) keep the fan baseb ) find out what the fan base wantsc) keep a finger on the pulse of the fan base so they can see problems before they become a problemSee, the Bengals or the NFL need to hire me as a marketing/PR/web guru.... Quote
Kirkendall Posted June 30, 2004 Author Report Posted June 30, 2004 The thing is the Vikings haven't lost a fan base, it's not even eroding.No, it really is. My father lives up there and one of my best friends lives up there.. they keep me updated on the attitude in the Twin City area. Well, now that's a problem the NFL needs to address, and not by having the team move.....Eroding support is bad...But the team still packs them in, so it's hard to see the support vanishing by looking at the numbers...See teams really need to do PR work at the grass roots level to a) keep the fan baseb ) find out what the fan base wantsc) keep a finger on the pulse of the fan base so they can see problems before they become a problemSee, the Bengals or the NFL need to hire me as a marketing/PR/web guru.... Absolutely agree and since I don't live there anymore, I can't really provide a detailed anaylsis of why my father and friend told me this. I just know they are tired of having an owner like they have (we should know a little about this) but I do know that most of them starting losing interest in this when Dennis Greene was let go. I have to wonder though, if the Vikes start to lose then is the fan base strong enough to continue selling out? Plus, I must ask.. if the Vikes lose Culpepper and Moss, are they still worthy of having sellout crowds. BTW - The Vikes ARE my 2nd favorite team so I definitely have a biased attitude towards them. My first NFL game was the VIkings when Tommy Kramer was the Quarterback. Quote
kevnz Posted June 30, 2004 Report Posted June 30, 2004 Josh, that's the question any team has to ask about losing it's a marketable stars...It doesn't help one damn bit. Unless a team has such a rabid following that it doesn't matter what happens on the field it's gonna hurt....I mean they could end up like the Cardinals...I mean I've seen high school games with more people than a Cardinals game gets. But then I don't understand the whole fairweather fan thing....But I'd say that cause I'm a Bengal fan Quote
JPW Posted June 30, 2004 Report Posted June 30, 2004 The Los Angles Saints ?WTF....No Way the ACLU is going to Put Up with that !I like the sound of the ...LA Colts myself. Quote
Barbarian Posted June 30, 2004 Report Posted June 30, 2004 The Los Angles Saints ?WTF....No Way the ACLU is going to Put Up with that !I like the sound of the ...LA Colts myself. From a sarcastic man such as myself--The Los Angeles Saints is a very cool name!!!I would think the name would receive chuckles from people nationwide. I can't even say "The LA Saints" without some sort of smile on my face. Quote
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