The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA) has found that the Minnesota Vikings owners should have the financial ability to commit the private funds to design and construct the new stadium.
WCCO TV reports that authority chairwoman Michele Kelm-Helgen revealed the preliminary results of a financial review of Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf after a New Jersey court ruling found they defrauded a partner in an unrelated development deal.
The Star Tribune reports that the MSFA report found “one potential future issue” with the Wilf family’s finances. The issue involves the ongoing New Jersey court case that could result in punitive damages.
If punitive damages are awarded, New Jersey law says the case then has to be referred to the state attorney general and local prosecutor to determine if a crime was committed. The NFL has assured the authority, though, that it is committed to fulfill the obligations under the stadium use agreement.
Kelm-Helgen said the full review should be completed next week. The Vikings owners halted negotiations on the stadium while the review was taking place, prompting worries about the construction timeline.
Once construction begins, it will be led by Golden Valley-based Mortenson Construction. To date, according to the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal it would be the largest stadium project for the company ever, and it could help them land more stadium construction deals in the future.
In a statement from the Vikings owners, they believe the stadium will be built and open, as planned, for the start of the 2016 NFL season.
