It looks like the road outside the new Vikings stadium will still bear the name of one of the team’s rivals.
The Minnesota Vikings applied to rename the three-block stretch of Chicago Avenue that runs alongside U.S. Bank Stadium to “Vikings Way,” saying they “strongly object” to having the street named after one of its “opponents and neighboring rival.”
But that didn’t sway the city’s planning commission, which voted unanimously on Monday to deny the name change.
https://twitter.com/Minny_Apple/status/709502243620446208
The planning commission’s decision could be appealed to the Minneapolis City Council, Star Tribune reporter Eric Roper tweeted.
Vikes VP Bagley disappointed that Planning Comm denied Chicago Ave name change. Hasn't decided on appeal yet pic.twitter.com/sVtYNb3glO
— John Croman (@JohnCroman) March 14, 2016
Chicago Avenue stretches from downtown Minneapolis to the Minnesota River in Bloomington, with the Star Tribune noting it was named in the 19th Century after what was then and still is one of the largest cities in the country.
The stretch of street in question, between South 3rd Street and South 6th Street already has two names. It’s not only known as Chicago Avenue but also Kirby Puckett Place, commemorating the Minnesota Twins legend at the site of the former Metrodome.
The Vikings say a precedent for a name change has already been set in that area as a result. A section of 3rd Avenue North near Target Field was also renamed “Twins Way” after Target Field opened in 2010.
Wow. We thought it was a rubber stamp approval. Vikings officials must be shaking their heads. https://t.co/9Z2osw5nfg
— Seth Kaplan 📺 (@Seth_Kaplan) March 14, 2016
