tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post110249435712096896..comments2023-10-30T09:37:03.456-05:00Comments on Vikes Geek: Rationality and Why Fans Matter in Determining 2005 Prioritiesvikes geekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06530336385552424416noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-1102892085544211932004-12-12T16:54:00.000-06:002004-12-12T16:54:00.000-06:00Big Red isn't making the kind of profits he has a ...Big Red isn't making the kind of profits he has a right to expect from his ownership of an NFL team. He has no reason to spend $30 million of his own hard-earned money when it would just go down the drain.<br /><br />Here are the top priorities for next year.<br /><br />1. Build a new stadium with retractable roof, just for the Vikings, with lots of parking, in a good urban development that is people and pedestrian friendly, with lots of support from taxpayer dollars. Make sure there are mega-opportunties for the Vikings to make money. The taxpayers will reap the benefits for years to come. The Twins will get a different stadium.<br /><br />Justification: The Vikings can't win the Super Bowl as a dome team. Too cold to play at home outdoors in December and January. Furthermore, the Vikings' owner needs an incentive to sign big paychecks. Taxpayers need a neighborhood-friendly park.<br /><br />2. Build new state-of-the-art training facility. Vikings players should feel like they have top-drawer facilities. Taxpayer dollars should help fund this, too.<br /><br />3. Make good coaching and personnel decisions. Fire Tice. McCombs might not spend extra dollars until the stadium is built, so be patient. Preferably, get a new owner who will spend aggressively.<br /><br />4. Actively develop the Vikings fan base outside of the Twin Cities. Midwestern and western states and Canada should all be seen as target markets for Vikings merchandise, etc. Send players out to meet the fans, hold practices in various places, etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-1102621697989557722004-12-09T13:48:00.000-06:002004-12-09T13:48:00.000-06:00I don't think that's correct. The Vikings are tie...I don't think that's correct. The Vikings are tied to Minnesota through 2011. Red could try to leave early but he could do that right now. According to Red, the Vikings would make much more money in LA/San Antonio than in Minnesota. If that is true, there should be no reason for him to wait until attendance drops to leave. The only dynamic that could change, and facilitate a move, is if the NFL decided that Minnesota is not the market it believes Minnesota is and backed off of its commitment to keeping the team in Minnesota at least through the end of the current stadium lease.<br /><br />Red made $30 million in profit last season (net). It will be difficult for him to justify a move pre-2011 to the NFL. He might still go, but if he intends to do so, he will probably go without the NFL's blessing and regardless of the attendance situation. And the inevitable lawsuits will follow and will cost Red money. <br /><br />Fear of Red moving the team should not dissuade fans from helping the Vikings prioritize for 2005 with their pocketbooks any more than fear of seeing a landmark theatre go out of business if would-be patrons refuse to pay lavish ticket prices for poor showings should persuade theatre-goers to attend the theatre. If the product is bad, and the ownership is taking advantage of the patrons, it is time to move on. Moreover, if the primary motivation for attending Vikings' games is a fear that Red will move the team if he does not sell out the stadium then the entire exercise seems completely pointless. Under those circumstances, Vikings' fans cannot win and they would be better off letting Red and the team go.<br /><br />Of course, Red could always sell the team to Glen Taylor and save himself the troubles associated with renegging on a contract.vikes geekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06530336385552424416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-1102619297939898062004-12-09T13:08:00.000-06:002004-12-09T13:08:00.000-06:00Seems to me that non-renewing season tickets just ...Seems to me that non-renewing season tickets just plays into Red's hand. A drop off in attendance while continuing to field a "competitive" team legitimizes his obvious desire to move the team. As right as you may be about the front office's motives, a drop in season ticket sales means "Hello Los Angeles".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8268346.post-1102544803934637332004-12-08T16:26:00.000-06:002004-12-08T16:26:00.000-06:00Good article VG. Of course, a lot of us fans neve...Good article VG. Of course, a lot of us fans never go to the games in the first place, so don't look my way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com