Posted May 23, 2011    

•Mark Dayton

•Jerry Kill

•Enes Kanter

•"Wally the Beer Man"

•Harmon Killebrew

Stadium Source: Arden Hills Site Didn’t Have Votes to Pass 

Here’s what Sports Headliners knows about a possible new Vikings stadium after following the issue for years and talking with a stadium authority late last week. 

Legislative supporters of the Arden Hills site didn’t have enough votes to pass a stadium bill during the regular session but might during a special session, according to the source who spoke anonymously.  But a better move is to form a blue ribbon committee to study all the stadium options and make a recommendation for the 2012 session.  Don’t rush to judgment on this controversial issue that demands public support. 

If the stadium issue is unsettled going into next year, the Farmers Market site in Minneapolis could eventually become home to the Vikings.  That location ties in with Target Field, Target Center and the many bars and restaurants in the area.  “The business guys like the clustering of facilities,” the source said. 

Either the Metrodome or Farmers Market site conforms better than Arden Hills to Governor Mark Dayton’s mantra to build a “people’s stadium.”  The Minneapolis sites are more centrally located, better served by mass transit, have superior road access, won’t require expensive highway upgrades, and offer proximity to hotels, bars and restaurants.  Major attractions like an NCAA Final Four need additional facilities for their activities including hospitality amenities and exhibition space.   

Whatever site is chosen, legislation needs to stipulate “sweetheart” usage deals for nonprofits like MIAC baseball teams that have benefitted in the past from playing in the Metrodome.  

The source said Vikings owner Zygi Wilf is enamored with the Arden Hills site after talking with two owners who have successful stadium operations in the suburbs, Jerry Jones with Dallas and Robert Kraft from New England.  The source believes the Vikings could charge $30 per car for the projected 21,000 parking spaces in Arden Hills. 

With a career background in real estate, it's assumed Wilf also likes the potential for commercial development at Arden Hills.

A Ramsey County location for the stadium should lessen decades old complaints from the east metro that Minneapolis “gets everything,” but the source said not necessarily so.  “They (the more paranoid) still think they will get screwed (on the stadium),” he said.  “Even when the Xcel Center was built, they thought Minneapolis would figure a way to get the team (the Wild).” 

 

Worth Noting

Jason LaFrenz from the Gophers marketing department said after the last football season a survey indicated 83 percent of public season ticket holders planned to renew their tickets.  Now the renewal process is “pretty much finalized” and 90 percent of season ticket holders have committed for next season.  He said that figure compares with 93 percent last year. 

The better than expected renewal rate ties to the growing popularity of new coach Jerry Kill.  The hire didn’t create much positivity with many fans last fall but the public and media has been impressed with his coaching success at other schools and the forthright way he’s gone about his job so far at Minnesota.  

A website called Coaches By The Numbers analyzes college football coaches and offers data flattering toward Kill.  Kill has won almost 70 percent of his games when playing teams with equal talent, and approaches 50 percent when at a talent disadvantage, according to the website’s analysis. 

Former Gophers’ football player Jim Brunzell is working on a book about his professional wrestling career.  Jumping Jim wrote in an email: “I’ve had knee, shoulder, and hip replacement.  For 28 years, nearly 5,000 matches, I had a great run.” 

Prep basketball authority Ken Lien told Sports Headliners via e-mail that Siyani Chambers from Hopkins is drawing interest from Providence and Georgia Tech while Sanjay Lumpkin of Benilde-St. Margaret's has offers from Northwestern, Santa Clara and Princeton.  Lumpkin’s teammate, Isaiah Zierden, has interest from Maryland and Notre Dame, while Braham’s Tyler Vaughn received offers from St. Cloud State and Northern State, according to Lien.

Ndudi Ebi, who the Timberwolves drafted out of high school as their first pick in 2003, is playing pro basketball in Europe.  

NBAdraft.net has the Wolves choosing forward Derrick Williams from Arizona with the No. 2 pick in next month’s draft.  Former Gopher Mychal Thompson’s son, forward Klay Thompson, is projected by the website to be drafted No. 12 by Utah.  

Sports Headliners believes the Wolves will draft Kentucky center Enes Kanter.

 

Notes Plus 

The Wolves are scheduled to work out potential draft choices today and tomorrow at Target Center.  Among players expected today is Cory Joseph who played last season as a freshman for Texas after rejecting a scholarship offer from the Gophers and the opportunity to play with his brother Devoe.  Also on the invite list for today is Orono’s Jon Leuer by way of Wisconsin.  Tomorrow three other former Big Ten stars are expected in town: Purdue’s JaJuan Johnson, Michigan State’s Kalin Lucas and Michigan’s Darius Morris. 

The departure by Morris for the NBA after two years at Michigan probably costs the Wolverines a place among the nation’s best teams next season. 

“Wally the Beer Man,” who isn’t selling beer at Twins games this year, was asked how he’s doing financially hustling beers out of a tub at Sneaky Pete’s downtown.  “Let’s says this,” he answered.  “I am happy.”  

Target Field has won a prestigious national honor, The Sports Facility of the Year by Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal and Sports Business Daily.

Rod Carew, a special assistant to the Twins, will represent the organization at the June 6 First-Year Player Draft in Secaucus, New Jersey.  The Twins have the No. 30 overall choice and two selections in the compensation round (No. 50 and No. 55) acquired from the departures of Orlando Hudson and Jesse Crain via free agency.  Commissioner Bud Selig will announce the Twins' first selection, while Carew will announce the club's two picks in the supplemental round.

There will be a private burial for Harmon Killebrew today in Payette, Idaho, the town where he was born.

Hamline baseball coach Jason Verdugo also is the pitching coach for the St. Paul Saints.  He coached the Pipers to the MIAC tournament title this spring.

Conference golf champion Saint John's has not only the MIAC Player-of-the-Year in Tony Krogen, but Casey Vangsness is the league Freshman-of-the-Year and Bob Alpers is Coach-of-the-Year.  Conference coaches determined the honorees.

 

Tony Krogen

Casey Vangsness