Stadium Rumors

[Master4Caster]

Originally Posted by sportscurmudgeon

... maybe Minnesota is worse; ....

Actually, the Minnesota Metrodome is a great stadium for fans. It's small size (65,000) means every seat has great sight lines and is close to the field, compared to a behemouth like FedEx. The dome protects from bad weather plus it holds in the sound, an advantage for the 12th man.

The problem with the Metrodome is that it's a drag on the economics of pro sports. For the Vikings, there are not enough corporate suites to raise the cash to compete with Washington, Dallas, or Chicago's new Soldier Field, for talent. For the Twins, the Dome is just too big. They only draw about 30,000 fans per game when they are winning. They can't affort the rent so lose money. (They've become specialists at developing young, unknown talent knowing they will lose them to a big market team some day.)

The things that make the Metrodome so good for fans are killing the teams that call it home. The things that make FedEx so poor for fans, makes it a money machine for the Redskins to attract talent. This is why there are intense discussions between owners of small market teams and owners of big market teams. That's holding up a new labor agreement with the players association.

It's the game between the seasons, and it's almost as interesting as what happens on the field.