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Downtown site added to mix for proposed Vikings stadium

A fifth potential site for a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings has emerged, and according to the *Star Tribune*, it would be a mere walk across the street from the Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis.

Ted Mondale, chair of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, revealed Tuesday that the Vikings are eyeing property owned by the Star Tribune that abuts the Metrodome site. One appeal to building there is transit and infrastructure for a major venue already exist.

Mondale and Vikings vice president Lester Bagley gave a stadium update at a commercial real estate forum in suburban Bloomington on Tuesday.

"I think it's definitely a potential option that the Vikings or the public would buy that site," Mondale told reporters after the talk.

The idea of leaving the Metrodome standing while building a new facility "has a significant benefit to the Vikings," Mondale said.

Asked whether the Vikings have had any talks with the Star Tribune in the past six months, Mondale said he had no idea.

Star Tribune chairman Mike Sweeney declined to comment on Mondale's remarks. So did Bagley.

Other new stadium sites already publicly discussed include: the Metrodome, an area west of Target Field (home of baseball's Twins) in Minneapolis, part of the Target Corp. campus in Brooklyn Park and the former Twin Cities Ammunition Plant in Arden Hills.