Vikings Add $46 Million to Stadium Budget but $0 for Bird-Safe Glass

At today’s Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA) board meeting, it was announced that the Minnesota Vikings would contribute an additional $46 million to the construction of the new Vikings Stadium. This pushes the total budget for the new stadium past the billion dollar mark to $1.024 billion. However, funds for bird-safe glass will not be included as part of the $46 million. Audubon Minnesota Executive Director Matthew Anderson had this to say:

“$46 million dollars but nothing for the birds? This announcement is a slap in the face. A month ago, the Vikings and the MSFA said they didn’t have a million extra dollars in a billion-dollar budget. Today, they said that have an extra $46 million. Are you kidding me?" said Matthew Anderson. “More than 73,000 people have signed a petition asking the Vikings and the MSFA to do the right thing here – and today the team and the stadium authority are changing their story. They've got the money apparently. They just refuse to do what’s right and commonsense.”

Facts & Figures

• A July MSFA statement claimed they did not have the extra $1.1 million to use Audubon-recommended fritted glass, which would help avoid bird collisions and increase energy efficiency
• Minnesota is selling $468 million of bonds to finance the construction of the stadium
• Minnesota Department of Commerce guidelines require bond-financed structures to be bird-friendly
• Minneapolis City Council unanimously passed a resolution in support of additional $1.1 million for bird-safe glass for the stadium
• The Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Sports Facility Authority (MSFA) claim the Department of Commerce guidelines do not apply to them since the stadium’s designs were approved before the guidelines took effect
• The MSFA recently approved an extra $1.3 million for an additional 1,200 TVs and 6 extra escalators and an extra $1 million for the 7,500 square foot preview center for sponsors, suite owners, and season-ticket owners. It will be located across the street from the new stadium.
• Close to 1 billion birds die each year in the US from collisions with buildings, especially glass exteriors
• Audubon Minnesota has recovered at least 125 species of Minnesota’s birds found dead after colliding with buildings in the state, including species such as the Common Nighthawk, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Ruby-throated Hummingbird and American Robin
• Audubon has collected over 73,000 signatures since July 23, urging the MSFA and Vikings to reconsider their decision on the glass used for the new stadium (petition here: www.AudubonAction.org/Vikings)
• The fritted glass is available from Viracon, a Minnesota-based company

Contact: Nicolas Gonzalez, 212-979-3068