MINNEAPOLIS- The Minnesota Vikings will have a fixed roof and moveable front windows on their new stadium.
Designer Bryan Trubey of Dallas-based HKS Architects presented images of the $975 million project to a crowd of fans, public officials and members of the Vikings organization Monday night at the Guthrie Theater, a few blocks from where the new stadium will be built.
The steeply pitched, translucent roof will let natural light stream in, making the covered, glass-centric stadium seem more like it's outside.
The new stadium will be capable of hosting more events than any other large stadium in the world, designers said. Despite its versatility, the stadium's football configuration puts the fans closer to the field than in any other NFL stadium.
Following Monday's design presentation, the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority voted unanimously to approve the design and submit the details of the stadium to the Minneapolis Stadium Implementation Committee and the city of Minneapolis for review.
The stadium will replace the 31-year-old Metrodome, which the Vikings will vacate after the 2013 season. They'll play at the University of Minnesota for two years while the new place is under construction.
Groundbreaking for the new 65,000-seat stadium will take place in October 2013, and demolition of the Metrodome will begin early in 2014. The new stadium is scheduled to be open in time for the Vikings 2016 season.
