Vikes Kick in More Money for New Stadium

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings have won approval to contribute more money toward construction of their new home.

The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority on Friday approved $50 million in new private financing for U.S. Bank Stadium under construction in downtown Minneapolis.

The Vikings originally were to spend $477 million to build the more than $1 billion stadium, with taxpayers picking up $498 million. But Minnesota Public Radio News  reports that the team's contribution has since grown by 31 percent, and could approach $630 million by this summer.

The stadium's grand opening is planned for July. Besides the Vikings, the new stadium will host the Super Bowl in 2018 and the NCAA Men's Final Four in 2019.