Governor Dayton Signs $975 Million Stadium Bill

ST. PAUL  (AP) - Gov. Mark Dayton has signed a bill to build a nearly $1 billion stadium for the Minnesota Vikings.

Dayton signed the bill to cheers Monday during a ceremony attended by the NFL team's owners and several key legislators.

The team hopes to be in its new stadium on the site of the Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis by 2016.

The Vikings will pay just under half the cost of the $975 million project. The state of Minnesota and city of Minneapolis will share the remaining costs.

State lawmakers approved the bill last week out of concern that the team might leave the state unless it got a new stadium. The Vikings will sign a 30-year lease to remain at the site.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)