‘No More Wiggle Room’ in Vikings Stadium Schedule

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A Minnesota Vikings official says there is "no more wiggle room" in the construction schedule for the team's $1 billion stadium after a completion deadline got pushed back to the end of July in 2016.

Vikings vice president Lester Bagley said Wednesday that the new "substantial completion" date of July 29 will be cutting it close. It has slid by a full month since an initial schedule was adopted. The Vikings are set to hold the inaugural preseason in mid-August 2016 but Bagley says the team is banking on other soft-opening events occurring first.

The revised date was in a presentation by the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority to a legislative oversight panel. An authority official says there is an expectation of access for tours and events before the completion date.