Rybak Says Vikings Stadium Fight Was ‘Bruising’

MINNEAPOLIS -- Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak celebrated the final Vikings stadium vote the way many fans celebrate a victory -- with a beer.

Rybak says after Friday's 7-6 City Council vote that the fight for the new stadium has been a "bruising" one.

Minneapolis is putting up $150 million for construction of the nearly $1 billion stadium plus $159 million in operating costs later. The city will shift hospitality taxes that currently pay debt on the city convention center.

The deal also includes using some of that money to upgrade Target Center.

Rybak has touted the Vikings as a valuable city asset and says the new stadium on the Metrodome site will create thousands of construction jobs. But opponents on the council say it's a bad deal economically.

The target date for the new stadium is 2016.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)