Vikings Withdraw Street Name Change Request

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The Minnesota Vikings organization has withdrawn its request to rename a street in front of the new stadium after some resistance from the City of Minneapolis.

The city planning commission this week denied the team's application to rename three blocks of Chicago Avenue Vikings Way. Team vice president Lester Bagley says the name change has been in the works for several years and wasn't controversial until this week. Reports say Bagley says he's not sure the Vikings "have the stomach for the tenor that exists" at City Hall over the issue.

Bagley says the franchise will pay "significant dollars" to reconstruct Chicago Avenue, even though it's a city street and is not obligated to do so.