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 Mike
Lynn, the General Manager of the Minnesota
Vikings, announces they are seriously
considering moving from Minneapolis. Lynn named
Birmingham, Los Angeles and Phoenix as potential
sites for relocation.
Max Winter, controlling owner of the Vikings,
said he will move if a domed stadium isn't
built. Two years ago, the legislature passed a
bill providing a new facility for them, based on
a 2% tax on liquor sales. However, the
legislature is currently trying to repeal the
bill. The Vikings lease of Metropolitan Stadium
expires at the end of the 1979-80 season. "After
that date, we have no legal obligations,
whatsoever, to say here," Lynn said.
On Birmingham's position, Lynn said,
"Personally, I haven't been in touch with
anybody from Birmingham. However, in talking
with Mr. Winter the other day from his home in
Hawaii, he did say he had talked with somebody
from Birmingham."
A. E. (Pee Wee) Burgess, one of the main
investors in the World Football League's
Birmingham Americans, insists they aren't as
serious as they claim. "They are just rattling
their sabers. They're just mentioning us - along
with those other cities - in hopes people up
there will give them what they want. They're not
moving here - or anywhere else. And besides,
they can't without the approval of the NFL. And
they won't get that - you can be sure of that,"
Burgess said. |
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