Vikings, going going...(?)...

[nebula]

Rumors are running wild around MN that the Vikes are close to having a new owner.
Who knows if this will pan-out just thought I'd spread the news.

Greg Coleman called the morning radio show and said that he wouldn't be calling if he didn't feel that this would happen. Also rumored is that Reggie Fowler's family is looking into local schools, implying that the team would stay in MN.




From KFAN (local sports radio)
http://www.ads345.com/adView.aspx?reque ... &Segment=1


Source: Vikings sale 'close as ever'
Last Update: 1/18/2005 1:01:58 PM


KFAN dot com

Citing sources close to negotiations, the FAN's Greg Coleman on Tuesday reported that a sale of the Vikings franchise to Arizona entrepreneur Reggie Fowler is "as close as ever."

Fowler, a former college football player at Wyoming, would be the NFL's first African-American majority owner. He first emerged as a potential buyer last year, but reportedly balked at current owner Red McCombs' $600 million asking price. The franchise was valued at $542 million last year by Forbes magazine.

It also has been reported in recent months that Fowler has had discussions with Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor and local auto dealer Denny Hecker about forming an ownership group. Gateway Inc. founder Ted Hiatt also has been rumored to be interested.

Fowler is the owner of Chandler-based Spiral Inc. According to Black Enterprise Magazine, Spiral is the 11th-ranked black-owned industrial/services company on their 2004 list, with $314 million in 2003 sales. Spiral is a real estate development and aviations simulator manufacturing company that employs 75.

As recently as late November, Vikings president Gary Woods said he'd never heard of Fowler.

Information from several sources was used in this report

[Vikes_Fan2823]

If Red McCombs sells the team, AND they stay in Minnesota, it would be heaven on earth for Vikings fans. but, I'd rather have Red McCombs as an owner than have the team re-locate.

Also rumored is that Reggie Fowler's family is looking into local schools, implying that the team would stay in MN.

That is GREAT news!

[mtryanks12]

how about the Donald himself. He seems to own everything nowadays, and he'd be pretty good at owning such a crappy team.


<-----NOTE: I'm a homer.

[TTTBone]

Well, we know how the vast majority of Viking fans (and most NFL fans) feel about McCombs, so this would be a great thing to happen.
However, McCombs is correct in his thinking that the Vikings need to get a new stadium deal for the the team to have a competative, sound financial future. Of course, this will NEVER happen with McCombs (a Texan) at the helm. Local ownership is the only answer for the Vikings.
I hope Fowler can pull such a thing off, and hopefully with a local group which includes Taylor, who has the utmost respect locally. New ownership, particularily with Taylor's presence, could provide the proper owner respect and impetus to get the local politicians off their collective asses and work to get the Vikes a new stadium deal and out of the outdated, awful Humpty Dome.
It needs to get done.
Without a stadium deal in the next five years or so, I'm pretty secure in stating that the Vikings will be forever gone from Minnesota.
And, that would be a tragedy.