Announcement of Vikings stadium builder delayed

Stadium planners say they are putting off picking a builder for the new home for the Vikings, at least until next week.

The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority had initially planned to pick a construction manager from among three contenders.

Authority chairwoman Michele Kelm-Helgen says they are not ready to sign on with either of the two finalists. They include Arizona-based Hunt Construction, which built Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis, and Minneapolis-based Mortenson Construction, which built Target Field.

"We just need a little more time to get a little more information," Kelm-Helgen said. "As you can imagine, there's a lot of issues related to scope of service and contract terms, and in order to make a decision we need more information."

An initial design for the stadium is expected to be released in a matter of weeks. Authorities are expecting to break ground in October.

The stadium will also be one of three pro sports projects underway in the Twin Cities. The St. Paul Saints are getting a new stadium in St. Paul, and the Timberwolves Target Center is heading for a $100 million renovation.

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