Vikings pledge another $500K for new stadium, but enhancements won't include bird-safe glass

Published February 05, 2015

The Minnesota Vikings have pledged an additional $500,000 for enhancements to the new $1 billion stadium, but despite protests by bird-lovers, the improvements won't improve bird-safe glass.

The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority agreed Friday the Vikings would pay $518,000 for another elevator, two mobile concessions stands, and redesigned media and skyway areas, The Star Tribune reported (http://strib.mn/1D1eJNB ). Most of that money will go toward the elevator — making a total of eight in the building.

About two dozen bird enthusiasts attended Friday's authority meeting, toting signs such as, "It's never too late to do the right thing."

Preservationists argue the glass in the stadium's current design will kill migrating birds who will crash into it. A couple of protesters told the authority to spend an extra $1 million for bird-safe glass.

But it's not in the plan. Authority Chairwoman Michele Kelm-Helgen said the building was designed with an open-air feeling, and the glass on the roof will be fritted to help birds avoid collisions.

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Information from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com

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