| Posted by Mark Weber |
LESTER BAGLEY: UPDATE ON THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS
All things related to the Minnesota Vikings – but especially the new stadium, the impending Super Bowl, and the team’s new headquarters/practice facility in Eagan – were covered Feb. 28 by Lester Bagley, the Vikings’ executive vice president for public affairs and stadium development.
Lester, who has been with the Vikings for 12 years, said the football organization’s goal for this next season is to be the first team in NFL history to be both the Super Bowl host and participant. He’s on the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee that is looking forward to the spotlight event on Feb. 4, 2018 but in fact is planning what will be a 10-day celebration.
Minnesota is playing host mostly because of its new U.S. Bank Stadium, which Lester reviewed in detail – including the stadium art collection worth several million dollars.
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He spent substantial time describing the team’s under-construction practice facility and headquarters in Eagan after being located in Eden Prairie since the 1980s. Lester said the Vikings have had a “tremendous relationship with the city [of Eden Prairie] … but we’ve outgrown our space.” The team has 12 acres in Eden Prairie, but in Eagan it will have three times that amount for team-specific functions. Overall, the Vikings have purchased 200 acres in Eagan that will hold such uses as hotel and conference center, office, housing, and retail. Work is already underway, and the team facilities will be open in one year.
As to what will happen with the Eden Prairie property left behind, Lester said, “We don’t have a specific game plan yet.” But he added that it is an ideal piece of property that can generate substantial tax revenue for Eden Prairie and other units of government.
- Nominations for the Eden Prairie High School student Above & Beyond Awards sponsored by the club are due
March 20.
- The Eden Prairie Community Foundation’s annual EP Gives event will be April 29 at Oak Ridge Conference Center
& Hotel in Chaska. See Bev Aho, Pastor Rod Anderson, Jeanne Zetah, or Mark Weber for tickets.
- Sign up online now for the Test Drive: Next Stop Reality program at Eden Prairie High School on May 18.
- The District 5950 Rotary Foundation is looking for volunteers. See Dan O’Brien for more information.
- Jim Loutzenhiser has resigned from the club due to medical reasons.
Spotlight on Kelly Salwei
 Kelly Salwei presented his vocational, noting that he was born in Grafton, N.D. and lived elsewhere in that state before the family moved to Fergus Falls, Minn. when he was age 10. Kelly graduated high school in Fergus Falls and then attended Mankato State, where he graduated with a double major in accounting and finance. His first job was in Bemidji, and then he was hired in 1985 by Olsen Thielen & Co., where he works on the auditing and consulting side. Kelly and his wife have two children in college and another in high school, and they enjoy visiting national parks.
Happy Fines
We were happy, and willing to offer money as proof. Frank Sherwood was happy to hear from a Rotarian friend in Roseville that they had an outstanding speaker – our own John Crudele. Yvonne Selcer was happy to report the EP-Beyond the Yellow Ribbon organization had a successful Presidents Day event. Dan O’Brien was happy to report that Bob Solohub is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow and is approaching Major Donor status. Jacob Stonesifer was happy about his recent honeymoon in the Caribbean.
Visitors
Bill Gaddis - Prospective Member
Greg Olson - Prospective Member
Ale Pena Gonzalez - Exchange Student
Parker Hewitt and Carter Mason- Student Interns
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