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US Bank Stadium security upgrades to cost additional $62 million
Previous estimates from the MSFA suggested the price of Phase II was expected to cost around $48 million. Estimates released Thursday came back $14 million higher.
MINNEAPOLIS — A plan to improve security at U.S. Bank Stadium is getting more expensive according to a new request from the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA).
The MSFA announced Phase II of the permanent secured perimeter project at the stadium will cost around $62.3 million on Thursday.
Previous estimates from the MSFA suggested the price of Phase II was expected to cost around $48 million.
This money is in addition to the $15.7 million that has already been approved by the Minnesota Legislature for Phase I of the project.
According to the MSFA, Phase I includes the design and construction of a new system of anti-climbing fencing, crash-rated barriers, and other security improvements in the north, east and south portions of the stadium.
Phase I construction is underway and will be completed in 2024.
Phase II of the project will focus on the west side of the stadium, which includes the stadium’s Legacy Gate, Medtronic Plaza and Downtown East Plaza.
The MSFA said the security improvements will meet the SAFETY Act requirements from the Department of Homeland Security.
In a statement, the MSFA stated Phase II “exceeds the capability for the MSFA to fund with the stadium’s current funding mechanisms.”
The authority is now looking to Governor Walz and the Minnesota legislature to fund the project.
The MSFA “looks forward to further discussions with the Governor and legislative leaders to review and plan for ongoing needs”
Governor Walz said he isn’t surprised the Phase II estimates came in higher than expected.
He says he is open to a conversation with legislators and the MSFA regarding additional state money to pay for these upgrades.
“I look forward to working with them on it. I think this is just one of the things that happens and these costs in the world kind of going up. I am still a big believer that these are great facilities for Minnesota. They have the opportunity to have huge economic impacts and we’re willing to work together,” Walz says.
KARE 11 also reached out to several leaders in the state legislature to get their thoughts on this new funding request.
A spokesperson for Senate Republicans said leaders are requesting additional time to look through the proposal before issuing a formal comment.
KARE 11 also asked the MSFA for further explanation of why these security upgrades are needed at the stadium.
An MSFA spokesperson sent KARE 11 this detailed response explaining why maintaining the stadium’s “SAFETY Act Designation” is important:
For U.S. Bank Stadium, the SAFETY Act Designation means:
- Confirmation that our security program meets or exceeds a high standard of excellence;
- The offering of significant federal liability protections against third-party claims arising out of an act of terrorism;
- Support through ongoing dialogue and review with SAFETY Act reviewers;
- and confidence for best-in-class security experiences for fans, clients, promoters, vendors, public safety, and community members.
- The delay or decision not to pursue a permanent secured perimeter may cause a loss of ability for U.S. Bank Stadium to be awarded future designations.
Here is the full statement from the MSFA regarding Phase II of the project and the funding request:
At today’s meeting of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA), JE Dunn and The Tegra Group provided an update for Phase I of the permanent secured perimeter project, which is currently under construction. Phase I became fully funded with the appropriation of $15.7 million as a result of the 2023 legislative session. This phase of the permanent secured perimeter project covers the North, East, and South portions of the facility with the design and construction of a new system of anti-climb fencing, crash-rated barriers, and bollards. We are pleased that Phase I is on pace with the original timeline and is within the budget. The MSFA Board was also provided with a first look at Phase II of the permanent secured perimeter from the architectural firm, Populous. Phase II will finalize the permanent secured perimeter plan entirely by focusing on the west portion of the stadium perimeter near the stadium’s Legacy Gate, Medtronic Plaza, and Downtown East Plaza. Phase II will enhance public safety, preserve community access, meet the SAFETY Act requirements set forth by the Department of Homeland Security, and complete the vision for U.S. Bank Stadium. The permanent secured perimeter project will ultimately protect Minnesota’s asset and the important investment that the public made to create U.S. Bank Stadium, which has proven to be a successful economic generator for the State of Minnesota and the City of Minneapolis. With a cost estimate of $62.3 million, Phase II exceeds the capability for the MSFA to fund with the stadium’s current funding mechanisms. The MSFA is prepared for most routine, short-term capital improvement needs, but will need assistance on larger projects like the permanent secured perimeter. As stewards of this facility, the MSFA looks forward to further discussions with the Governor and legislative leaders to review and plan for ongoing needs in effort to maintain and preserve U.S. Bank Stadium as a world-class venue.
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The crash happened when a Suburban pulling a trailer failed to stop at a stop sign, Minnesota State Patrol said.
WAUKENABO, Minn. — Two people from Minnetonka died in a crash Friday in Aitkin County while others, including children, were hurt.
According to Minnesota State Patrol, it happened at the intersection of Highway 169 and Grove Street/County Road 3 in Waukenabo Township at approximately 5:15 p.m.
A Suburban pulling a trailer was driving east on County Road 3 but did not stop at the stop sign at Highway 169, authorities said. The vehicle was struck by a northbound GMC Yukon. Two other vehicles were struck in the crash, but the people in those two cars were not injured.
In the Suburban, the driver sustained life-threatening injuries, according to State Patrol. Elizabeth Jane Baldwin, 61, of Minnetonka, and Marlo Dean Baldwin, 92, of Minnetonka, both died. Officials said the driver of the vehicle, a 61-year-old from Minnetonka, has life-threatening injuries.
There were six people in the Yukon when the crash occurred. The 44-year-old driver, as well as passengers ages 18, 14, and 11, sustained what officials described as life-threatening injuries. The other two passengers have non-life-threatening injuries.
Alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the crash, but officials said Elizabeth Jane Baldwin had not been wearing a seatbelt.
Among those at the start line this year will be Alex Vigil.
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Pixar’s second installment of the movie features characters we’ve already met — Joy, Sadness and Anger — and gives them a new roommate named Anxiety.
MINNEAPOLIS — Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” universe plays out inside the mind of the movie’s adolescent protagonist, Riley.
She plays a kid from Minnesota whose family uproots her life by moving to San Francisco. But did you know that what plays out in Riley’s mind actually comes from the mind of a real-life Minnesotan?
“You are one of us!” said Breaking the News anchor Jana Shortal.
“Yes, I am!” said Burnsville native and the movie’s creator and director, Kelsey Mann.
Mann was chosen for the role by ANOTHER Minnesotan — Pete Docter, the man behind the original movie, “Inside Out.”
“I don’t know if Pete asked me to do this movie because I was from Minnesota and he was from Minnesota … I just think it worked out that way,” Mann said.
How two guys from the south metro made a pair of Pixar movies that would change the game is a hell of a story that began with Docter in 2015.
“He [Docter] was just trying to tell a fun story — an emotional, fun story — and didn’t realize how much it would help give kids a vocabulary to talk about things they were feeling because they are feeling those emotions, but they’re really hard to talk about,” Mann said.
Some parents, counselors and teachers might even tell you it did more good for kids than just entertain them. It unlocked their emotions and begged for what Mann set out to create at the beginning of 2020.
“That part was fun, particularly fun,” he said. “I think the daunting part was following up a film that everyone really loved.”
But Mann knew what he wanted to do with the movie’s follow-up, “Inside Out 2.”
“Diving into Riley’s adolescence … that was just fun,” he said.
This time around, Riley is 13, hitting puberty and facing all of what, and who, comes with it. The franchise’s second installment features characters we’ve already met — Joy, Sadness and Anger — and gives them a new roommate named Anxiety.
“I think that’s what’s fun about the ‘Inside Out’ world: You can take something we all know and give it a face,” Mann said. “We can give anxiety a name and a face.”
The film follows Riley’s emotions fighting it out for control of her life. Joy wants Riley to stay young and hold on only to joy, while anxiety is hell-bent on taking over Riley over at the age of 13 because as a lot of us know, that’s when anxiety often moves in.
“I always pitched it as a takeover movie, like an emotional takeover,” Mann said. “Anxiety can kind of feel like that; it can take over and kind of shove your other emotions to the side and repress them.”
For a kids’ movie, it’s hard to watch this animation play out, even when an adult has the keys to decide.
“I’m making a movie about anxiety and I still have to remind myself to have my anxiety take a seat,” Mann said.
All of our individual anxieties have a place in this world.
“The whole movie honestly is about acceptance. Both acceptance of anxiety being there and also of your own flaws,” said Mann.
Even for our kids, we have to remember that this is life.
Anxiety will come for them; it does for us all.
The “Inside Out” world just shows them it’s so.
