Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf has publicly campaigned for an open-air stadium to replace the Metrodome. He just might get a full-season shakedown cruise at the stadium that hosted the Vikings last Monday night.


Sources say the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission is assessing the viability of playing the 2011 season outdoors at TCF Bank Stadium at the University of Minnesota, the stadium that hosted the Vikings' game against the Chicago Bears when the Metrodome roof was damaged by heavy snow.

The commission will deliver its findings to the Vikings in late January or early February. After reviewing the findings, Wilf will make a decision in consultation with the NFL on whether to play the 2011 season at the Metrodome or TCF Bank Stadium, according to team and league sources.

The Monday night game was the Vikings' first outdoor home game since moving into the Metrodome for the 1982 season.

Last week, Bill Lester, executive director of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, said it's still not clear how long total repairs would take, including whether it would involve replacing damaged pieces of the roof, or replacing it entirely, and how much the repairs would cost. But he also said the stadium would be ready for the 2011 season.

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