Minnesota Supreme Court dismisses lawsuit over Vikings stadium funding

The new stadium will sit on the current Metrodome site and is scheduled to open in 2016. (Courtesy: Bloomberg)

The Minnesota Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit Tuesday that almost jeopardized the financing of the new Minnesota Vikings stadium, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press's Bill Salisbury.

Earlier, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton had said that the new Minnesota Vikings stadium deal could "collapse" if the court did not rule quickly on the case.

On Jan. 10, plaintiffs filed a lawsuit alleging that the Minneapolis charter mandates a referendum on the directing of public money toward the new stadium. The city has planned to contribute $150 million to the project.

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Dayton urged the court to resolve the case quickly, saying a delay in financing could unravel the deal. Minnesota Management and Budget as well as the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority were less pessimistic but still expressed concern, saying that a financial setback could postpone the anticipated 2016 opening of the field and perhaps raise costs.

However, the court's decision should alleviate the concerns of officials. Dayton praised the court for moving swiftly and for dismissing the lawsuit.

The Vikings are paying $477 million of the stadium's anticipated $975 million costs. The state of Minnesota is paying $348 million, according to the Pioneer Press.