Does Winning Lead to Money and Support in Sports?

The success of the season created a lot of good buzz around the idea of building a new Viking's stadium, but will this week's great loss hurt the team's stadium support? Last weekend was a momentous weekend of the Vikings in more ways than one. Besides the devastating loss on Sunday, last Friday a team of execs proposed a new idea for the Viking's stadium which seeks federal funding.

The Minnesota Vikings have stated that regardless of Saint's game outcome, they are pushing forward with the new stadium project. "If nothing else, the last several weeks - indeed the entire dramatic season - reminds our state leaders and all Minnesotans how fortunate we are to have an NFL team," Vikings Stadium Executive, Lester Bagley said.

Legislators are still cool to the idea of a new stadium during a time of budget deficits. The team says they're pushing the project as an economic development in a tough economy, which will create thousands of jobs.

I go back and forth on how I feel about the new Viking's stadium topic. I really like having the Vikings in Minnesota (even if they continue to have the Charlie Brown/Lucy/football syndrome), but on the other hand, I think the Metrodome isn't that old and should be used a little longer.

Looking at it with my PR background, the Vikings are doing things right (except for winning) and have the ball in their court since their contract will run out soon. "It is clear that in order to retain the Vikings for the next generation in Minnesota, we have to resolve this stadium issue," Bagley said. Here are a couple recommendations I believe could help come to a conclusion and build public stadium support:

-Continue to explain all of the economic perks that will come with a new stadium. Give an estimated number of jobs and revenue a new stadium will bring.

-Continue to state that the Vikings will leave if Minnesota does not give them the stadium they've been asking for now over a decade.

-Propose other ways to pay for a new stadium besides tax payer's money. (Corporate sponsorship, federal funding, team fundraising, etc.)

-The team needs to build its PR. Prepare Vikings Owner, Zigi Wilf, Coach Brad Childress, players, etc to do public announcements on the topic, stating why it's important and needed. Have these icons make more public appearances doing public service, sighing autographs or just shaking hands at events.

-Continue to play well next season!

I'm not trying to say I believe winning this past Sunday's game and going to the Super Bowl would have guaranteed the team a new stadium. Despite everything, a brand new stadium would be a tough sell to legislators in this economy. However, I don't believe everything lawmakers say on the topic. I know if the Vikings would have continued to win this season the team would have helped the support for their new stadium greatly. If you have any new suggestions/ideas on what you would like to see from the Vikings in order to gain your support or dollars, please send them my way.