TCAAP possible site for new Vikings Stadium

This evening when i was work a coworker of mine asked me if i had heard that the TCAAP or the Twin Cities Army Ammunitions Plant in Arden Hills was being looked at as a possible site for building a new Vikings stadium.

I had not. And I immediately had the need to make this possibility stop being one.

I have a few objections to the use of that site, not just for the Vikings stadium. but also for development of any kind.

1. The land should be kept as open as it can be for a place that our local wildlife can utilize. It would be nice if the abandoned buildings were torn down and the land was cleaned up. It is a designated Superfund Site. The land should be kept as wild as possible.

2. the 430 acres that is up for sale is along I35-W, but I know that I would still see it from my backyard. And it might not the be stadium itself i see, but I would be affected by light pollution and noise pollution. Which would also affect the wildlife in the area. I do not want my air to be polluted by anymore noise and light than it is already affected by.

3. We dont need a new stadium. It is unfortunate that sports teams seem to need entire new facilities to make them play better. We dont need to take anymore land and pour concrete over it.  Since the Vikings have been thinking about taking the fight for a new stadium out into the suburbs i have been against it. If they so badly need a new stadium, tear down the Metrodome, and rebuild on the existing site. Do not take more land to make a new stadium just to leave a massive empty building. Yes the Metrodome will continued to be used for local events (high school state tournaments and concerts etc.) But it will be used even less than it is being used now.

I understand this would "create" new jobs and bring in money to the local businesses in the area. I currently work at a restaurant that would gain from the building of the stadium at that location. But I can not say that economic growth for the area is greater than habitat growth for the area.

We need to really look at how we as a culture are utilizing space. We do not own this planet. We dont even rent this planet. We share this planet with trillions upon trillion of other organisms who are not subservient to us. Our "needs" do not supersede the needs of the other living things of this earth.

I am angry that I am not a resident of Arden Hills and that makes me feel that my voice will not be heard or taken into account because I live, literally, on the wrong side of the street.

Minnesota is a state that has always encouraged keeping wild areas wild. Yes the TCAAP is not "wild" but once it is cleaned up it could be returned to being a wild open space without paved trails and abandoned buildings.


I sincerely hope this does not happen. And if the Vikings leave Minnesota because we dont build them a new stadium, then so be it.

I will continue to stay on top of this situation. And I am willing to do as much as possible to stop the use of this land for something as pointless as a sports stadium.