Familiar face will lead construction of new Vikings stadium

The man appointed by Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton to help bring a new football stadium to being is now being charged with overseeing the project.

Ted Mondale has been appointed executive director of the $975 million project that will construct a new stadium to the east of where the Metrodome sits. He was selected by the Minnesota Sports Facility Authority, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

The project will be bankrolled by nearly $500 million in public funding so there is plenty for Mondale to oversee. Mondale will be paid $157,181 annually, a figure some politicians balked at.

The Vikings hope to have the new building open in time for the 2016 season. They will likely spend some time playing home games at TCF Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus during the construction. The Vikings are expected to play this season in the Metrodome.

Follow me on Twitter: @BradBiggs

Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune