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Will the NFL's Minnesota Vikings move to Birmingham?

October 30, 1997
It is reported that the National Football League's Minnesota Vikings have been secretly on sale for the past two months. A potential suitor in Birmingham has had discussions with the team but it is unclear if an offer was made, and if so, if it includes moving the team to Birmingham.

The Vikings unusual ownership structure has become unstable of late. In June, NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue met with the Vikings ownership and stressed the need for the team to meet the league's mandate that each franchise have one owner with at least a 30 percent stake. The ten primary Vikings owners currently own equal shares worth roughly ten percent each. The decision to sell the team came from the unwillingness, or inability, of any current owner to step forward and meet the mandate. The sale is being pursued due to the wishes of a majority of the board members wanting to sell their interest in the team.

"We have to explore all the possibilities. I think eventually we have to sell," said John Skoglund, one of the ten primary Viking owners. The owners have been seeking a new lease and substantial renovations of the Metrodome. The Metrodome situation is so bad that any new owner would be put in the same position, which has made the sale difficult.

All of the area's facilities are in need. On Wednesday, Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson called for state lawmakers to find a broad-based solution that would help Major League Baseball's Minnesota Twins, the Vikings, the University of Minnesota football team, and the expansion franchise of the National Hockey League that's scheduled to begin play in 2000.

In addition to the prospective buyer in Birmingham, the team has met with prospective buyers from Los Angeles, Toronto, and another unidentified city.

October 31, 1997
The Birmingham suitor is Dr. Larry Lemak, a noted local surgeon. "We'd love to have an NFL team come here. We're going to do what we can to pursue that opportunity."

	Dr. Larry Lemak

Lemak has a working relationship with Vikings president Roger Headrick, who is a member of the board of directors of Birmingham-based MedPartners.

Lemak said he had officially contacted Headrick yesterday with an offer to buy the team. "We do know of the Vikings situation and they know our situation - as do some other teams with leases that aren't so hot."

The Alabama Sports Foundation, of which Lemak is chairman, is pursuing the possibilities of bringing a team to Birmingham. "The idea of the NFL, or any major league sports franchise, is exciting. I think the interesting thing is that people realize the potential for a major league sports here is real. The fact that we're mentioned with Los Angeles, Toronto, and San Antonio is huge," Lemak said. The ASF is an offshoot of the 1996 Olympic soccer games held in Birmingham.

Currently, there is no firm ownership group in Birmingham, but Healthsouth CEO Richard Scrushy has reportedly met with the Vikings.

January 27, 1998
A published report says that Lemak's investment group would make an offer within ten days but  Lemak says they are still reviewing the team's finances and does not expect to make an immediate offer to buy the team. "I think it's all a little premature at this point. We haven't finished analyzing the financial data. We'll have a decision soon, but not yet."

The NFL's recent announcement of a dramatically larger television package will push up the team's price, which is estimated at $200 million. But according to Gene Hallman, CEO of the ASF,  that shouldn't worry the local investors. "The price will go up by some amount. At the same time, the profit to be made next year will go up, as well. So that's a wash."

Lemak's team has a few options, including buying the team outright or just a percentage. They will also consider moving the team to Birmingham, where another Lemak-led group has recently proposed a taxpayer-funded plan to build a $280 million domed stadium and convention center downtown.

Other potential buyers at this point are Philadelphia Flyers owner Ed Snider, Minnesota Twins owner Carl Pohlad, Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor, and San Antonio businessman Red McCombs.

February 2, 1998

	Author Tom Clancy

Best-selling author Tom Clancy has emerged as a potential buyer for the Vikings. Clancy's surprising bid was accepted on Monday.

Clancy is known for his military thrillers "The Hunt for Red October", "Patriot Games", and "Clear and Present Danger".

Whitney said that the current owners would meet this week and a decision would be made on Tuesday.

May 27, 1998
After Tom Clancy's winning bid of $200 million fell through due to shaky financing, the Vikings are back on the market.

However, Lemak's investment team has not decided if they will submit another bid. While the ASF hasn't openly supported the effort to build a domed stadium in Birmingham, the success of the vote could have an impact on the purchase of the team.

But Lemak warns that a purchase would not automatically mean the team could move to Birmingham. "Much of the doubt is centered around the fact that if you secure a team, you don't just pick it up and move it. The NFL has quite a say in what happens."

The NFL has seen quite a lot of movement of late. Since 1995, the Los Angeles Rams moved to St. Louis, the Los Angeles Raiders moved back to Oakland, the Cleveland Browns moved to Baltimore, and the Houston Oilers moved to Nashville.

July 7, 1998
The Minnesota Vikings officially announce San Antonio businessman Red McCombs as their new owner, pending approval of the other NFL team owners.

McCombs reportedly paid $250 million for the team and has repeatedly said he would keep the team in Minnesota.

September 1998

			1998-99                            National Football League
xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx
	Arizona Cardinals		Atlanta Falcons		Baltimore Ravens		Buffalo Bills		Carolina Panthers
	Chicago Bears		Cincinnati Bengals		Dallas Cowboys		Denver Broncos		Detroit Lions
	Green Bay Packers		Indianapolis Colts		Jacksonville Jaguars		Kansas City Chiefs		Miami Dolphins
	Minnesota Vikings		New England Patriots		New Orleans Saints		New York Giants		New York Jets
	Oakland Raiders		Philadelphia Eagles		Pittsburgh Steelers		San Diego Chargers		San Francisco 49ers
	Seattle Seahawks		St. Louis Rams		Tampa Bay Buccaneers		Tennessee Oilers		Washington Redskins

Epilogue
The Vikings remained in Minnesota.

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	Evansville Crimson Giants 1922		Frankford Yellow Jackets 1924 to 1931		Green Bay Packers 1937 to 2024		Hammond Pros 1922 to 1926		Hartford Blues 1926
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	Houston Oilers 1970 to 1996		Houston Texans 2002 to 2024		Indianapolis Colts 1984 to 2024		Jacksonville Jaguars 1995 to 2024		Kansas City Blues 1924
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	Kansas City Chiefs 1970 to 2024		Kansas City Cowboys 1925 to 1926		Kenosha Maroons 1924		Las Vegas Raiders 2020 to 2024		Los Angeles Buccaneers 1926
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	Los Angeles Chargers 2017 to 2024		Los Angeles Raiders 1982 to 1994		Los Angeles Rams 1946 to 1994; 2016 to 2024		Louisville Brecks 1922 to 1923		Louisville Colonels 1926
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	Miami Dolphins 1970 to 2024		Milwaukee Badgers 1922 to 1926		Minneapolis Marines 1922 to 1924		Minneapolis Red Jackets 1929 to 1930		Minnesota Vikings 1961 to 2024
	New England Patriots 1971 to 2024		New Orleans Saints 1967 to 2024		New York Bulldogs 1949		New York Giants 1925 to 2024		New York Jets 1970 to 2024
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	Orange Tornadoes 1929		Philadelphia Eagles 1933 to 2024		Phoenix Cardinals 1988 to 1993		Pittsburgh Pirates 1933 to 1939		Pittsburgh Steelers 1940 to 2024
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	Portsmouth Spartans 1930 to 1933		Pottsville Maroons 1925 to 1928		Providence Steam Roller 1925 to 1931		Racine Legion 1922 to 1924		Racine Tornadoes 1926
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	Rochester Jeffersons 1922 to 1925		Rock Island Independents 1922 to 1925		San Diego Chargers 1970 to 2016		San Francisco 49ers 1950 to 2024		Seattle Seahawks 1976 to 2024
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	St. Louis All-Stars 1923		St. Louis Cardinals 1960 to 1987		St. Louis Gunners 1934		St. Louis Rams 1995 to 2015		Staten Island Stapletons 1929 to 1932
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	Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1976 to 2024		Tennessee Oilers 1997 to 1998		Tennessee Titans 1999 to 2024		Toledo Maroons 1922 to 1923		Washington Commanders 2022 to 2024
	Washington Football Team 2020 to 2021		Washington Redskins 1937 to 2019

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