September 28th, 2012 
Matt Loede 
Posted in Lucas Oil Stadium was the template the Vikings had in mind this spring when they pushed for state funding for a new stadium, and now they have the architect.
Dallas-based HKS Inc., which designed the new Cowboys stadium as well as Lucas Oil in Indianapolis, was hired Friday, Sept. 28, to build the new $975 million football stadium in downtown Minneapolis.
The firm will get $34 million for its services. Drawings of what the new stadium will look like will likely be unveiled early next year, officials said.
HKS was a joint pick by the team and the public stadium authority set up following legislative approval this past spring of $348 million in state money for the project. The Vikings are kicking in $477 million, and the city of Minneapolis contributes $150 million.
The next major step is to get a construction manager on board — likely in November or December — to help put cost estimates to the design concepts.
