Thread: Well it looks like Reggie Fowler's deal..

is close to complete.. I checked and searched and didnt see any other topics about this.

http://vikings.kfan.com/sports/nflgu...B-24F2531DD34D

Reports: Fowler deal close to complete
Last Update: 2/12/2005 12:25:18 AM


KFAN dot com

Reggie Fowler’s primary competition believes the Arizona entrepreneur has reached an agreement to buy the Vikings from Red McCombs.

Whether Fowler’s bid is approved by the NFL, according to Mankato businessman Glen Taylor, might be a different matter altogether.

The Arizona Republic reported Friday that Fowler and McCombs were on the verge of completing a deal, and Taylor, expected to make a bid of nearly $600 million if Fowler’s group doesn’t acquire the franchise, told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune he believes McCombs has agreed to sell the team to Fowler for $625 million.

"Fowler will get the deal done, because he's driven by ownership, and Red is driven by price," Taylor told the paper. "So, they probably will work it out. What happens when it gets to the league office will determine if (Fowler) has the financial resources to be the general partner.�

In other words, Fowler might have a deal, but commissioner Paul Tagliabue and the league’s other 31 owners might not approve the structure of the prospective ownership group.

"The NFL demands more financial power from the general partner than do other leagues,� Taylor told the Tribune. “It's more difficult to pass muster than in the NBA, where we have corporations and ownership groups split a lot of ways.

“The NFL wants one person to be the lead investor and to represent the team."

Fowler operates Spiral, Inc., an Arizona-based company specializing in real estate development and manufacturing. According to Black Enterprise Magazine, Spiral generated $314 million in 2003 sales with a staff of just 75.

Fowler’s group includes several New York-based investors, as well as Twin Cities auto dealer Denny Hecker Questions have been raised about whether Fowler has the finances to be the franchise's primary owner; the league requires one person to own at least 30 percent of a team.

Taylor’s worth, meanwhile, was estimated by Forbes magazine in September at $1.9 billion.

"I would own 30 percent, which is the stake the NFL requires," said Taylor, who built his personal wealth in the printing business. "And 30 is about what I can do without having to draw money from any of my other companies."

Taylor noted that if Fowler indeed agreed to buy the team for $625 million – $80 million more than Taylor, who also owns the NBA's Timberwolves, reportedly offered for the team last fall – the league might not approve any lower offer.

Taylor also expressed optimism about gaining support for public financing for a new stadium – something that might prove tougher for an out-of-town buyer.

Fowler, who played linebacker at the University of Wyoming and briefly in the USFL, is a native of Tuscon, Ariz.

In the past, Fowler he indicated a willingness to provide some private financing for a new stadium. The Vikings’ lease at the Metrodome expires in 2011, meaning the team likely would have to secure financing by next summer to ensure a new facility would be ready for the 2012 season.

The Vikings has officially pulled the plug on its stadium push, but Anoka County, the preferred location of the new facility, in December approved $125,000 in additional funding for its end of the stadium effort.

McCombs, who put the team up for sale in 2002, as recently as October expressed interest in relocating the team to Los Angeles if public funding for a new stadium can’t be secured.

Fowler hopes to become the first African-American majority owner in the NFL.

http://www.startribune.com/stories/510/5236647.html

This story says about the same thing. Except Taylor doesn't expect Fowler to receive NFL approval to be the owner. And will ultimately be the next owner.

On a side note, we may be in for a surprise on the free agency side this year with Mr. Taylor. Everyone here has sounded very opptomistic that he will come in and hit the deck running. But some of his qoutes in this story make it seem that he will hang back a bit until he gets the whole stadium issue resolved.

This one in Phoenix expects hi,m to have no problems, pending other owner approval.
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepu...2fowler12.html

I dont really care who gets it as long as red sells the team.If i had to choose I would much rather have taylor though because there is still that little thought in the back of my head of the LA vikings.

NOOOO, I don't want Fowler, especially since Taylor is looking like he wants the team!!

I hope the NFL nipps this in the bud!

Just sell the team already!

I dont care who buys the team. Just as long as someone does it...soon.

I am wondering why it took taylor so long to decide to make a legitimate run at the team. If the fowler deal does fall through taylor better purchase the team no excuses about the price. If fowler does buy the team, good at least we won't have to worry about a cheap owner anymore

hell yah this all sounds like good news to me