Governor Mark Dayton Alarmed by Vikings Owner Legal Woes

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings owners are downplaying their New Jersey legal woes amid Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton's call for steps to ensure integrity of the team's stadium deal.

Mark and Zygi Wilf issued a statement Thursday saying their civil lawsuit troubles back home won't affect a guarantee of $477 million in private financing toward the nearly $1 billion stadium.

Dayton says he is "deeply concerned" by a ruling against the Wilfs in a fraud, breach of contract and civil racketeering case stemming from an apartment development.

The Wilfs won approval last year for the taxpayer-aided football stadium. The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority is hammering out final contract details with Vikings owners before construction starts. Dayton says the authority needs assurances that representations made by the team owners are "truthful and accurate."