MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Vikings said Friday they will increase their contribution to a downtown stadium to more than $500 million to make sure the project has everything they want as construction of their new home rapidly approaches. Deonte Thompson Jersey . The team had been scheduled to pay $477 million of the stadiums nearly billion-dollar cost. But bids coming in higher than expected made the Vikings worry about losing distinctive design features and having to settle for less than top-end technology, such as ribbon scoreboards and high-definition televisions in concourses. "The only options were to whack the project, cut significantly back in the building, step back and redesign and try to redraw to a lower number or have the team put in more money," team vice-president Lester Bagley said. "Thats what our owners decided to do." Reconfiguring the stadium design to significantly cut costs would have delayed the project by a year or more, officials said. The stadium cost could now top $1 billion -- with $498 million in public money -- if builders need to use the entire pot of available money. Legislators approved the new stadium to replace the Metrodome out of concern that the Vikings could leave the state. Ceremonial groundbreaking is set for early next month, with the projected opening in 2016. John Wood, a senior executive at Mortenson Construction, said fences will go up around the Metrodome next week and heavy equipment will be moved in. Orders for steel for the new stadium will go in soon, with some specialized beams for the see-through roof coming from Luxembourg. The Vikings play their last game in the Metrodome on Dec. 29, ending a three-decade run for the Teflon-topped stadium that has hosted the Super Bowl, the Final Four, the World Series and countless monster truck rallies. A three-month demolition phase will start in mid-January. The Vikings were closing on their private financing Friday. They are using loans, seat license sales, a naming rights deal and other private revenue streams. The Vikings extra contribution comes in the form of a letter of credit guaranteed by owner Zygi Wilf, a real estate mogul. The contingency would be tapped if construction officials cant find savings elsewhere. But the attempt to shave costs has been unsuccessful so far. Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority chairwoman Michele Kelm-Helgen said the rising costs are a sign of an improving economy. "The good news: Construction is up. The bad news is construction is up and some of our bids were coming in higher than anticipated," she said. Aside from the Vikings $26.4 million letter of credit, the team is also forgoing $15 million in breaks it was due to receive as part of a deal to play two seasons at the University of Minnesotas on-campus stadium during construction. Wood said builders will still look for cost savings as the project proceeds over the next three years. But he noted that 16,000 man hours went into designing and pricing out stadium features, so planners are confident they will keep to the budget, including the contingency accounts. "Its there to spend," he said. Overall, the materials and labour for the stadium will cost $763 million. The remainder of the stadium price tag goes for things like architecture, legal fees and insurance. Allen Hurns Jersey . Mika Zibanejad and Jason Spezza scored in the shootout to lead the Ottawa Senators to a 2-1 victory over Nashville on Saturday night. Jamize Olawale Jersey . Dirk Nowitzki scored 25 points, Shawn Marion had 22 and the Mavericks beat undermanned Philadelphia 124-112 Friday night, handing the 76ers their 10th straight loss. http://www.thecowboysfansmall.com/c-102-cowboys-terrell-owens-jersey.aspx . The Blue Jays lost to the New York Yankees 3-1 Tuesday night, their seventh defeat in 10 games. Rasmus was put on the 15-day DL on May 15 because of a sore right hamstring. Hes hitting .222 with nine home runs and 19 RBIs.Fernando Alonso believes its unlikely that hell manage a podium finish this season, but insists he has no plans to retire at the end of 2016. The two-time former world champion has mustered just 24 points in a frustrating year so far at McLaren, and admits a top-three finish is a long way away.Its very difficult for us to get a podium this season, Alonso told Spanish radio station Cadena Cope. In normal conditions we still wouldnt deserve a podium. I hope we improve next year but this is F1, anything can happen. We are still waiting for things to happen with this McLaren Honda project but we are on the way up.Alonso, 34, made his F1 debut in 2001 and has since gone on to claim 32 wins and 97 podiums in 264 races.He won the title twice with Renault in 2005 and 2006 but has now not won a Grand Prix since Spain in 2013. Mike White Cowboys Jersey. But despite the frustrations, the Spaniard insists he has no plans to walk away from the sport.My future in F1 will not depend on this car. Even in these last two difficult years Ive been enjoying myself a lot, he said.If the cars are as fun as they were in the past, Ill have no problem continuing. Im aware that Ill never be 20-years-old again but I have more experience and more knowledge now.Dont miss the F1 Report: Hungarian GP review on Sky Sports F1 at 8.30pm on Wednesday as Marc Priestley and Ben Hunt join Natalie Pinkham in the studio to discuss the fallout from the Budapest race. 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