Las Vegan ups bid in attempt to buy Vikings

Thursday, June 25, 1998 | 10:49 a.m.

line SUN STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

A 31-year-old Las Vegas resident who wants to buy the Minnesota Vikings reportedly has upped the ante to $225 million.

Shruti Misra originally submitted a bid of $180 million, according to a representative who requested anonymity.

The representative says Misra's offer should have been received Wednesday by Vikings' legal counsel John Mooty.

But Mooty said Wednesday he hadn't received the offer. He could not be reached for comment earlier today.

Misra is said to have real estate holdings in Nevada, California and Mexico.

Mooty said Misra's initial bid was rejected for several reasons, including:

* She failed to first complete "due diligence" in examining the team's finances.

* She had a clause stating she would have the right to move the National Football League team to another city. Viking owners and the NFL have said they want a buyer who intends to keep the team in Minneapolis.

* Misra's offer fell short of the minimum price sought by the current owners.

But even if her second proposal is received and deemed acceptable, one of the current owners said he'd have trouble serious considering it.

"When you mention Las Vegas to me, I roll up in a knot," Vikings co-owner Jaye Dyer told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. "I don't like the town. I don't like what their economy is based on. I don't like gambling. I'd have to overcome a lot of prejudices to support that one."

Dyer told the Star-Tribune he expects serious bidders to wait until July 1, the deadline, to submit their offers.

Meanwhile, Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor confirmed Wednesday night that he will make a bid on the Vikings next week, making him the first potenetial buyer to do so.

Taylor paid $88.5 million for the T-Wolves in 1994 and said he has completed all the preparation work the Vikings have asked for.