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MINNEAPOLIS -- Zygi Wilf beamed in the middle of the sharp-dressed group, a gold-painted shovel in his hands, a purple Vikings hard hat on his head and star running back Adrian Peterson by his side. Finally, the work on Minnesotas polarizing and long-sought new stadium was under way. After more than a decade of planning, dealing and pleading, the $1 billion project began Tuesday with a formal groundbreaking in downtown Minneapolis. About 600 people, including local politicians, business leaders and chanting fans, were in attendance as Wilf, Peterson, Gov. Mark Dayton and many others took turns flipping dirt and smiling for photos as fireworks exploded overhead. The grinning and digging took place in the parking lot next to the Metrodome, where the Vikings have played since 1982. Their last game there is Dec. 29, and a three-month demolition of the Teflon-topped stadium will start in mid-January. After two years outdoors at the University of Minnesota, the Vikings are scheduled to inaugurate the ship-shaped, glass-encased venue in time for the 2016 season. During a set of speeches in a nearby tent, Dayton joked that he felt just like Vikings coach Leslie Frazier after the teams 23-20 overtime victory Sunday over Chicago. "I cant believe its over, and I cant believe we won," Dayton said. State lawmakers enacted a bill last year to fund the stadium with the threat, real or perceived, of the 52-year-old franchise moving to Los Angeles hovering over the often-tense process. Many of the same hard-core, costumed fans who camped out at the state capitol to help lobby for a deal were at the event Tuesday, their presence recognized by Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak. "Sometimes democracy includes painting faces and wearing horns," Rybak said. The public is on the hook for roughly half the cost: $498 million. The NFL and Vikings are handling the rest, with much of the teams share coming from corporate naming rights and fees on season ticketholders, known as personal seat licenses. Many lawmakers and citizens have railed against the project since it was first raised as a possibility around the turn of the century when Red McCombs owned the team. Dayton was a driving force behind the legislation, but even he publicly criticized the Vikings for the proposed PSLs. The Vikings recently pledged to increase their contribution to more than $500 million to make sure the project has all the top-end amenities they want, like high-definition televisions in extra-wide concourses. "Whatever that took to get that done, we had to step up because our fans are what this is all about," Mark Wilf said in an interview after the event. He added: "When its actually here and you see the shovels out there beginning to dig, its exciting." Its also a nice respite from a challenging season. The Vikings have gone from a 10-6 playoff team in 2012 to a 3-8-1 mess this year. And the Wilfs, who built their fortune in a family real estate business, were ordered in September by a New Jersey court to pay $84.5 million to two former business partners the judge ruled they defrauded in a deal forged in the 1980s. So this event was a true highlight. "This is a positive, exciting and great project, and thats been our focus," Mark Wilf said. "I think as the project goes up, as people start seeing the frame go up, and the building become a reality over these next 2 1/2 years, and the jobs being created and the excitement being generated, I think its going to be something that all Minnesotans can appreciate." Mark Wilf declined to answer a question about the performance of Frazier and general manager Rick Spielman. "Were of course disappointed in our season. We didnt expect to be where we are," he said. "One of our goals was to get the stadium project built and have a great facility but our ultimate goal is to win championships and Super Bowls." Away from the festivities, a collection of conservative groups and lawmakers held a counter-event to try to keep focus on the stadiums heavy taxpayer subsidy. They described the financing as shaky, noting that a prior plan to pay for the $350 million state share through electronic gambling has fallen woefully short of projections. Lawmakers plugged the gap in a stadium account this year with a one-time diversion of tobacco taxes and for the future with a corporate tax. "Its a bad day for Minnesotans," said Republican state Sen. Roger Chamberlain. "Were talking about taxpayers paying for Zygi to walk away with hundreds of millions in his pocket if he sold the team, not to mention the increased annual profits. This is not about having football or no football, stadium or no stadium. We could have done this a better way." 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Larry Nance Jr. Cavaliers Jersey .com) - The Minnesota Twins made it official on Wednesday, announcing the signing of outfielder Torii Hunter to a one-year contract.SAN DIEGO -- Travis dArnaud returned to San Diego, the site of his major league debut, and recorded another memorable moment. DArnauds go-ahead single in the ninth inning lifted the New York Mets to their fourth straight win, 5-4 over the San Diego Padres on Friday night. The Mets won for the ninth time in 11 games as they began a 10-game trip and matched their longest winning streak of the season. DArnaud played his first game for the Mets at Petco Park on Aug. 17, 2013. That night he went 0 for 2 with two walks. "That was my first thought all day today," he said. On Friday he had three hits and two RBIs as the Mets picked up where they left off before the All-Star break. After a slow start, dArnaud is showing the promise that has long made him among the Mets top prospects. "Im not thinking about mechanics anymore," dArnaud said. "Im more focused in on the ball that is 90 miles an hour coming at me." And the Mets stayed hot, after an 8-2 homestand. "Thats big," dArnaud said. "We had good momentum before the All-Star break happened, and we won tonight and were going to keep it going." Jeurys Familia (2-3) pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the win. Jenrry Mejia worked the ninth for his 11 save in 13 chances. Joaquin Benoit (3-2) took the loss as he pitched the ninth inning with closer Huston Street unavailable. Street was dealt to the Angels in a six-player trade that was announced after the game. "Its tough to see guys go," Padres third baseman Chase Headley said. "I think guys know thats part of it." New York had seized a 4-0 lead but Bartolo Colon couldnt hold it and left the game after giving up four runs in San Diegos fifth inning. Colon was derailed by a sour stomach and a headache. "He didnt feel very good," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "The fifth inning wore him down a little bit. Usually as the game goes on he gets better." Curtis Granderson drew a leadoff walk in the ninth and moved to third on groundouts by Daniel Murphy and David Wright. After Lucas Duda was walked intentionally, dArnaud punched a single to right field for his second RBI and third hit of the game. "I just try to keep my eye on the ball and put a swing on it," dArnaud said. "Fortunately, iit found a gap.dddddddddddd." The Mets had gotten the go-ahead run into scoring position in the eighth inning on Ruben Tejadas two-out double, but Bobby Abreu grounded out and failed to get a hit for the 18th straight time as a pinch-hitter. Colon was strong early, which was different for him. He had allowed a first-inning run in five consecutive starts, before shutting down the Padres over the first 4 1-3 innings. The Padres snapped a 25-inning scoreless skid when they scored four in the fifth. Will Venable opened with a single, Jake Goebbert walked, and they advanced on a double steal. Chris Nelson, who joined the Padres earlier Friday from Triple A El Paso, singled in Venable. Alexi Amarista, who had three hits, followed with a run-scoring single to slice the deficit in half. After Nelson and Amarista moved up on Seth Smiths grounder to first, Headley tied the game with a two-run single. New York extended its lead to 4-0 in the third when Duda scored after starting the inning with a double. DArnaud drove in Duda with his second single of the night. The Mets struck early with three first-inning runs as Ian Kennedy struggled after getting two outs. Kennedy, who had surrendered just two runs in 21 innings, allowed three hits, nailed Duda with a pitch, and walked Kirk Nieuwenhuis. "It showed the guys we are still in that zone right now," Collins said. "It was a good first inning. Hes been pitching good." The key blow was Juan Lagares single that scored Duda and dArnaud, who was aboard on a single that drove in Granderson. "Hes made some adjustments at the plate," Collins said of dArnaud. "His confidence is soaring and he is seeing the ball really good." NOTES: Padres RHP Andrew Cashner, sidelined by a sore right shoulder, will throw on Saturday. ... 2B Jedd Gyorko will play this weekend for Triple A El Paso as he rebounds from plantar fasciitis in his left foot. ... Padres SS Everth Cabrera (left hamstring strain) is expected to leave Monday for a rehabilitation assignment. ... Mets RHP Jon Niese (left shoulder strain) threw a bullpen session on Friday. ... The Mets are 4-2-1 in their last seven series. ... Mets RHP Dillon Gee (4-1, 2.56) faces Padres RHP Tyson Ross (7-10, 2.85) on Saturday night. ' ' '