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Minnesota Senate gave final approval to Vikings new $975 million stadium (Star Tribune via Sports Business News)

Is Florida State heading to the Big 12 as conference roulette rolls on? (Yahoo, Orlando Sentinel)

Is Boise reconsidering its move to the Big East? (CBS Sports)

Fresh on the heel of the Lingerie Football League, we have the Bikini Hockey League (Bob's Blitz)

The USFL returns, but as a minor league on par with the NBA D-League (Sports Business Digest)

New York Times sells remaining interest in Fenway Sports Group, owner of the Red Sox and Liverpool FC (Yahoo)

ESPN is bringing back 30 for 30 for a new season of 15 documentaries starting this fall (NYT)

USA Today is out with its annual database of collegiate athletic finances (USA Today)

Why sports TV rights fees keep growing (Eric Crawford)

The Rick's blog is back as he humorously discusses what the Cards need to do in offseason (Rick Pitino)

ACC-Big Ten Challenge matchups announced featuring Maryland at Northwestern (ESPN)

Is Madison Square Garden ($MSG) a buy right now (Insider Monkey)

Here are a few links for your weekend reading pleasure:

Madison Square Garden is about to undergo a massive $800 million phased renovation that will not be completed until 2013, but when finished will create an essentially new MSG.  If a recent story by Sports Business Journal is correct, then a significant portion of the financing for the project has been secured in the largest ever sponsor/arena rights deal, as JP Morgan Chase is paying $300 million for a ten year deal to become the marquee sponsor of the new MSG.  It is important to note, that the Garden has not sold the naming rights to the building, which will continue to be named Madison Square Garden, but that JP Morgan Chase will have naming rights inside the building, including the old Felt Forum, will have extensive media rights, and will have media and ticketing rights that extend to all MSG properties, which include Radio City Music Hall, the Chicago Theater and the Beacon Theater. 

Interestingly, the three largest naming rights deals in North America have all involved financial institutions, and, not surprisingly, have been in New York City.  This deal eclipses the $20 million per year that Barclays is paying to put its name on the arena under construction in Brooklyn that will be the new home of the Nets and the $20 million per year that Citibank is paying the Mets for the rights to Citi Field.  Each of those deals, however, run for 20 years.