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May 07, 2010
Vikings stadium bill is pining for the fjords
Things just really aren't going that well for the Minnesota Vikings' brand-spanking-new stadium bill. Proposed by four state legislators on Monday, immediately attacked by the governor the same day, and then gutted of its biggest revenue sources in committee the following evening, the bill has since been hit with even more indignities:
- On Wednesday morning, the Minnesota House State and Local Government Operations Reform, Technology and Elections committee voted down the revised bill that was approved by another house committee just hours before, rejecting the bill on a 10-9 vote.
- Later that day, the Senate State and Local Government Committee approved the bill, but stripped out its last two remaining funding streams: Minneapolis city taxes and a state sports lottery game. With only one-third of the stadium costs still assigned to the Vikings owners, the additional nearly half-billion-dollars would apparently have to be raised by selling personal seat licenses.
Let's be blunt: That ain't gonna happen, not given the troubles that even bigger-market teams have had selling PSLs. And that's even if the Vikings went for it, which they won't — if they wanted to fund a stadium by charging their fans, they would have done it by now without waiting on the state legislature. But even if they could pull it off, that would mean less revenue for them, which would defeat the whole purpose of this exercise.
The Associated Press described this week's events as "setbacks," which is a bit like saying that Lynn Redgrave has taken a turn for the worse. Stadium supporters are now trying to muster a last-ditch defense of the bill with a campaign to "like" their Facebook page. This can't end well.
Viva Los Angeles Vikings..
Posted by L.A. Vikings on May 7, 2010 10:12 PM
The day the NFL goes back to Los Angeles is the day "LA Vikings" gets a real job and stops trolling blogs.
Posted by Vikings not going LA on May 10, 2010 01:49 AM
The day the NFL goes back to Los Angeles is the day "LA Vikings" gets a real job and stops trolling blogs.
Posted by Vikings not going LA on May 10, 2010 01:49 AM
Personally I'd love to get rid of the Vikings out of the NFC North & into L.A. Would not miss them one bit.
Posted by Mark on May 10, 2010 11:20 AM
Good thing (for the Twins) they made it to the trough before the farmer ran out of corn. Or whatever piggish metaphor you like. Enjoy Target Field, and maybe the Metrodome will be suitable for retrofit as a soccer-only for an MLS expansion?
Posted by Anderson on May 10, 2010 05:56 PM
I love L.A.
I am just jealous, because I have to shovel snow and people in California get tans.
Los Angeles Vikings!!!!
Los Angeles Lakers!!!!
Posted by Vikings not going LA on May 11, 2010 12:51 AM
That's going to kill the fanbase in Minnesota. I love the Minnesota Vikings! As for the (Los Angeles) Vikings go, well, maybe, just maybe, Brett Favre is going to play for the (Los Angeles) Vikings, and maybe Terrell Owens would play along side with Brett Favre on the (Los Angeles) Vikings. What do you guys think? Please feel free to email me at albertbuckenberger@firebettman.com. I'm looking forward to hear from you guys soon. Thank you. Take care.
Posted by Albert Buckenberger on May 20, 2010 05:10 PM
i would not be surprised and overall it makes sense for them to go although it would kill me to see it. i commented on this last year on www.brettandi.com
Posted by viking fan on July 12, 2010 03:37 PM
The people of Minnesota need to take a step out of the comfort zone and support a new stadium. Go down and ask the businesses next to Target Field how they are doing in the middle of a recession. Ask those fans leaving the stadium what they think of that investment, watch a game on TV and see the pride of downtown. Left or right, who gives a darn. It is about investing in the future of this state. This is about keeping our state and major business district vibrant to draw in people who spend $. A stadium faciliates this, what other event creates such an economy on Sundays? Lose this franchise, and you lose a major economic force in the states most important business district. Get this done.
Posted by mark on July 29, 2010 09:30 PM
The people of Minnesota need to take a step out of the comfort zone and support a new stadium. Go down and ask the businesses next to Target Field how they are doing in the middle of a recession. Ask those fans leaving the stadium what they think of that investment, watch a game on TV and see the pride of downtown. Left or right, who gives a darn. It is about investing in the future of this state. This is about keeping our state and major business district vibrant to draw in people who spend $. A stadium faciliates this, what other event creates such an economy on Sundays? Lose this franchise, and you lose a major economic force in the states most important business district. Get this done.
Posted by mark on July 29, 2010 09:31 PM