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January 13, 2012
Deadline for narrowing down Vikings stadium plans ends up narrowing nothing at all
Last night's deadline for Minnesota Vikings stadium plans, set by Gov. Mark Dayton in an attempt to give the state legislature a limited number of ideas to actually vote on, has come and gone, and the result is ... pretty much the same mishmosh that we had before this.
Ladies and gentlemen, your contenders for the New Home of the Purple and Gold:
- Ramsey County is sticking with its $1.1 billion Arden Hills plan, only with a new revenue source for $375 million in county money after its plan for a sales tax was killed last November: Instead, the county now plans on a whopping 3% food and beverage tax to raise the stadium cash. According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, county officials "acknowledged" that this tax plan "appears to lack political support."
- Where Ramsey County dropped a 148-page tome on Dayton's desk, the city of Minneapolis issued a slim four-page proposal focused on a new $907 million stadium on the site of the Metrodome, but without ruling out alternate sites near the Target Center and the Basilica of St. Mary, despite the fact that ruling out sites was supposed to be the point of this whole exercise. The city's $313 million share would come from redirecting tax money that currently goes to pay off the city's convention center, a plan that was already proposed in December, and roundly attacked by the Minneapolis city council. The state legislature would also have to overturn a voter-approved referendum that prohibits the city from spending more than $10 million on sports stadiums.
- Shakopee has its own plan for a $920 million stadium funded by race track slot machines and a whole pile of other fees and taxes, as discussed yesterday.
Or if you want to see all that with less information and more pretty pictures, the Star Trib has got you covered.
This whole mess now gets kicked back to the state legislature, whose members told the Star Tribune that they don't plan on moving fast on a bill: Main stadium sponsor Sen. Julie Rosen said she may now slow down movement on a stadium bill "to make sure that we have all the figures right and everything's going forward," while House Speaker Kurt Zellers said it was "not my job" to try to drum up stadium votes. It looks like another long, long spring in St. Paul.
Have to wonder why Ramsey County officials put that "3% food and beverage tax" proposal out there. Unless they have a collective death wish, they can't seriously believe that's feasible. So why bother submitting the plan?
Posted by Keith on January 13, 2012 08:47 AM
I call the Minneapolis proposal the "Chris Klewe Memorial Stadium proposal." Minneapolis just punted on their offer. Either that or they had a $20 bill paperclipped to the back of their proposal.
Posted by Geoff on January 13, 2012 09:06 AM
"Appears to lack political support".
Hah! I'm going to use that one. Next time someone flips me off, or my wife nixes an 8-day bicycle tour to Portland, I'm going to remark that "I appear to lack political support."
Hilarious stuff, Neil!
Posted by MikeM on January 13, 2012 01:06 PM
Minnesota Vikings Supreme...
Posted by Neils on January 13, 2012 09:56 PM
If Robert Kraft, owner of the Patriots can finance his own venue, so can zyggy the piggy.! The Patriots, unlike the loser queens, have championships.
Posted by fred flintstone on January 14, 2012 01:19 PM
If Robert Kraft, owner of the Patriots can finance his own venue, so can zyggy the piggy.! The Patriots, unlike the loser queens, have championships.
Posted by fred flintstone on January 14, 2012 01:21 PM
If Robert Kraft, owner of the Patriots can finance his own venue, so can zyggy the piggy.! The Patriots, unlike the loser queens, have championships.
Posted by fred flintstone on January 14, 2012 01:21 PM
Zygi Wilf is the greatest owner in all of sports.
Posted by Cuzoo-Bam Bam on January 14, 2012 01:54 PM
I think the billionaire owner deserves more money.
Posted by Dino on January 14, 2012 01:56 PM
Cant wait for the NFC West's newest team.....The Los Angeles Stars!!!
Posted by North Stars, Lakers, Vikings on January 15, 2012 02:01 AM
Cant wait for the NFC West's newest team.....The Los Angeles Stars!!!
Posted by North Stars, Lakers, Vikings on January 15, 2012 02:01 AM
The Minnesota Vikings are the greatest franchise in all of sports.
Posted by Mr Slate on January 15, 2012 03:29 PM
Well, i just pray they leave minnesota, period. Mineesota doesnt deserve an N.F.L team
Posted by david douville on January 15, 2012 03:51 PM
I don't see why there is a problem with financing the stadium. The money should come down to the Vikings fans and the Vikings owner. If they sell 50,000 PSL's at $10,000 a piece (low for NFL PSL's)that would be $500 million. Consider another $150 million for stadium naming rights and that leaves only $400 million for the Vikings to chip in themselves. This is the way it should be done, not on the backs of taxpayers. Consider the PSL's to be a user tax. The Vikes could even finance the PSL's over a number of years. This stadium is going to be paid off over at least 20 years, so it is not like everyone has to come up with all the money upfront. Even the Vikes can use OPM and pay it off with extra operating revenue. Just don't stick it to the average taxpayer.
Posted by Welkin on January 16, 2012 04:22 PM