MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — In the ongoing game to win support for a new Minnesota Vikings football stadium, it’s fourth and long. On Monday, the city of Minneapolis wanted to make certain it’s not left on the sidelines.
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and city council president Barb Johnson spent nearly an hour with Gov. Mark Dayton. The two are making the city’s case for keeping the team playing downtown.
After the nearly hour-long meeting at the state capitol, the mayor told reporters, “We believe we have at least one and probably three great options that are all more viable than the current plan that’s on the table.”
That current plan, which is favored by the Vikings, calls for the construction of a $1.1 billion stadium complex at the site of the former Army ammunition facility in Arden Hills. The team is partnered with Ramsey County which is offering to pay for the county’s $300 million share through a countywide sales tax increase.
But Rybak said the Minneapolis proposals would be about $200 million cheaper than the Arden Hills proposal.
The city’s three options include a total rebuilding of the team’s present home at the Metrodome. That $895 million project was unveiled by the city last spring, but immediately rejected by the Vikings.
Two other possible stadium sites include property at the farmer’s market site near Glenwood and Lyndale avenues and private property now owned by Xcel Energy at its service center on Chestnut Street north of the Minneapolis Basilica of St. Mary.
Rybak said all of the plans would include a major renovation of the city-owned Target Center, home to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Paying for the city’s plans could include a citywide sales tax increase or perhaps, tapping into revenues generated by a proposed casino on Block E.
“Because we are the entertainment center of the region, capturing the revenues that are generated in our city are really important to us and this would be another source of revenue,” said council president Johnson.
But the Vikings seem lukewarm to the proposals at best. Team spokesman, Lester Bagley said, “there’s one viable plan on the table and it’s Arden Hills.”
Meantime, Dayton made it clear that he wishes to remain “site neutral.” He wants to see all stadium proposals on his desk by Nov. 7.
“I want what’s best for Minnesota. I want the best site, I want to keep the Vikings here. I want it be a people’s stadium,” said Dayton. “I want the economic development opportunity whether that’s in Arden Hills or in Minneapolis.”
The governor will call a special session for legislators to consider stadium legislation on Nov. 21, if the four leaders of both houses can agree on the terms and scope of the three-day session.
I don’t care where the statium is built as long as it isn’t in Minnesota
I don’t care where the stadium is built as long as it’s IN Minnesota.
DITTO!!!
Then write Zygi a check.
Citizens, be sure to vote against any politician that supports public money for the Billionaire Vikings Owners. Any elected official that supports our tax dollars for entertainment special interests is out of touch and should be replaced.
Gov. Dayton: Wheres the funding for all day kindergarten like you promised?? Forget about funding the stadium…WE DO NOT NEED IT!!!!
It is all tied up in the republican budget that Dayton was blackmailed into signing. They dicided it was a better idea to not raise any revenues and even more so borrow from the schools that have no money in the first place. That is exaclty why your schools have no money.
Hey Frustrated;
Build the venue and invest in it[IE collect the tax revenues] then you will have money for education etcetera. Think about it!
Suck it up people…I’ts going to get done whether you like it or not.. so quit whining !!!!!
And yet another fool, blowing money on those monkeys instead of something long lasting and worth spending money on, like a house, a car, or whatever else. Our 20-something generation – mere lost children, with no future.
Too bad that I am a 33 year old well established business man that makes a lot of money so shut your mouth unless you know what your talking about doosh bag !!
I hope you talk to your clients that way.
No I do not..I just do not like when people assume things without having any information
Whos with me in Protesting that we dont need a stadium?? Lets get a group together and go downtown and protest!!!!
Mpls the most crooked city in North America. They make Chicago look like Angels. Don’t spend a damn thing in that F’d up city.
Oh dear Lord … our politicians just can’t seem to understand – They’re supposed to be working for US, not Zygi! ‘sup with that?
Mayor Rybak, Why do you keep proposing an in ferior product with all sorts of goodies for other areas Minneapolis. If you tried to put up a retractable roof stadium and took out the goodies for the Target Center and God knows what else, what would your final price tag be? If you quit trying to pay back all sorts of favors or buy favors for the next election, you just might get the chance to keep the Vikings in Minneapolis. MIGHT.
The question isn’t where a stadium would be built.
The question is who the politicians can steal money from, to give to Zygi, and not get thrown out of office.
If the vikings leave the state how much money will the state lose? Can we afford our taxes to go that high to make up the difference.You know the polititians won,t lose money,so who they going to get it from. Us working people thats who.So find a way to build it without raising our taxes.
As Ive said the past four months or so in this blog; When the dust settles the stadium will be in downtown mpls with zigs blessings.
rybak stay out of the way you had years to do something and you did nothing so shut up and go home
MSP wants a stadium…I have your stadium right here for hundreds of millions less:
http://www.bcplacestadium.com/index.php/roof.html
When you take money out of sectors of the economy and give it to Zygi for his billion dollar stadium, those sectors become depressed, those tax revenues are lost, those jobs are lost.
This is a net LOSS for the economy.
Only a politician will tell you something is good for you while he takes your money.
Only a fool believes him.
@Walter
Think about it! Ziggy isn’t getting any public money for free!!! If it’s done right correctly, Ziggy will be paying back through tax revenue streams the subsidy monies and more. Why don’t you people look around you and do your homework on public subsidy financing. If done correctly the public sector comes out ahead even in hard times.
Look at the major cities that are broke, in default, or just plain hurting. In the majority of cases, the stadiums/venues are just maintaining and breaking even though the primary lessees are losing a few bucks!. Besides the cities et.al. own the stadiums etc. and can manage bookings etcetera to keep the venues viable.
Minnesotans should wake up, smell the coffee of business, and start making money off new developments. Just remember, Ziggy has to be pay taxes also and show a profit like he wants to do!
So stop whining and put Ziggy’s moneys to work for Minnesotans and the state’s treasury coffers! It’s that simple! Put the future to work for all of us.
Perfectly said ..You could have not explained it any better to the people against the stadium !!
To all the good folks pro and con on this comment stream:
Here is a repeated comment and reiteration for all to reflect upon. Remember it’s the future and economic prosperity at the state’s doorstep. This Arden Hills public works project will definitely set a national precedent in the way sports teams et.al. should be handled. It’s time for states, especially Minnesota, to start making revenues beyond just levying new taxes and purely subsidizing the big money folks.
“Think about it! Ziggy isn’t getting any[or going to get] public money for free!!! If it’s done right correctly, Ziggy will be paying back through tax revenue streams the subsidy monies and more. Why don’t you people look around you and do your homework on public subsidy financing. If done correctly the public sector comes out ahead even in hard times.”
“Look at the major cities that are broke, in default, or just plain hurting. In the majority of cases, the stadiums/venues are just maintaining and breaking even though the primary lessees are losing a few bucks!. Besides the cities et.al. own the stadiums etc. and can manage bookings etcetera to keep the venues viable.”
“Minnesotans should wake up, smell the coffee of business, and start making money off new developments. Just remember, Ziggy has to be pay taxes also and show a profit like he wants to do!”
“So stop whining and put Ziggy’s moneys to work for Minnesotans and the state’s treasury coffers! It’s that simple! Put the future to work for all of us.”
Enough said! Think about it! The future awaits!!!
I thought about it. I would prefer to feed my family and let Zygi pay for his own stadium.
You missed the boat! Feed your family BUT in the end Zygi will pay in fees, costs, and taxes back to the people. Think about it! This is a business deal and if cooler prevail by working out the arrangements/contracts to the Nth degree it’s a win/win situation all around. There is money for Minnesota to be made so let’s state and local governments cash in to make things better for all of us.
Edgeworth Economics highlights the potential impact of a canceled NFL season. The study states that every city with an NFL franchise stands to lose about $160 million in revenue ($20 million per home game), $5 billion total, and an aggregate of 115,000 jobs. The study was commissioned by the NFLPA. Taking it a step further, Buffalo mayor Byron Brown has gone on the record stating that the city, by far one of the league’s smallest markets, would lose $140 million in economic benefits from a season-long NFL lockout.
GET IT DONE……
@Enough Said
I couldn’t find the reference you quoted but I had read an abstract of it on an unrelated site I was doing research on. Thanks for the reference. Too bad the naysayers can’t read this report in its entirety for the economics of sports teams in smaller markets do benefit from the teams being there. If only Minnesotans wouldn’t be so politically stiff necked and ignorant about the economics of pro sports. There is money to be had for all.