ST. PAUL (WCCO) — Reporters aren’t the only ones scrambling to make it to every hearing on the Viking stadium bill. A hardcore group of Viking fans are making it, too.

Front and center — often literally — is Larry Spooner (in the picture on the left). You can usually spot the 51-year old Excelsior man in his purple Vikings cap and purple Adrian Peterson jersey.

Spooner was able to testify Tuesday before the Senate Jobs Committee, before it was passed on a voice vote. Spooner says he has a special place for the Vikings.

“To me, this is much more than a three hour game,” Spooner told WCCO’s John Williams. “I see the camaraderie that Vikings football has done to this state.”

WCCO’s John Williams Interviews Spooner

The warehouse supervisor says he’s been a Vikings fan since the team was created in 1961. Spooner says after his parents got divorced, he basically didn’t see his dad for five years.

“What brought me back together with my dad was Vikings football,” said Spooner.

Spooner has a wife, and a son who’s about to be deployed on a nuclear submarine. He says he has one clear message for legislators:

“Do you want to be part of the group that got it done, or do you want to be part of the group that let them leave?”