Key Minn. Senate Committee Takes On Vikes' Stadium Bill
ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) — The Vikings Stadium is making one more stop in a Senate Tax Committee before heading to the floor for a vote. So far, it's getting a tough reception, but there is news of a compromise.
The Vikings want a nearly $1 billion football stadium in downtown Minneapolis on the site of their current Metrodome home -- paid back over 30 years with electronic pull tabs.
However, right out of the gate Friday night, the Chairwoman of the Committee fired a shot across the bow at stadium supporters, telling them it is wrong for state government to pick one business over another.
"Normally we don't pick winners and losers," said Sen. Julianne Ortman. "When the legislature is asked to do that, it is extraordinary relief, because we have thousands of businesses in the State of Minnesota that are struggling in this economy. And the Vikings have asked us to provide extraordinary relief on their behalf."
A couple of days ago, the Racino was attached to the bill, which just about guaranteed the stadium would fail.
That will come out of the bill, but horseracing won't come away empty-handed.
WCCO's Pat Kessler reports that there's a deal in the works to allow Canterbury Park to add 30 poker tables. Also, there deal includes no betting limits on regular poker and the number of poker tournaments and tournament tables.
Here's something big: Tribal casinos would be able to negotiate with Canterbury Park the simulcasts of horse races, and add parimutuel betting. That means Canterbury Park and Mystic Lake – big competitors -- may be talking with each other.
