Watch CBS News

Minn. Lawmakers Tell Vikings No-Go On Soccer Deal

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota lawmakers are denying owners of football's Vikings exclusive rights to recruit a professional soccer club as part of a stadium deal.

The state Senate voted 47-20 on Tuesday to strip out a clause giving the Vikings five years to establish a major league soccer franchise before anyone else can. The provision would have let the soccer team play at a new stadium with no additional rent.

Republican lawmakers complained it would give a corporation a publicly endorsed monopoly. Many Democrats sided with them.

The Vikings ownership has floated the idea of bringing a soccer expansion franchise to play in a new stadium during non-football months.

The amendment came about seven hours into Senate debate on the Vikings $975 million stadium package.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.