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Special Session For Vikings Stadium Vote Unlikely

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton said Wednesday the Vikings may have to wait a long time before they get a vote on a new stadium.

Those were not so encouraging words for stadium supporters at the State Capitol on Wednesday. Gov. Dayton responded to questions after about 10 hours of stadium hearings by the Senate concluded.

Dayton labeled the meetings as "very significant" in "moving the ball forward."

He also said Wednesday he no longer believes there will be a special session to vote on a Vikings stadium bill. In fact, he said it's likely there won't be any vote until the legislature adjourns next spring.

"They could deal with this the first day or the first week or the first month, and i hope they do, but in my experience the most controversial and significant matters in the legislative session tend to not to get resolved until the very end," Dayton said.

Despite those comments, Gov. Dayton said he still believes the Vikings stadium project is "very doable," and he said he won't lobbying for it.

On Sunday, he has invited a dozen stadium legislators to join him at the Governor's Residence to watch the Vikings-Lions game on television.

As far as the potential site between Minneapolis and Arden Hills, Gov. Dayton said he won't pick a site and is willing to sign any bill the legislature agrees to, if it does at all. Vikings officials have said all along their main priority is the Arden Hills site.

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