REPORT: Governor Dayton To Endorse Linden Avenue Site For Vikings Stadium
by Christopher Gates on Jan 18, 2012 1:33 PM CST
in Minnesota Vikings Stadium
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Nothing definitive yet, and we have a press conference from the Governor starting in half an hour or so, but stuff is starting to trickle out about the developments on the Minnesota Vikings stadium front.
The Governor is, reportedly, set to endorse the Linden Avenue (aka Basilica) site for a new Vikings' stadium, according to two different reports via the Twitter. Now, keep in mind that this is all just speculation at this point, but these two sources seem to be pretty well connected to the whole process, so I think that we have good reason to believe that this is happening.
@jgoldbergfox9
Jeff Goldberg Source close to stadium negotiations confirms Governor Dayton will choose Linden Avenue as his preferred site for a new Vikings stadium
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@TomPelissero
Tom Pelissero Sounds like an upset brewing on the #Vikings stadium front. Gov. Dayton sent Zygi Wilf a letter today, plans to back Linden Avenue site.
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I thought I remembered hearing that the Basilica site was the Vikings' preferred location if the stadium was going to be built in Minneapolis, but lord knows I've been wrong about these sorts of things before.
Again, press conference is in about half an hour. Still searching feverishly for some sort of a link to it, streaming or otherwise.
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Star Tribune will carry new conference
Per Dan Wiederer @StribDW Star Tribune web site will be live streaming Gov. Dayton’s stadium announcement at 2 p.m.
Seems better than the Metrodome spot but worse than Arden Hills.
At least, that’s my ill-informed opinion.
"I wanted to do it because it's fun, it's fun to do bad things and drive into a car."
by PurplePeopleEaters on Jan 18, 2012 1:39 PM CST reply actions
anything that keeps the vikes in mn
And happy gets my nod of approval.
by Jepp The Viking on Jan 18, 2012 1:39 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Help for one from ILLINOIS...
ok so I need a little help…When I went to my first game in ’09 (yes the magical season) I jumped on the train and it took me right to the stadium…it was WONDERFUL…how far is this spot from the train that is connected to the airport??? Just curious…
Right now?
Approx .75 – 1 mile or so (depending on the route you take). This location will be right on the SW corridor extension of the LRT system when it goes in. That line is probably going to come into being after a new stadium would (assuming something passes this sesssion) so who knows what would happen in the interim. But if a new downtown stadium happens (regardless of location) it’s a safe bet that it will have an LRT station given that transit access is one of the primary “pluses” of putting a stadium downtown.
sweet!!
Thanks GoAUpher. The Train is easy to hope on and off when in town for games…been staying at the Loft Hotel near the Stadium now…any suggestions on a different place to stay thats within walking distance which arent dumpy
I think you might be getting a little ahead of yourself
But there is a Double Tree on Lasalle that is probably closest. Otherwise the graves 601 at block E is nice (even if the rest of it is empty).
I sort of disagree, (don't get me wrong in my deep down I am happy if they are around)
BUT, I think they deserve better. The storied franchise and Wilfs and the Fans deserve better, they deserve Arden Hills. I feel it is like a parent who would be happier if there kid stayed and went to the local community college rather than shipping off to some big time college so they were closer. ARGH! At the end of the day I will be happy they stay in MN, but you know what I’m saying, I think they deserve better than this.
\m/
by Edgecrusher71 on Jan 18, 2012 3:25 PM CST up reply actions
yes -- they shouldn't have to 'settle'
the Vikings organization knows what is best for the Vikings — they have adamantly made it clear that that’s Arden Hills.
enter politicians who really don’t give a damn — who is going to lobby them more?? downtown, or the northern suburbs??
"Th_r_'s n_ h_p_ f_r _ssh_l_ f_ckw_ts."
Can I buy a vowel...?? +1, Kluwe.
You give them too much credit
Its about the benjamins
Linden Ave was Vikings' preferred Minneapolis choice
Linden Ave had the footprint to potentially support tailgating. This site is a compromise site for the local leaders of Minneapolis and the Vikings. The problem is, it will piss off all of the surrounding residents and businesses. Can you imagine the parking nightmare for the Basilica on a Sunday morning gameday? shudder
Ponder. Peterson. Percy. Purple Perfection.
Although, I suppose fans could park once...go to church...then get wasted on beer.
Ponder. Peterson. Percy. Purple Perfection.
I think you mean Communion wine
"Believe in the system. For it shall bring light when there is dark, food when there is hunger, and shots when there are passes. This is the divine process." Yeo 4:18
by NorthernStar on Jan 18, 2012 2:02 PM CST up reply actions
call it "mead"
and everyone will be happy… well… everyone with mead anyway.
Vikings Valhalla .com
by Admiral BigGun on Jan 18, 2012 3:06 PM CST up reply actions
@TomPelissero said
For the record, letter to Wilfs didn’t say he’ll back Linden — just outlined approach. Not sure we’ll get site-specific announcement today.
7 minutes ago
Sorry cant figure out how to link to twitter.
"Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve."
George Bernard Shaw
"In those days the best painkiller was ice; it wasn't addictive and it was particularly effective if you poured some whiskey over it."
George Burns
Follow @justanothervike
by just another viking on Jan 18, 2012 1:45 PM CST reply actions
Honestly
And I am not sure why wilf didn’t do this long ago, state emphatically that the vikes would contribute no more then 200m to any site other then arden hills and would not cover any cost overruns like they agreed to at arden hills. That would make the arden hills site by far the cheapest.
Will the Real Thor Please Stand Up ... ?
by the Real Thor on Jan 18, 2012 1:56 PM CST via Android app reply actions
One guess?
Being too blatant about it invites the obvious question of “why?”. Since the answer is “I stand to make a lot more money at AH as the primary landowner” I can see why they’ve been more delicate about it. It’s a primary cause of opposition to the site after all. Thus, you get vague comments about how the $450 million is only guaranteed for AH where the threat is implied not expressly stated.
or he's been holding it in his last pocket as a last-ditch effort...
"Th_r_'s n_ h_p_ f_r _ssh_l_ f_ckw_ts."
Can I buy a vowel...?? +1, Kluwe.
the proposal is a Dome.
"Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve."
George Bernard Shaw
"In those days the best painkiller was ice; it wasn't addictive and it was particularly effective if you poured some whiskey over it."
George Burns
Follow @justanothervike
by just another viking on Jan 18, 2012 1:59 PM CST up reply actions
No roof would be cheapest
And is what the Vikings have always wanted.
However, the state insisted upon a fixed roof.
http://sports-boards.net | Top notch sports discussion!
Because if they are ponying up a money.
They want the site to host more than Vikings games. Out in AH I can see it not mattering. In downtown a roof really adds to the list of things the stadium can host.
Whoever owns it
Will want a roof. Too few $$$ opportunities without it.
Dome? or Roof?
I don’t think anyone is building domes anymore. I assume it would be a stadium with a fixed roof.
Wow
says there was not enough info regarding AH site development. Only a 184 page report worth.
You live and learn. At any rate, you live.
Nothing travels faster than the speed of light with the possible exception of bad news, which obeys its own special laws.
Agreed
And Minneapolis’ 4 page report provided more than enough information to make their site (which isn’t even the one the Governor mentioned) the most viable.
http://sports-boards.net | Top notch sports discussion!
The deadline was political theater from the get go.
The quality of the proposal wasn’t going to impact the political roadblocks to the AH site.
Very true
It’s clear that Minneapolis has much more political clout than AH.
Those who have the money, have the power.
At this point it’s Linden Ave or Metrodome site — Your move Vikings.
You live and learn. At any rate, you live.
Nothing travels faster than the speed of light with the possible exception of bad news, which obeys its own special laws.
Don't say move, Vikings!
"Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear, or a fool from any direction." - Old Cowboy proverb.
I think the Wilfs will be leaving soon the Governor just told them to F$#k Off
"Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve."
George Bernard Shaw
"In those days the best painkiller was ice; it wasn't addictive and it was particularly effective if you poured some whiskey over it."
George Burns
Follow @justanothervike
by just another viking on Jan 18, 2012 2:09 PM CST reply actions
Dayton to Wilf
“Where’s your wallet, bitch?”
Everyone fails. The successful learn from their failures. I just wish we'd quit giving ourselves so many learning opportunities.
by WhiteSpeedReceiver on Jan 18, 2012 2:12 PM CST reply actions
Ok is this a good thing or a bad thing....
Honestly I dont see the Wilfs giving a penny for this….And I think the Gov is just trying to cover his reelection ass and keep it in Minneapolis rather then pick the BEST option.
2011 Vikings, keeping the liquor industry in the green ALL YEAR LONG!
Recap of Press Conference
Arden Hills: Voter Referendum kills the site, unless Ramsey County can come up with another way to fund it, or Wilf contributes $700 Million. This proposal (for all intents and purposes) is dead.
Metrodome Site: Putting the Vikings in TCF Stadium for 3 years, probably kills this option. It’s still technically in play, because the funding sources basically work. But it has problems, and seems unlikely at this point.
Linden Ave Site: It’s a compromise site, but this site has to go through the years worth of planning and due diligence that the Arden Hills site has already gone through. If it survives that, then it’s definitely viable. Currently, the nearby residents and businesses seem opposed. It’s not necessarily a dealbreaker though. My guess is, this is where it ends up.
Shakopee: Like the others, there hasn’t been due diligence on this site, and getting the Racino funding to pass through litigation probably kills this proposal.
So, what is likely to happen, is that the politicians putz around and perform their site evaluations and due diligence…stretching this out past November so that nobody has to actually vote on anything until after the elections. We’ll see if the Wilf’s are willing to wait.
Ponder. Peterson. Percy. Purple Perfection.
My read is that Dayton has ulterior motives
And is buying time to come up with a way for the lame Minneapolis plan to work…
by liveforadrenaline on Jan 18, 2012 2:37 PM CST up reply actions
yup
he’s willing to work with Mpls, but not Arden Hills.
i wonder who is stuffing his pockets…??
"Th_r_'s n_ h_p_ f_r _ssh_l_ f_ckw_ts."
Can I buy a vowel...?? +1, Kluwe.
Um...
…so there’s the little fact in the way of this. The one where the AH plan revolves around a tax that doesn’t have a path to passage. Him wanting it to be so wouldn’t change this.
There are plenty of paths to passage...
And it would be closer to a done deal than a Basilica site that hasn’t even been vetted yet either by the community, environmental, traffic flow, etc.. Both sites apparently require a referendum vote… including people in Minneapolis who have to vote on any spending over $10 million for a stadium…
by liveforadrenaline on Jan 18, 2012 4:57 PM CST up reply actions
But the downtown location appears to have more political support in the Legislature.
That doesn’t automatically mean someone is “stuffing his pockets”. It can simply mean he only wants to put his support behind something that has a better shot at passing.
OF COURSE more work has to be done before the Basilica can pass. That doesn’t change the fact that it’s presence in Minneapolis means it can get easier political support from individuals who (for whatever reasons, there any many to choose from) are more likely to support a Minneapolis site than a suburban one.
Also...
…what “plenty of paths” to passage for AH do you see given how the plan is currently written?
while you're at it...
…can you list the “many reasons” Mpls can get easier political support??
"Th_r_'s n_ h_p_ f_r _ssh_l_ f_ckw_ts."
Can I buy a vowel...?? +1, Kluwe.
Reply fail.
Nevermind. Obviously you never made the comment that the question was asked of. Sheesh. More caffeine is required. Sorry rj-b!
no worries, i've had not-enough-coffee related posts in the pasts
i was mostly just pointing out that we all sometimes “sum up” things without fully explaining our point of view. =)
"Th_r_'s n_ h_p_ f_r _ssh_l_ f_ckw_ts."
Can I buy a vowel...?? +1, Kluwe.
Here are few off the top of my head (not in any order of importance):
- Business leadership in the City and State seem to support it
- Utilizes existing infrastructure investments/projects
- Public money invested doesn’t result in benefits going primarily to a single private entity
- Allows stadium to be a “People’s Stadium” (which is really just the 2nd/3rd bullet points made into a political slogan)
- May not require a referendum or new taxes (I think this whole question is messy an undecided, but AH definitely requires both)
- Tailgating is not a deciding factor for legislators who are focused only on the stadium itself
- Putting a stadium downtown means events like the Final Four also get drawn to the area
- Minneapolis is a DFL powerbase
So there you go. A bunch of reasons why legislators might prefer a downtown stadium and all reasons why AH has a tough path to passage.
status quo, gutless politicians
So, what is likely to happen, is that the politicians putz around and perform their site evaluations and due diligence…stretching this out past November so that nobody has to actually vote on anything until after the elections.
"Th_r_'s n_ h_p_ f_r _ssh_l_ f_ckw_ts."
Can I buy a vowel...?? +1, Kluwe.
Well it wouldn't force the Vikes into the Gophers' stadium...
Not Arden Hills but it’s not the Metrodome 2.0. I think this would be a fine compromise. Although now this might bring up the question of funding again. The Vikes might not be willing to contribute nearly as much if they don’t get their #1 option in Arden Hills then we’d have a budget standoff all over again.
neither would the metrodome site potentially....
if they bought up the Star Tribune properties and built the new stadium there, and then razed the metrodome for additional parking once the new stadium is complete.
The Basilica seems like a bad idea...
…what with there most important day of the week being Sunday and all. Did the Governor think that through before choosing his recommended site?
Yes, I'm sure with the Linden site known to most as the Basilica site...
…he somehow overlooked that there would be services on a Sunday. (facepalm)
If this was sarcasm then I apologize.
But... but...
I saw the preacher man said he is against the stadium being built near his chapel. Plus, business owners would have to move their operations to make room for the Vikings stadium. And this still wouldn’t allow tailgating, something the Viking organization wants back for the fans.
Stoopid parlour-tricians…
"Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear, or a fool from any direction." - Old Cowboy proverb.
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