As The Stadium Turns

Does Minneapolis think they’re better than all the timelines Gov. Dayton sets?

But the reporting on the city council situation isn’t quite right (although a little closer than Chris got linking to the same article, so, congrats).

They haven’t voted on anything, but instead have made public statements saying they don’t support a stadium without a referendum. The question is what that means. Any override of the referendum requirement would be done by the legislature. So if a state law is passed saying no referendum, what does the city council do? I don’t think we know, which is why Rybak think he can still get the votes.

Another option after all this time?? Are you kidding me??

Just means another year will go by before any decision gets done

Zygi is looking for every option that keeps his contribution for a new stadium at the present 25% level – the sooner he realizes that this is not going to happen – not in Miinnesota nor in any other state for that matter – the sooner he will have a new place – or stay put where they are. The financing Rybak talks about sounds like a shell game to me and won’t pass city council..

Zygi – sell some of your other real estate holdings – or go to the banks – or NFL, and kick in another $300 M, and build it at Arden Hills – you will make another $40M per season. – you can raise ticket prices to recoup the extra $300M – Get the Feds to clean the site and you can make some money on future development at AH.

Until the owners are willing to kick in more money, you can forget a new stadium here – I’d rather Zygi sell to others that are willing to make it happen here. New owners would also give the legislators another incentive to get it done.

At this point, what percentage likelihood/chance would you put on the Vikings relocating to a new city?

Based on what I’ve followed, it seems like a 50% chance. I just don’t know if Minnesota wants to keep the Vikings right now, and current economic climate isn’t helping at all.

Bagley says the Strib site doesn’t work because it’s only two blocks wide, which isn’t enough. But the “new location” space is only two blocks wide at its widest, and narrowed by the light rail cutting through at a diagonal.

Granted, the Bagley quote about the Strib being too narrow is from last winter, so maybe that’s an outdated view.

I disagree the politicians are jerking the team around…

I am probably the only one who will support Dayton here – he has been supportive of getting a new stadium and been up front and straight with the team – he simply said – if you want a decision made this session, then the current Dome site is the only one that has a chance of that happening. The Linden site is still possible, but the church said they would file a law suit and this would be enough to stop the state from making a decision on that site during this session.

Dayton said to the Vikes – you can have Arden Hills but it means they would have to contribute $700M and the team said NO…as it stands right now, the team is still only willing to contribute 25% towards the costs of a new stadium – so the team will support the one and only existing dome site option – and now they look at new options…come on

This is a business and so far that is what Wilf is doing – treating it like a business… he can justify kicking in $300M because the team will generate another $40 in revenues per year – he wants others to kick in $800M – and what exactly do the other contributors get? – the politicians also have a responsibility to the electorate that voted them in.

but dont forget a portion of their $425 M includes the NFL portion

so to be more accurate – team portion is $300M on the $1.1 B = 27% so in round numbers close enough to my reported 25%

If the State gets revenues from say Electronic Pull Tabs then those funds could be used for any purpose as any other taxes would be… it’s a bit of semantics to say gamiing revenues are any different than any other form of taxes.

The State has promised $400M – that is pretty respectable IMO…this is justified because the state does receive proceeds through the team being here.

at the local level, they too can benefit by holding other events there, but for this they will be responsible to pay most of the operating costs, as the place will be empty most days..

I am a seasons ticket holder and I am willing to pay more – like say $20 per seat per game – to have a new facility – this $20 would cover a good chunk of what I am saying the team needs to come up..

and for the record – I live in Canada – and it wouldnt matter that much to me if the team moved – I would fly to another city if the Vikes move and also I happen to be pretty content with the current Dome – for me it’s great location as I never have to rent a car and just use the LRT.. I cant tailgate so that’s a non issue for me..I have been to a few other NFL stadiums – both old and new – and I still like the Dome – I just dont take a leak at half time..:)