Stadium thread

[PurpleMustReign]

Vikings stadium bill needs hurry-up offense
Time and critics are working against passage of a Vikings stadium package this legislative session.
Full story: http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/92430934.html

[dead_poet]

No easy path ahead to new Vikings stadium with city, county
Even if the Vikings succeed at the State Capitol, they still need leadership from Minneapolis or Hennepin County

If a bill for a new Vikings stadium -- likely to be introduced this week -- makes it through the legislative obstacle course, there are a couple more giant hurdles awaiting it.

That would be the city of Minneapolis and Hennepin County.

Rarely is a pro football stadium built these days with just the state as the public funding entity. And Gov. Tim Pawlenty says that he won't support a stadium plan without a local government partner helping to foot the bill.

http://www.startribune.com/politics/loc ... cQiU47cQUU

[S197]

According to Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com, the introduction of legislation for a proposed new stadium in Minnesota has been set for Monday morning at 10 a.m. ET at the State Capitol in St. Paul. Although the Vikings prefer to build on the current site of the Metrodome, the bill is expected to be "site-neutral" and request one or more local governments to volunteer as a financing partner.

[bigskyeric]

I'm starting to like the old ammunition factory site in Arden Hills as a back-up plan. Just think of all the Parking! Plus, Downtown would still frame up nicely on TV. The Metrodome site is still my favorite, but lets face it, Parking S...U....C.......K...........S

[Puddin'Taine]

I'm starting to like the old ammunition factory site in Arden Hills as a back-up plan. Just think of all the Parking! Plus, Downtown would still frame up nicely on TV. The Metrodome site is still my favorite, but lets face it, Parking S...U....C.......K...........S

I'm pretty sure the surrounding infrastructure would be re designed and re built. If I remember correctly all of that is layed out in the proposal.

[dead_poet]

Legislators to unveil Vikings stadium legislation Monday

With adjournment looming and key elements still undecided, legislators will announce push for a Vikings stadium.

http://www.startribune.com/politics/926 ... :_Yyc:aUUX

---
With all the opposition and quotes I keep reading from officials I'm very, very nervous. I just don't see how this moves forward. Classic "Hope for the best, prepare for the worst" situation.

Rep. Gene Pelowski, DFL-Winona, who chairs a key House state and local government panel, said Sunday he is troubled by the prospect of stadium hearings at a time when legislators are cutting funding for the poor and he still has more than 400 proposed bills awaiting a committee hearing. Pelowski said that when Solberg talked to him last week about the Vikings proposal, Pelowski showed him pictures of groups representing people with disabilities.

"We're going to be cutting these individuals -- again -- and they have no billion-dollar owners, or million-dollar players," Pelowski said, referring to Vikings owner Zygi Wilf. "[Solberg's] reaction was, 'I know, I know, I know.' And I go, 'You might know, Loren, [but] I have to represent these people, and they have no safety net.' "

House Taxes Chair Ann Lenczewski, DFL-Bloomington, a key figure, said she was "disappointed" the stadium plan was moving forward despite the state's more pressing needs. "I'm going to fight it," she said.

[dead_poet]

Bipartisan bill for Vikings stadium ties payments to benefits

As expected, a new, bipartisan bill was introduced Monday by Minnesota legislators hoping to keep the Vikings from joining the former Minneapolis Lakers in Los Angeles. A news release issued by those sponsoring the bill bears the following headline: "ONLY THOSE WHO BENEFITS FROM A VIKINGS STADIUM WOULD PAY FOR IT."

The proposed bill contemplates that the team will cough up $264 million, and that the remaining $527 million will be spread out over 40 years. The annual principal and debt payments would come from a hotel surtax (1.5 percent, for an estimated annual revenue stream of $8 million), a slice of jersey purchases (6.875 percent, which is expected to generate $16.9 million per year), a sports-themed scratch-off lottery game (which is expected to raise $5.5 million per year), and a rental-car tax (which also is expected to raise $5.5 million per year).

"The Vikings only have 20 games left in the Metrodome, and there are two weeks left of session. It's clear that the window to build this stadium is closing," said state Senator Tom Bakk, chief-author of the Senate version of the bill. "If we wait another year to move this project forward, it will cost another $50 million. This bill gives us the opportunity to put 13,000 people back to work, bringing $300 million in new wages to Minnesota. And it guarantees the Vikings will stay in Minnesota for the next 40 years."

In the more concise words of United States Poet Laureate Daniel Lawrence Whitney, "Git 'r done."

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... -benefits/

[dead_poet]

Press release issued today if you're interested: http://www.minnesotamomentum.com/assets ... _rls-2.pdf

[purple guy]

I think its progress, but it will never pass this year, if ever. Its nice to see something, but it has 0% chance of passing.

[Raptorman]

While not a citizen of the State, I understand the idea of not wanting to raise taxes to build a stadium. But at what point do you find a way to do it? Zygi has stated he does not want to move the team from the state. He has not however ruled out selling it to someone who will. I firmly believe that within two years the Vikings will be sold and moved. And I will have to find another team to cheer for. And 10-15 years later MN will be begging the NFL for another team. And if it happens, I hope the NFL says no.

On a percentage basis, I would say that if this does not pass, or if that they do nothing by the end of the fall session, there is a 85% chance the Vikings will be playing elsewhere in 2012.

[Demi]

Fixed roof? Nooo! Why can't we just do something right for a change instead of the Scandinavian "Well by golly it cost less than any other stadium out there, puff up your chests boys!"

[DavidKarki]

Fixed roof? Nooo! Why can't we just do something right for a change instead of the Scandinavian "Well by golly it cost less than any other stadium out there, puff up your chests boys!"

Easy. State needs a roof so it can used year-round and host an NCAA Final Four (Super Bowl is a pipe dream; NFL is never going north again.) so as to replenish their coffers.

And NOBODY is going to spring for $150 M more just so Zygi can retract it a half-dozen times (don't tell me it'll be open in Dec. & Jan. because it WON'T).

Hence, the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis with Jerry Jones's gigantic HDTV scoreboard over the field. Yippee.....the same exact mistake they made in 1982 (going too cheap and attaching an "ironclad" 40-year lease this time), 2011-style....no one here ever learns.

Enjoy the two seasons at the Gophers stadium....one below-zero playoff game in January and everyone will be begging to go back inside. (The reality is that the fan base here has gotten soft, weather-wise. And January in MN isn't comparable to baseball from Apr to Oct or even Big Ten college ball that's done the third Saturday in November.)

Which begs the question? Does building this facility lift the curse placed on the franchise from having moved indoors in the first place? (You don't really think it's a coincidence the Vikings haven't won an NFC Title Game since then, do you? )

[mikeys1]

I see a lot wrong with this. A 40 yr lease the metrodome is under 30 and yet outdated?
From this article---http://www.twincities.com/vikings/ci_15 ... d=24992920

Under the plan, the team would kick in $264 million, with taxpayers ponying up $527 million, to be paid back over 40 years.

Team Vice President Lester Bagley said the team was concerned both about the 40-year lease required under the bill, but also the team's one-third share of construction costs. Bagley said the team is willing to kick in a third of the cost of an open-air stadium, or about $210 million.

"We're not saying the roof isn't important, but the roof doesn't benefit the Vikings. It benefits the state and the community," Bagley said.

If the taxpayers are footing a big chunk of the bill then it should benefit the state and community. I really hope that statement was taken out of context.

[DavidKarki]

I see a lot wrong with this. A 40 yr lease the metrodome is under 30 and yet outdated?
From this article---http://www.twincities.com/vikings/ci_15 ... d=24992920

Under the plan, the team would kick in $264 million, with taxpayers ponying up $527 million, to be paid back over 40 years.

Team Vice President Lester Bagley said the team was concerned both about the 40-year lease required under the bill, but also the team's one-third share of construction costs. Bagley said the team is willing to kick in a third of the cost of an open-air stadium, or about $210 million.

"We're not saying the roof isn't important, but the roof doesn't benefit the Vikings. It benefits the state and the community," Bagley said.

If the taxpayers are footing a big chunk of the bill then it should benefit the state and community. I really hope that statement was taken out of context.

This is simply stupid. Money is fungible, so who's to know whose dollars went for which features? If it makes everyone feel better, pay for the roof out of the state's $527 M share and document it accordingly. But it makes no difference.

What Bagley is saying is true: the Vikings don't need a roof and if the state is going to beat the "those who benefit should pay for it" drum so loudly, then they should be the first to set the example and live up to that principle. But it's really a pointless debate over silly semantics, and not worth the capital spent on it.

(And sadly, it's also par for the course when it comes to the damage Lester Bagley does to the effort every time he opens his big fat mouth in the vicinity of a TV camera. I will never understand why Zygi kept this Pink McCheap holdover on board. He's only ever been a huge liability.)

[bigskyeric]

Easy. State needs a roof so it can used year-round and host an NCAA Final Four (Super Bowl is a pipe dream; NFL is never going north again.) so as to replenish their coffers.

And NOBODY is going to spring for $150 M more just so Zygi can retract it a half-dozen times (don't tell me it'll be open in Dec. & Jan. because it WON'T).

Hence, the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis with Jerry Jones's gigantic HDTV scoreboard over the field. Yippee.....the same exact mistake they made in 1982 (going too cheap and attaching an "ironclad" 40-year lease this time), 2011-style....no one here ever learns.

Enjoy the two seasons at the Gophers stadium....one below-zero playoff game in January and everyone will be begging to go back inside. (The reality is that the fan base here has gotten soft, weather-wise. And January in MN isn't comparable to baseball from Apr to Oct or even Big Ten college ball that's done the third Saturday in November.)

Which begs the question? Does building this facility lift the curse placed on the franchise from having moved indoors in the first place? (You don't really think it's a coincidence the Vikings haven't won an NFC Title Game since then, do you? )

The Rams are a Dome Team, and they won the SuperBowl. The Colts won a Superbowl, and their Dome was almost Identical to the MetroDome. Blaming the Dome for the Vikings lack of Championships is silly. We lost the 98 NFCC at home to the Falcons.( A Dome Team ) We need a roof. Plain and simple. Retractable or not. Retractable would be better, but if it comes down to choosing between a fixed roof or no roof.....Duh... I still wonder how the Lions built Ford Field for only 400 million when realestate was at it's high point. Was cheap land a factor? If so, I'm pretty sure the Arden Hills site would be A LOT cheaper then the downtown location.