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That's pretty much it. Even Dayton yesterday on KFAN said something like, "If you're a Minnesotan, call your rep" Of course the neighboring region is a part of Vikings territory, but when it comes to lighting a fire under politicians' #### those of us outside MN can't do squat.dead_poet wrote:You mean besides drink and pray?
Since 1995, taxpayers have paid about 80 percent of the cost of NFL stadiums in the eight smallest media markets with new stadiums, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing data from Convention Sports & Leisure International.
Taxpayers have paid less than 20 percent in the eight biggest markets with new stadiums. The Twin Cities is the 15th-largest media market.
Costs to build a Minnesota Vikings football stadium would break down as follows: state, $398 million; Minneapolis, $150 million; Vikings, $427 million.
That means construction costs are divided at 56 percent public, 44 percent private.
The Vikings would put in most of the operating and capital expenses, which means over 30 years the team shoulders just more than half the total cost of $1.49 billion.
SI's Peter King wrote:If it doesn't pass, well, no one is saying what will happen. But I can tell you what is likely:
The Vikings will be the prime candidates to move to Los Angeles, following the Lakers and North Stars out of town. When commissioner Roger Goodell went to Minneapolis a couple of weeks ago to sound the alarm about football's future in Minnesota, he told legislators and civic leaders that now they controlled the fate of the Vikings. But if a stadium bill wasn't passed, and soon, the control of the team would be out of their hands. And he's right. The wheels will be in motion for Los Angeles quickly if, by Tuesday night, the stadium deal hasn't passed.
...
But one other point is clear: If this stadium initiative does not pass, the end of the Vikings in Minnesota will be in sight. And the politicians are in a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don't position. Some fear voting for the bill and getting voted out by the Tea Party types. Some fear voting against it and getting voted out by the Vikings fanatics. Watch for a very interesting week in Minnesota.
Thanks for the link.CalVike wrote:http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/w ... mqb/1.html
What a tool... he wants it to pass but he won't vote for it. Talk about a politician attempting to have his cake and eat it too.Minnesota House Speaker Kurt Zellers could have been speaking for many of his fellow lawmakers when he struggled to describe his position on a $1 billion Vikings stadium bill before a vote that could be critical to the team's future in the state.
"I won't vote for it, but I want to see it pass," the Republican said in an interview late last week on sports radio.
Mothman wrote:This AP story sums up the the current state of things pretty well:
http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/Viki ... 050612?t=2
This aggravated the hell out of me:
What a tool... he wants it to pass but he won't vote for it. Talk about a politician attempting to have his cake and eat it too.
I'm not sure that's such a bad thing to say. As a politician their jobs are to vote the way they feel that the majority of their constituents would vote. Even if you personally feel one way about an issue I don't think a member of government should vote against the people's will ... even if you think they're wrong.Mothman wrote: What a tool... he wants it to pass but he won't vote for it. Talk about a politician attempting to have his cake and eat it too.
Cliff wrote: I'm not sure that's such a bad thing to say. As a politician their jobs are to vote the way they feel that the majority of their constituents would vote. Even if you personally feel one way about an issue I don't think a member of government should vote against the people's will ... even if you think they're wrong.
There has been a lot of talk about politicians not taking a line of action because they want to get re-elected ... in reality doesn't that mean that a large number of people are not for supporting the bill? Otherwise passing it would be the move to make to help ensure re-election.
I understand the frustration, but it seems like the real issue here is with how the people of the state value the team and not necessarily with the politicians.
That makes sense, but an uneducated public still doesn't put politicians at fault over this issue. As an elected official it's their job to vote with the will of their people. To me it seems obvious that keeping the Vikings in Minnesota is what's best for the state and it's short-sighted, in my opinion, if a person can't see the long-term gain that having a team produces.PurpleMustReign wrote: I'm not convinced that they know what the people trly want. Nor do I feel that the people are educated enough on the issue to form an educated opinion. Everyone I know that is against it just says that the Dome is fine and they don't want to have to pay for a stadium that the owner can afford. My one complaint about how the Vikings have handled this is that I wish they would have had more information communicated to everyone other than commercials. I would have like to have seen some live "Town Meeting" types of things where the citizens could ask questions rather than reporters. Does that make ssense?
Kevin Seifert on TwitterSounds like all that's left to complete the scene in St. Paul is to have Ragnar drive through the lobby of the state capitol
Chip Scoggins on TwitterArrived at state Capitol 30 minutes ago and place was nuts. Could hear Vikings fans and union workers cheering as soon as I opened doors. And I just found the tailgate outside the capital complete with a satellite dish attached to a beer keg. Awesome.
Zellers would be better suited working on his resume for the rest of this session and let some actual grown ups handle the important things.mansquatch wrote:I consider myself a strong conservative and advocate of limited governemnt. Howver, as i've said many times before, the NFL stadium is a pretty simple deal: If you don't play ball, then some other state/city will.
Zellers has just lost so much clout in this. He reminds me of Charlie Christ in Florida, he is willing to do and/or say anything to get votes. Just a gutless leaders. No wonder this session has been such a mess.
