Your support is needed!

[Rick]

I didn't see McCombes getting a new stadium and then making a profit.

Can anyone imagine the Steelers leaving Pennsylvania or the Cowboys leaving Texas because a millionaire owned the team and the public wouldn't support a new stadium. The folks living in those states know a good thing when they have it. I have to believe Minnesotans do too.

The jobs and prestige the Vikings create or help create more than offset anything that is being asked for. Let's not forget the stadium will be used to generate additional revenue for other venues.

The best part is it wouldn't involve a tax on income/property taxpayers.

To me that's a win-win.

Let's get the stadium deal done for the Good of Minnesota.

[randyfaas]

Originally Posted By: randyfaas

...then again, it would be kinda cool to have Minnesota be Packer territory.

I'd be dead before I would consider myself a Packers fan

You wouldn't have to like them, but they would be on TV here which would be awesome! lol

[LMITOUT]

My oh my, how do all the cities and towns across the country that don't have a professional sports franchise survive?? It sounds like the metro is just going to fall a part if the Vikes move. Typical fearmongering and playing on people's emotions to satisfy one's selfish want.

[Rick]

LOL,

it's you who are doing the fear-mongering and playing on people's emotions for ones selfish want packer-backer LMIT

[LMITOUT]

California has the right idea; the state won't fund any privately held company's stadium. MN likes to follow California's liberal ways so why don't they pick this idea up?

I think we need to contact our representatives and let them know we want the same state statute that California does. I don't know why they wouldn't support it.....it's the perfect cop-out so they wouldn't have to vote on this and we all know they don't want to mess up their voting record when it comes back to them come election time.

[zamboni]

if it was between having to watch the Pukers on sunday and watching paint dry, have to go with the paint drying.

Early game Thanksgiving, Lions and Packers- watched a total of 1 second of it, and even that was brutal

[Jim Uran]

Cali is in debt up to it's eyeballs.

I'm all for a stadium and OUR team, go back to ND and root for the Bison.

I could care less if we had to pay more taxes in order for them to stay!!!

[LMITOUT]

Cali is in debt up to it's eyeballs.

So that has anything to do with them not buying stadiums, how?

It doesn't.

[LMITOUT]

I could care less if we had to pay more taxes in order for them to stay!!!

That right there is absurd. Absolutely asinine.

[LMITOUT]

I'm all for a stadium and OUR team,

It's not "our" team it's Zygi's investment, and he wants the state to pay for it. The sad thing is that there are people foolish enough to empty their pockets so that a multi-millionaire can stuff more into his.

If you or anybody else wants this stadium so bad, then start sending in your check. Nobody is stopping you. Go ahead, put your money where your mouth is.

Garden Commercial Properties

Attn: Zygi Wilf

820 Morris Turnpike

Short Hills, NJ 07078

[zamboni]

2% tax on rental cars and hotel/motel rooms statewide. I worked in the car rental biz for 10 years, lot of money made in the taxing of rental cars.

Toll road on Hwy 36 and I94. Wisconsin residents want to live there but work here, let 'em pay a toll. That way they don't completely get out of paying a tax to be employed here

[randyfaas]

The Packers only taxed the county that the stadium was in because they recieve most of the financial benefit of hosting the team. They also "taxed" season-ticket holders by adding a fee to their season tickets.

In no way was this asinine.

[croixflats]

Will this stadium increase revenue for the vikes to really make it viable for the vikes to stay? Look at the stadiums that have been built in the last decade most are looking for their increase. On average revenue for those new stadiums have been stalemate or risen by only 2% with a few exceptions like Chicago and a couple of other big market teams.

Its not Viable for Ziggy to fund a stadium as he already has a 38% dept/value ratio. So it looks like the money has to come from somewhere else.

[randyfaas]

From: http://www.lambeaufielddotcom/stadium_info/history/

The project's voter-approved financing came in the form of a half-cent sales tax in Brown County -- where the Packers make their estimated $144 million annual economic impact -- that supports over $160 million in bonding. The state of Wisconsin approved funding of an additional $9.1 million for stadium infrastructure improvements. The Packers, the city and the NFL contributed $125.9 million from a one-time seat user fee ($1,400 for seven-game 'Green Package' ticket holders, $600 for three-game 'Gold Package' ticket holders, in 2001), proceeds from the 1997-98 stock sale and an NFL loan. And, the club pledged to cover any project cost overruns in consideration of its authority to direct the design of the building and stadium construction.

Something to note: The Vikings proposed stadium is about 3x the cost to renovate Lambeau.

[chasineyes]

My oh my, how do all the cities and towns across the country that don't have a professional sports franchise survive?? It sounds like the metro is just going to fall a part if the Vikes move.

Sounds like the same rhetoric with heath care and education...if we cut funding everyone will die and the children will starve and become 3rd class mcdonalds employees.

[chasineyes]

A private sports organization is a quality of life issue? geeesh!

How about focusing on the REAL local issues such as education, health care, or digging ourselves out of this massive debt that the ruling majority in St. Paul has created? Priorities, people.

link to state budget http://www.mmb.state.mn.us/doc/budget/report-pie/general-nov09.pdf

K-higher ed 46.2%

Social Services 29.3%

I'm guessing your 1st grade mentality is to throw more and more money at these problems...by the way, how is that working for ya.

[chasineyes]

Let's not forget, every time a team comes to town to play a HOME game, THEY PAY INCOME TAXES IN MN AS WELL!! The amount of tax revenue lost would be huge. But hey we have many people that would rather grow government jobs instead of private sector jobs.

I wonder how much property tax a BILLION DOLLAR stadium would GENERATE...HMMMMMM

[LMITOUT]

I never said throw more money at those problems.

[randyfaas]

"I'm guessing your 1st grade mentality is to..."

boooo

[LMITOUT]

Let's not forget, every time a team comes to town to play a HOME game, THEY PAY INCOME TAXES IN MN AS WELL!! The amount of tax revenue lost would be huge.

Oh really? How much? Please, do share with the rest of the group.

[james_walleye]

Want an inventive way to raise money volunteeringly? Create a big ole pot and have the Football league put a % of monies in there then Ziggy put a % in there then then the players then the networks a percentage then the rest can be donations from corporations and fans. Or cut these over payed salaries to the players and coaches then select a city that most needs a stadium and use that money to build a stadium then do it again when that money saved from over paying players and coaches has accumulated enough. Right there the just became self sufficient with out on relying on the public to subsidise there business or corporation.

Well theres an absolutely unrealistic way to keep our team around. Are you aware of how other cities have gotten new stadiums? Get real...

[james_walleye]

Nothing says the Vikings will stay even with a new stadium. They are a private organization and can do what they want.

In fact, I hope the state does buy them a new stadium and they pack up and leave shortly after. Maybe then the people of this state will WAKE UP.

Boy, who could have ever guessed you would take this stand on a vikings stadium. A person doesnt even need to see who wrote your posts on this thread, its pretty easy to guess where they come from.

[DHanson]

I didn't read through all 5 pages of comments, but I just don't see why we need a new stadium. Yeah the dome is getting somewhat old, but I think there is a lot of years left in there. I guess I've always been the type of person who would rather remodel or improve something rather than build a whole new structure. It seems that the vikings have never had a problem selling tickets, so where is this need of a new stadium coming from? fans? players? With the Twins getting a new stadium, I don't think this is a great time to be discussing a new stadium. Maybe in 5-10 years start discussing about a possible new stadium.....Just my opinion.

[randyfaas]

I just don't see why we need a new stadium.

[Snag]

I'm actually on Limit's side on this one. Why do we help the Ziggis and Pohlads of the world? Carl Pohlad was one of the richest people in the world and we helped build him a stadium and we even spent millions making sure it doesn't stink. Who bought most of the buildings around the new stadium before it was built, the Pohlads.

I can't justify the Billion dollars for 8-10 games per year. Obviously bars and restaurants will take a hit.

I don't think the casino angle will ever fly. The state turned down an offer to build a casino at the Mall of America. I think they were going to get paid a billion dollars a year for that. The tribes will fight all attempts to create more competition.