Your support is needed!

[james_walleye]

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.

It really comes down to build the stadium somehow and the team stays. That is the world of sports and that is how stadiums get done. Don't build it, and eventually they leave.

[DHanson]

If the vikings are struggling so bad then how did they make it this far?

You made some comments on NFL ranking revenue. I'm willing to bet the team that is ranked last in the NFL in this category has plenty of money. Seems there is some competition there, but simply put if some teams were that poor they wouldn't be around. I don't see many teams going any where.

I would hate to see the vikings leave, but I believe they have a ton of money. They are not as poor as they try to make you believe.

[Rick]

The real question we have to ask ourselves is do we want the Vikings to stay or do we want them to leave.

That is our choice and our choice creates a very clear consequence.

Don't build a new stadium and we lose our Vikings, the jobs, business benefits and the lost Minnesota Pride/Prestige that goes along with them leaving.

Build a stadium financed by those who benefit from them staying and the racinos to keep OUR Vikings here.

[Juneau4]

The Vikings payroll is over 100 hundred million a year. 50 million of that is taxable in Mn. another 50 million from visiting teams thats taxable. Quite a bit of change lost in tax dollars.

Everything that is being said now is the same as what was said before the "Dome was built.

[FishonTom]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that it is not up to Ziggy to take the Vikings to LA, but up to the NFL. From what I understand there are three teams that are talking about moving, San Diego, Vikes, and someone else, and I do believe that Dan Diego is first in line. Even if they don't get what they want, we may have a few years. If we do give them a new stadium, what is that going to do for me, or you all. Nothing unless you own land were they need to build it, or are lucky enough to have a business that is in the area. I'm with Croixflats on this one. Oh, but wait a minute, Obama is giving use healthcare, right?

[LMITOUT]

The Vikings aren't leaving so just get it through your heads.

The threat to move is nothing more than extortion and playing on people's emotions to ignore their common sense and principles.

[randyfaas]

...neither are the Lakers and the North Stars...

[Rick]

The Vikings have threatened nothing and LMIT's poor guesses posed as fact are just as accurate as his statement that they're threatening to move.

Folks said the North Stars would never leave either and my guess is you were among them LMIT

[LMITOUT]

If they have threatened nothing, then why is everyone saying they will if they don't get a stadium?

Nice try. Seems like the pro-stadium folks are working against themselves here. Good for a laugh anyway!

[james_walleye]

As if no team has ever moved without threatening to do so....

[Big Dave2]

Why would we just want to let the Vikings leave without trying to work something out? Lmit out, I understand where you are coming from, I don't want to necessarilly give a multi-millionaire any of my hard earned money to watch the rich get richer but I have to believe there is a solution that benefits everyone where by a large portion of the funding is generated from user fees. Tax on tickets, tax on merchandise, specific area taxes and so forth.

A pro sports franchise generates a lot more tax revenue, local sales revenue, charitable revenue and jobs than most people probably realize.

[LMITOUT]

They aren't going to leave.

Everybody just needs to back away from the ledge.

[Big Dave2]

How do you know? Did you know whether or not the Northstars were going to leave. I would have to guess that in the long run it cost the state of MN and it's tax payers a lot more money to secure a new franchise than it would have cost to keep the previous one.

[LMITOUT]

Zygi is playing on that exact fear to clean out the pockets of Minnesotan's.....and it's working. Call his bluff. I bet you'll take the pot.

[Big Dave2]

Summary of Economic Impacts of Metrodome Next

An economic impact analysis of the proposed Metrodome Next project was conducted by Conventions, Sports & Leisure

International for the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission. Results of the report show that the construction and

operations of the multi-purpose facility and the Minnesota Vikings franchise would support thousands of jobs and

hundreds of millions of dollars of spending in the State.

Thousands of Jobs Supported:

Metrodome Next would support thousands of jobs, spanning from construction of the new venue to its ongoing use for

Vikings games and a wide variety of other events.

Construction

• Construction jobs: 8,000 total tradespeople

Based on an estimate provided by Mortenson Construction, a total of 8,000 tradespeople would be needed to

build Metrodome Next over the course of the construction period.

• Jobs from economic impact of construction: 13,400

Building Metrodome Next would fuel the State’s economy, supporting construction jobs as well as jobs in various

other industries as a result of construction-related spending. In total, an estimated 13,400 jobs would be

supported in the State during the construction period, totaling over $577 million in personal earnings.

Annual Stadium and Team Operations

• Jobs from economic impact of stadium and team operations: 3,400

The ongoing operations of Metrodome Next and the Vikings would support an estimated 3,400 jobs in Minnesota

and generate an estimated $106 million of personal earnings as a result of the ongoing economic activity in the

State.

Hundreds of Millions of Dollars in New Spending Generated:

Metrodome Next would generate spending in Minnesota, resulting in significant economic impacts for the State:

• Direct spending in the State during construction: $734 million

Building Metrodome Next would be a catalyst for Minnesota’s economy, generating $734 million in constructionrelated

spending over the course of the construction period.

• Total economic output to the State during construction: $1.35 billion

As a result of direct spending in the State, additional indirect spending would occur as the initial round of spending

is filtered through the economy. For example, a portion of the money spent at Minnesota businesses on

construction supplies will essentially be re-invested back into the State’s economy as companies pay their

employees and make expenditures at other Minnesota establishments.

• Annual direct spending in the State after Metrodome Next opens: $145 million

Vikings games and other events held at Metrodome Next would lead to spending by fans and event-goers at the

facility on tickets, food, merchandise, and parking as well as at hotels, bars and restaurants outside of the

stadium. In addition, money received from the NFL and visiting teams also contributes to the direct spending.

• Annual economic output in the State: $274 million

As a result of direct spending in the State, additional indirect spending will continue to fuel the economy as a

portion of the money earned by wage-earners is re-spent at other Minnesota businesses.

[Big Dave2]

Zygi is playing on that exact fear to clean out the pockets of Minnesotan's.....and it's working. Call his bluff. I bet you'll take the pot.

A lot of local large corporations have done this. Any smart corporation is going to take the sweetest deal they can find. If one state doesn't provide them with tax incriment financing, tax relief or other goodies they will threaten to move thier operation to a location that will offer them what they want. Federal, state and local municipalities offer these benefits to businesses all the time. If you work for a large corporation that business could very well be an example of a business that has been offered something in exchange for locating in a certain city or state. If so then your job is made possible by all of our tax dollars.

[LMITOUT]

I know mail doesn't go out on Sundays, but I'm sure your stadium contribution will get there eventually:

Garden Commercial Properties

Attn: Zygi Wilf

820 Morris Turnpike

Short Hills, NJ 07078

[LMITOUT]

Garden Commercial owns and manages in excess of 25 million square feet of retail and commercial space, which ranks in the Top 20 in the United States according to leading industry surveys. New commercial development exceeds one million square feet annually.

Doesn't sound like a company that is in need of any financial assistance to me.

If Zygi wants a stadium so bad he can sell some of that paltry 25 million square feet and put up the dough himself.

[randyfaas]

Big Dave,

That Summary of Economic Impacts doesn't even include the $121 million dollars in salary that the players make (probably not the coaches either) and all of the state taxes that are paid by them nor does it include the portions of these salaries that are spent by these players here nor the charities that are supported by these players both financially and PR type stuff.

I understand the viewpoint of "Why should I have to contribute to building a stadium for a team that I don't even watch or like?", but I think that these economic impacts may be underestimated. (BTW-Thanks for posting that.)

My opinion is that these benefits are probably worth a half cent sales tax in Hennepin County and a little kick in from the State because they benefit greatly from this - strictly from an economic perspective.

Of course I think the Vikings should kick in a little too, but the full benefit of the stadium is not just to Zigi & Co, and it would therefore be unreasonable to demand that they pay for the whole stadium just because they are percieved by individuals to be rich, and it would be bad business to let them leave based on this line of thought.

Go Pack Go! 12>4

[Big Dave2]

Doesn't sound like a company that is in need of any financial assistance to me.

If Zygi wants a stadium so bad he can sell some of that paltry 25 million square feet and put up the dough himself.

As usual you miss the point. Its not a matter of whether or not they are in NEED of any assistance. The fact is that some other state or city would love the chance to get an NFL franchise because they recognize the return of investment an NFL franchise will give them.

If you ask your boss for a raise should he try to evaluate whether or not you Need the raise in order to survive or should he/she try to evaluate whether or not you provide the company with a good return on their investment thus justifying or not justifying your raise?

[croixflats]

Originally Posted By: LMITOUT

Doesn't sound like a company that is in need of any financial assistance to me.

If Zygi wants a stadium so bad he can sell some of that paltry 25 million square feet and put up the dough himself.

As usual you miss the point. Its not a matter of whether or not they are in NEED of any assistance. The fact is that some other state or city would love the chance to get an NFL franchise because they recognize the return of investment an NFL franchise will give them.

If you ask your boss for a raise should he try to evaluate whether or not you Need the raise in order to survive or should he/she try to evaluate whether or not you provide the company with a good return on their investment thus justifying or not justifying your raise?

GOOD POINT. They are not in need for a raise in order for this state to prosper while others could bennifit that raise if given to them rather a sports franchise.

[Big Dave2]

I agreed with your statement until this part.

Go Pack Go! 12>4

[randyfaas]

lol

[delta dude]

Let the purple open there books to the public so we can all see whats what.

[randyfaas]

We do know that they are something like 2nd from the bottom in revenues in the NFL (at least partly because of their crappy stadium).