Your support is needed!

[james_walleye]

Originally Posted By: james_walleye

What is it i don't get? I like the vikings and im willing to pay a tax to have them here. If you don't like it....TOUGH! I could care less if you like it or not!

So send your money in. That's my point! You're trying to force those who don't believe they need a new stadium to pay for it. That's why I was posting Zygi's address and finally somebody said it. "if you don't like it, tough".

Thank you!

Clown i said before i'll send a check in anyday of the week if it guarantees the vikings won't leave town.

[LMITOUT]

Clown i said before i'll send a check in anyday of the week if it guarantees the vikings won't leave town.

Is name calling really necessary?

[Steve Foss]

And keep forgetting that there are more people in this state than just the Metro area!!

Nah. Even us outstate yokels realize that when it comes to Minnesota, it's all about the Twin Cities. What's good for Twin Cities residents HAS to be what's good for us.

As for the Vikes staying or going, if you remove the fan obsession (well, OK, that's impossible for a lot of you), it's just a big business that might be leaving the state. Wouldn't be the first, won't be the last. Losing the Vikings in a business sense would no doubt hurt, but no more than if some other company of equal payroll headed out or cut payroll in tough economic times. And when was the last time the taxpayers of Minnesota bought/built Grain Belt or 3M a new facility?

Now on to the sports fandom. Yeah, I'm a Packers fan. So sue me. But even though I think purple is puke, if the Vikings left it would diminish my Packers. We are only as strong as our traditions and our opponents, and to lose that rivalry would IMO hurt the whole division.

[james_walleye]

Originally Posted By: james_walleye

Clown i said before i'll send a check in anyday of the week if it guarantees the vikings won't leave town.

Is name calling really necessary?

How many times have i said this when this topic has come up? I said it already on this thread this morning yet you keep posting Zygi's address. Its a source of entertainment to me. I spend thousands of $$ each year on hunting and fishing equiptment, trips, tags and so on. They are sources of my entertainment. I'll fork out some $$ for one of my other sources of entertainment.

[james_walleye]

Originally Posted By: LMITOUT

And keep forgetting that there are more people in this state than just the Metro area!!

Nah. Even us outstate yokels realize that when it comes to Minnesota, it's all about the Twin Cities. What's good for Twin Cities residents HAS to be what's good for us.

As for the Vikes staying or going, if you remove the fan obsession (well, OK, that's impossible for a lot of you), it's just a big business that might be leaving the state. Wouldn't be the first, won't be the last. Losing the Vikings in a business sense would no doubt hurt, but no more than if some other company of equal payroll headed out or cut payroll in tough economic times. And when was the last time the taxpayers of Minnesota bought/built Grain Belt or 3M a new facility?

Now on to the sports fandom. Yeah, I'm a Packers fan. So sue me. But even though I think purple is puke, if the Vikings left it would diminish my Packers. We are only as strong as our traditions and our opponents, and to lose that rivalry would IMO hurt the whole division.

The fan obsession is what makes up the vikings or any other sports franchise anywhere.

[Steve Foss]

The fan obsession is what makes up the vikings or any other sports franchise anywhere.

Well, duh!

And that obsession is limited to the fans. There are thousands and thousands and thousands of Minnesota residents who don't care squat about football in general or the Vikings in particular.

It's one thing to argue for keeping the Vikes or losing them in a business sense, but it's fan obsession and fan obsession alone that has you and others clouding your better judgment and ignoring the business realities in favor of your own selfish entertainment desires.

This is a football forum, so of course pretty much everyone posting in here is a fan of some pro football team or another. But the state ain't full of football fans, and in their non-football world the Vikings (or any sports team) are small potatoes. I know a pretty big number of folks who feel just like that, and they have NO interest in additional taxes to pay for a silly obsession they don't understand.

[randyfaas]

When talking about economics and state revenues of course the urban areas are going to be the focus because that's where most businesses are located.

Don't get me wrong. I think the most valuable assets the State of Minnesota has are its natural resources. Instead of hating on the city, you should be glad that you are priveledged enough to live in the best parts of the state. I honestly wish that I could afford to do that.

12>4

[Steve Foss]

When talking about economics and state revenues of course the urban areas are going to be the focus because that's where most businesses are located.

Oh dude, it is truly no skin off my nose. I was just doing the usual outstate jabbing in a good-natured way at city residents. It's all in good fun.

[james_walleye]

Originally Posted By: james_walleye

The fan obsession is what makes up the vikings or any other sports franchise anywhere.

Well, duh!

And that obsession is limited to the fans. There are thousands and thousands and thousands of Minnesota residents who don't care squat about football in general or the Vikings in particular.

It's one thing to argue for keeping the Vikes or losing them in a business sense, but it's fan obsession and fan obsession alone that has you and others clouding your better judgment and ignoring the business realities in favor of your own selfish entertainment desires.

This is a football forum, so of course pretty much everyone posting in here is a fan of some pro football team or another. But the state ain't full of football fans, and in their non-football world the Vikings (or any sports team) are small potatoes. I know a pretty big number of folks who feel just like that, and they have NO interest in additional taxes to pay for a silly obsession they don't understand.

They are the same people who vote down a referendum thats the equivalent to an $11 a month tax to build a new school in their town, or very needed renovations to their school. Their choice of course, just as it is mine to vote yes.

[randyfaas]

I kinda figured that, but I just threw my comment out there anyhow.

[MarkAlm]

I have a hard time supporting this even though it supports the jobs in the community. I feel that the users of it should pay for it first but I also support the racino idea even though the rw polititions will protect their money also. The arts and entertainment business has made everything in the U.S.A. more expensive because of the way the athletes are paid and sponserd.

[james_walleye]

I have a hard time supporting this even though it supports the jobs in the community. I feel that the users of it should pay for it first but I also support the racino idea even though the rw polititions will protect their money also. The arts and entertainment business has made everything in the U.S.A. more expensive because of the way the athletes are paid and sponserd.

Would i like to see the Wilfs fund the stadium? Of course who doesnt? Is it realistic to think that other means arent going to be needed to get it done? No....

[silverbulletguy]

Build a new stadium a little ways out of the metro area. Metro residents are used to driving in traffic and more outstate residents would go to the games if they didn't have to deal with driving in downtown mpls. I'm thinking somewhere between St Cloud and the cities( Monticello, Elk River, Anoka) would work out the best. And I bet the land price would be a lot less to make it happen.

[Scott K]

What is wrong with the Dome? My honest opinion, not much, needs some updating, to me, that would be good. To the Vikes, there is a lot, revenue to compete with other markets, amongst others.

But the biggest thing wrong with the Dome is, the Vikings dont want to play there any more, and they arent forced to play there any more. So it is not an issue if we think the Dome is suitable to play in, it is whether the Vikes think it is. So the real question is, do we want to invest this amount of money to keep the Vikes, and the thousands of jobs here in MN. I say we need to do what we can to keep the team here.

Tax those that will benifit from the new stadium the most, city most, then the county it is in, then state. I would require a 50 year comitment from the team, if us tax payers are asked to pay for the majority of the stadium however! I would also expect Ziggy to pay a good percentage as well, since he is the #1 person to bennifit the most

[harvey lee]

Build it.

[Big Dave2]

Just what I said. Sorry that you have to live in reality with the rest of us. I'll repeat it one more time in case it was too difficult to understand the first time: No legislator has ever lost their elected position due to voting against a proposed stadium.

How can you be so sure of this? Please back up this statement with facts.

[Big Dave2]

Originally Posted By: james_walleye

What is it i don't get? I like the vikings and im willing to pay a tax to have them here. If you don't like it....TOUGH! I could care less if you like it or not!

So send your money in. That's my point! You're trying to force those who don't believe they need a new stadium to pay for it. That's why I was posting Zygi's address and finally somebody said it. "if you don't like it, tough, I don't care if you like it or not!".

Thank you!

Do you not believe that there may be funding options that are user based, therefore not requiring much if any money from those that do not wish to pay?

[Big Dave2]

$5 Billion deficit. Does that mean anything to you? Take the Helga Horns off for a minute and think about it. Do what's right, not what you WANT. If the Vikings are gone the money that was spent in that area will still be spent, the fans will just spend it in other areas. Don't be foolish.

What makes you so sure that the money will be spent? The current economy has all kinds of people hanging on to money that they would have spent freely a few years ago. Even if the money is going to be spent, who says it will be spent here in Minnesota or even in the U.S. Most things now are produced overseas so I could see a lot of this money going elsewhere while this is a way to insure that it stays in MN.

This has nothing to do with who likes what team. It's about doing the right thing in this current economy. Rick keeps harping that I'm a Packer fan and want the Vikings gone and that isn't the case whatsoever on either account. The only chicken little rhetoric going on here is that the team will leave if they don't get a new stadium. Nothing more than a threat and extortion.

Absolutely right. This has nothing to do with who likes what team. This is about keeping an important part of Minnesota's economy in tact.

The racino is the best option behind Zygi financing it himself, as this revenue is somewhat voluntary compared to a local or state tax which is regressive, much like the dedicated funding tax which is hurting those who can afford it the least. But, last year the racino concept was proposed to help neutralize our current $5 Billion+ deficit and it was pooh-pooh'd.....most likely due to it being proposed by someone with an ® behind their name which is nothing more than childish politics.

I don't see why they should push the racino idea to fund a stadium now, when just last year it wasn't acceptable to use those funds to chop away at the massive debt the (D's) have spent us into. It sure doesn't seem like the priorities are in order here, and that is what has put us into this mess into the first place......massive spending in frivolous areas......and a sports entertainment arena is as frivolous as it gets.

If the Racino idea will fly for this, why not give it a shot?

The argument that "they might as well tax me for something I enjoy because they're going to tax me anyway" is absurd. If we keep volunteering for taxes, they'll keep obliging. How many times do you need to hit your thumb with a hammer before you figure out it hurts? Cripes.......

Everyone has their own ideas as to what their tax dollars should go towards.

I heard something the other day that is appropriate here: "If you're $50,000 in debt, shame on you. If you're $500,000 in debt, shame on the bank". Well, the citizens of this state are the "bank". Shame on us for letting it happen and continue to happen.

[LMITOUT]

But the biggest thing wrong with the Dome is, the Vikings dont want to play there any more, and they arent forced to play there any more. So it is not an issue if we think the Dome is suitable to play in, it is whether the Vikes think it is.

So a privately owned professional football team is holding the citizens of Minnesota hostage. That's fantastic. What ever happened to the policy of not negotiating with terrorists?

[james_walleye]

You seem to be totally unaware of how the sporting world works....

[LMITOUT]

The sporting world is minuscule in the grand scheme of things. Turn off KFAN once in a while or read section A of the paper. Lots of things going on out there that are a weeee more important.

[james_walleye]

We are talking about the sporting world, and in the world of a franchises getting new stadiums, the vast majority of them are not build by individuals.

[Scott K]

Originally Posted By: 4wanderingeyes

But the biggest thing wrong with the Dome is, the Vikings dont want to play there any more, and they arent forced to play there any more. So it is not an issue if we think the Dome is suitable to play in, it is whether the Vikes think it is.

So a privately owned professional football team is holding the citizens of Minnesota hostage. That's fantastic. What ever happened to the policy of not negotiating with terrorists?

No more then NWA did, or many other large companies. Do I think it is right, no, do I think this is a good time to build the Vikes a Stadium, no. But It is do or die time, we cant wait until the state has a surplus, nor will they ever have a surplus. We need to at least comit to building them a stadium, maybe say we will when the economy turns around, then we will build it, but we will need to aprove it, and get it desiegned now.

Just an idea!

[croixflats]

Those other companies are paying that money back through loans. Now if the Vikes want to do that thats maybe doable but not the whole $9,500,000.

[Scott K]

Those other companies are paying that money back through loans. Now if the Vikes want to do that thats maybe doable but not the whole $9,500,000.

I think you are forgetting a few zeros there!