New Vikings Stadium on Da Move Forward (Part 9).

[LMITOUT]

Stadium deal dead.

[harvey lee]

It was simply not a good time to bring up another stadium.

[Scott K]

It was simply not a good time to bring up another stadium.

I agree, I think it will get done, but it will be after the budget is balanced, not when it is -$3,000,000,000. I would say it will be a go, within 2 years, lets just hope it isnt too late then. Although I think the Vikes understand the circumstances, and will hold off until then.

[zepman]

If it doesn't get done next year the Vikes will be either sold or leave...most likely sold THEN leave.

I'm still trying to figure out what our deficit has to do with opening the Racino and applying user fees to certain things affiliated with the Vikings and the stadium.

[Mudcutter]

if the VIKES get run-- how do smaller metros like Denver (big 4), and PHX and to lesser extant and much smaller the the Twin Cities with 3 teams, KC,STL,CLEV,PITT do it?? Why, all play at separate deals,,, it's because of MN people thinking they get takin' to woodshed and live in a land that no one else does,, so we ain't paying for no team that we get nothing back from, cuz, we diehard. Well, MN ; welcome, you may become a COLD OMAHA if this happens. MN fans need to wake up and see it's not 1973.

[CJH]

if the VIKES get run-- how do smaller metros like Denver (big 4), and PHX and to lesser extant and much smaller the the Twin Cities with 3 teams, KC,STL,CLEV,PITT do it?? Why, all play at separate deals,,, it's because of MN people thinking they get takin' to woodshed and live in a land that no one else does,, so we ain't paying for no team that we get nothing back from, cuz, we diehard. Well, MN ; welcome, you may become a COLD OMAHA if this happens. MN fans need to wake up and see it's not 1973.

Wow. Enough said.

By the way, we have 5 professional teams in the metro (Vikes, Twins (whom we just built a stadium for), T-wolves, Wild (whom we just built a stadium for not too long ago), Lynx) + Saints + U of M (that we just built a stadium for). Not too worried about this becoming a "cold Omaha".

[harvey lee]

I would agree with the no cold Omaha. The stadium will come for the Vikes and they can wait for a year or two.

I love the Vikes and have followed them for years. If they are going to leave due to the fact that we won't build a stadium within a year, they may leave anyways.

They will need to wait their turn and thats life.

[Muskie456]

I just got back from listening to Gov. Pelenty talk and he had open questions after his speech. He was asked about the whole situation and the Vikes haven't put there foot forward in figuring it out. They basically went to the state and said figure this out. All these other staduims that have been built have had partners in the venture. The Vikes haven't approached anybody to partner with such as Hennepin county, Mpls. or someone that would have interest in having the team in thier city. There is tax money that can be re-allocated for the stadium. The convention center is almost paid for and we are being taxed for that, the Twins stadium will be paid off sooner than anticipated there is some money there. The Vikes need to stop being the kid at the play ground that is about to take his ball and go home because they aren't putting forth the effort.

[FISHINGURU]

Pelenty is a doushe, as soon as he's out of here we'll git er dun!

[Mearnsquail]

Oh well, after the Vikes are gone, all the entertainment money that people used to spend on them will get to go to other fortunate businesses: resturants, movies theaters, Canterberry, Valley Fair, etc... In fact alot of places are hurt by the fact that they are here. A family only has so much discrentionary income and with the Vikes gone, others will prosper. The Wilfs are bascally extortionists, plain and simple. Everybody says, "Hurry, hurry, throw some money at them or they'll leave!" We don't or shouldn't negotiate with extortionists.

[jigging-matt]

Your thinking on this is slightly off. The Vikings (and Twins and Wild), bring money into the city and the businesses like resturants, theaters and such. Losing the Vikings would also hurt the tax base, and more importantly what about the lost jobs? Why do you think all of the cities that have lost teams in the past have came back and tried so hard to get teams back? The benefits far out weigh the negatives.

[LMITOUT]

Not really. The money that people "budget" for entertainment will be spent elsewhere if the team leaves town, and as he said, will most likely be spread out more than just aimed at one specific thing such as the Vikings. So instead of a few pulling in the dough, more places will benefit by the team packing the moving van and heading west. "spread the wealth"

Sounds like they're putting new carpet in the Humpty-Dump. Must be sticking around for a while.....

Zygi, your bluff has been called and you're pot committed. See ya at the rail!

[harvey lee]

The sports team do bring in a lot of funds to the state. Many business support these teams as they do profit from them.

There is a reason so many cities want professional sports and here in Minnesota, many say just leave. I do not understand this thinking at all as they do bring in millions in revenue.

I do not believe its only the Wilfs that would leave if they do not get a new stadium.

Look at the new park for the Twins and the money that is generating and all the jobs. Maybe a record attendance this season.

Mn can let the Vikes go and then another and another until we have nothing.

[Scott K]

The Wilf's understand that this is not the best economy to get a stadium bill passed, that was why the said they will give it til the end of the next session, since that is when their contract ends in the Dome. I am sure the politicians wont let the Vikings leave, it would be political suicide, the Viking's are loved by many, and they are MN!

[Mearnsquail]

WHY do they need a new stadium? It was designed as a football stadium. They're already making money hand over fist. They are now the sole tennant.Every NFL owner is making a ton of money. Nobody's losing money. So why? Because he can. He knows, just as every owner does, that he can hold the state hostage and get even more rich. To spend almost a Billion dollars for 10 3 hour events per yaer is crazy.

[Scott K]

I think the Vikings need to pay more then half of the costs of the stadium, then I have no problems with the rest being financed by the public.

[CJH]

Pawlenty isn't at fault. It's a nice cop-out, but false.

Agreed. Nothing like playing the blame game.

Here are the facts on the new 49er's stadium that was just approved:

The Facility

Date Opened 2014

Ownership

(Management) San Francisco 49ers

(San Francisco 49ers)

Surface Grass

Cost of Construction $937 Million

Stadium Financing $114 Million Subsidy, Remainder by the Team.

That's right, the 49er's are putting in $823 Million dollars. A far cry from the $264 Million the Vikes are putting up. Supposedly Jerry Jones paid even more out of pocket for the new Cowboys stadium than what the 49er's put up.

No way our money should support an out of state Billionaire.

[LMITOUT]

California has a law that says the state won't pay for private facilities. Might be the only common sense law California has on the books.

[harvey lee]

Yes, and even thought they don't help stadiums, the state is broke.

Boy, they sure do do things correct.

Happy we are not in their shape.

[half-dutch]

Guess what? Minnesota is broke, too. So Hennepin County should carry this [PoorWordUsage]?

St Paul and Ramsey voted it down hard, and so would Hennepin, if you put it to an open referendum.

Two things get me, I get to pay special taxes for something I couldn't afford to attend in the first place for the benefit of millionaires and billionaires who are too cheap to spend money on themselves and send their excessive salaries out of state in the first place -that kind of total capital export more than cancels what gets brought into the local economy; it certainly more than counter balances the taxes it generates -, and this whole pile of garbage gets stuffed in through the back door by some hotshots who don't think they need to pay attention to the public anyway, because it can't stand up to a referendum in the first place.

So the Vikings move out. So what? No skin off my nose, let the crybabies go. And don't stuff that [PoorWordUsage] about all the revenue that comes in for their games down the throats of those whose special taxes will pay the biggest part anyway. Run your special tax statewide and see how well that flies. Wait a minute that's the very reason it is dead in the legislature in the first place.

They aint my Vikings, I don't own one share and neither does nearly anybody else around here, but we sure get tagged to keep them wealthy. It is time that stopped. There is nothing like welfare for the wealthy, which is exactly what this is.

[LMITOUT]

Happy we are not in their shape.

What state do you live in? Minnesota is the California of the Midwest, and last I heard we were about $5 Billion in the hole.

That sure sounds like something to be happy about....

$5 Billion in the red and we're discussing building a billionaire a new play pen. Unbelievable. Only in MN do the people feel they aren't taxed enough.

[CJH]

$5 Billion in the red and we're discussing building a billionaire a new play pen. Unbelievable. Only in MN do the people feel they aren't taxed enough.

AMEN!

[Born2Fish]

Fact of the matter is, we can talk about this all we want. But in reality it is not in our hands to say yes or no. Its in the billionaires hands to whine about it constantly, and the politicians hands who make and pass these laws. The rich making the rich happy at the expense of the poor. I love the Vikings just as much as the next guy who bleeds purple and gold, but I myself wouldn't want a new "special tax" that I had to pay to put more money in the pockets of another billionaire. Heck I can't even afford to go see a Twins game this year...Imagine what the price of a Vikings ticket would be with a new stadium?! I think im gonna go fishing!!!!!

[LightningBG]

Not really. The money that people "budget" for entertainment will be spent elsewhere if the team leaves town, and as he said, will most likely be spread out more than just aimed at one specific thing such as the Vikings. So instead of a few pulling in the dough, more places will benefit by the team packing the moving van and heading west. "spread the wealth"

I don't buy it for a second. People will sit at home and grill a turkey. Personally, I don't "budget" any money for entertainment. I do what I want when I feel like it. If the funds are getting a little low, cut back a little. I'm not going to go drop $200 on some other random entertainment.

To say a town would benefit more without a team is silly. It'll spread the wealth? Come on. If that were the case, shouldn't we just kick all the teams out the door so we can benefit even more? Silly silly silly.

With all that being said. I don't support any public finance for a private team or private business. Sure, the state benefits, but I don't care. The state benefits from all of our businesses, why finance a select few?

[james_walleye]

I agree lightning. The $ that i spend on a vikings game isnt going to go to another random entertainment. And myself being from Rochester, it sure as heck isnt going into that downtown metro area.