Stadium discussion
 

I am glad that I have a student teacher so that I can dedicate time at work to think about important things.... like the Vikings.

The Vikings lease on the Metrodome is set to expire in 2011 & with no clear cut option on the table, both sides need to step it up and work on a compromise. I think that it is safe to say that it will not be a tax increase (especially with Pawlenty in office until the end of 2010) given our current economic crunch here in MN. I also don't see the Wilfs/Vikings taking the possible option of buying the Metrodome and renovating it. They (the Wilfs, other NFL owners, & the NFL) want nice, big, shiny, new stadiums so I see renovation as being out of the question.

I think that our best options for some sort of public funding (which I am partially in favor of, depending on the options/outcome) would come from a combination of:

1) "Racinos" ~ Let's put slot machines at Canterbury Downs & Running Aces. I would also be in favor of allowing slot machines at the new stadium. I know that this would go against current state law (see Indian Gaming Regulatory Act), but this is an issue that could be brought to the MN public in the form of an amendment vote on the ballot. Upon paying off the set amount needed for the stadium, the funds from the slots could then be diverted into the general fund.

2) Have a lottery game (scratch off style) in which proceeds go directly towards the funding of the stadium. Once then necessary amount has been reached, the game could then be discontinued.

3) Create an additional option for license plates. Similar to the "critical habitat" license plates, the additional fee necessary for purchasing these license plates would be used for funding the building of a new stadium & this option of license plates could be made unavailable once the amount needed has been reached.

4) Let's get the NFL to pony up some money for the building of stadiums for their teams. The NFL is a multi-billion dollar a year organization. They are pushing hard for new stadiums to be built, so why not put the money where their collective mouth is...

I think that these options would only work if coupled with a significant amount of $ paid by the Vikings organization itself &/or the NFL ponying up.

I love my Vikings and I would be heart-broken if they were to end up leaving town. I don't see a move to L.A. as a current legitimate option, but a couple of years down the line it could be.

Anyway these are just my thoughts.

Thoughts?

You neglected to mention something that is also a big factor in all this:

The Vikings need to find a corporate sponsor for the new stadium! My main suggestions are Verizon Wireless and Best Buy.

I like the Verizon idea for a few reasons:
-One of the biggest original wireless companies in MN was Midwest Wireless (which was bought by Alltell, which was bought by Verizon) so they have a strong base in Minnesota
- It is becoming popular to offer wireless network access while at sporting events, and Verizon could get an investment in the stadium by being the sole provider of that service (which usually costs the consumer a price to use that access) this is for things like your iPhone to connect to the internet so you can update your facebook status and pictures while at the game, or check fantasy stats for your team while there. It is not for things like phone service, just to be clear.

I have no idea. It seems logical, but it probably won't happen.

You are correct, but i think that corporate sponsorships are usually given out after the stadium has been built as a money making practice for the stadium ownership rather than fund raising for the building of the stadium.

I love the idea of local sponsorships for local stadiums. I was very happy that the Twins sold the naming rights to Target & I would like the Vikings to do something similar like with Best Buy, Cargill, 3M, Medtronic, General Mills, etc.

Sticking this thread so all stadium related chat goes into this topic

I don't see anything positive happening.

not in the current economic conditions.

who knows what the popularity of the new twins stadium might due to sway some people's opinions

I just hope this pans out for the Vikings. I don't live in Minnesota so I don't know how good of a Governor Pawlenty is. But it seems to me that he doesn't have their pro football franchise on the top of their priorities. I understand that it's hard, but when you have a team in one of the most popular sports leagues in the world, you'd think that you'd do everything to keep them around right?

I'm not all that up on Pawlenty either, although I do live in MN, due mainly to the fact that I am only 17. I do think he and the state government do want to keep the team here, but want to do it as cheap as possible, and would probably prefer to put it off as long as possible, probably in hope that the recession will get over and the budget crisis/deficit will get better.

T-Paw is out after 2010. The problem is that a DFL Gov will probably also be against public funding for a stadium. The state's economy has to right itself before this will get serious consideration... either that or the lease actually has to expire to light a fire under the arses of the legislature. We'll see.

You're only 17? I thought you were older than that.

Per PFT:

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...ion-is-coming/

haha nope, I'll be 18 in 4 days though!!!!

Here's a little bit of good news on the stadium. Not much, but a little bit of a positive.:
http://www.startribune.com/politics/...tml?page=1&c=y

Apparently if they are granted Slot Machines these Racinos will be willing to give $40 Million a year to the Vikes Stadium fund.

http://www.startribune.com/politics/...PaP3iUiacyKUUr

I like the idea of Racinos for the purpose of adding to the general fund, too. If they can take in the estimated $100 mil per year, our legislature would be complete morons (or should i say just offer more proof that they are morons) to not pass it. This would continue to help our state well beyond the completion of funding the stadium.

Definitely, it sounds like such a smart thing to do, especially with the budget deficit, adding that much money to the budget definitely can't hurt.

It's starting to look like a solution more than likely won't be this coming this year...

http://www.startribune.com/politics/...3aPc:_Yyc:aUUs

Here we go. I am surprised that they aren't going the Racino route.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...s-to-benefits/

Get it done!

Vikings stadium bill defeated in House committee
Posted by Mike Florio on May 5, 2010 12:35 PM ET
Well, it was fun while it lasted.

Only two days after a bipartisan bill to build a new Vikings stadium was introduced, the measure has died.

Mike Kaszuba of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that the 10-9 defeat came only hours after another House committee had approved it. But as Kaszuba points out, "[A]t this stage of the legislative session, set-backs for major bills can sometimes be only temporary."

Which means that most of the time it isn't only temporary.

Which means that in the case it could be permanent.

Which means that those L.A. Rams fans who used to wear watermelons as hats might soon be able to add horns to their headgear.

Vikings stadium bill makes like Lazarus in the legislature
Posted by Mike Florio on May 5, 2010 3:08 PM ET
Killed in a House committee this morning, the bill to build a new Vikings stadium found new life in a Senate committee this afternoon.

The new version incorporates Personal Seat Licenses as a mechanism for raising money beyond the $264 million that the Vikings will pay, according to WCCO.com. Previous plans to use a variety of taxes and to foist bond payments onto the city of Minneapolis as of 2020 have been scuttled.

Meanwhile, the Vikings claimed in a House committee hearing that they are losing money (which could have CBA ramification), and the team declined to answer whether the project can wait another year (which means that it can). Also, Governor Tim Pawlenty suddenly seems to be less interested in the stadium bill and more interested in fixing the state's deficit, given a Wednesday Minnesota Supreme Court decision finding that Pawlenty exceeded his authority by cutting $5.3 million from a state program.

So while progress is being made, there's a long way to go -- and there isn't much time to get something done in 2010. The legislative session ends this month.




if they add on personal seat licenses, they can kiss my season ticket money goodbye. That is something that I am not onboard with...

As long as they can get it done. I don't care.

You aren't a season ticket holder, though. My family is, and I doubt we'd be keeping the tickets if they put this in play. Maybe we would pay for the first year of it, but I doubt it after that.