Stadium thread

[dead_poet]

1. It was Gov. Dayton who put the #Vikings on what now looks like a goose chase to find a local partner. Lot of resources wasted. 2. Dayton has been the backer the #Vikings needed on this thing, but behind the scenes, everyone knows he wants it in Minneapolis. Unless the referendum issue flips on its ear somehow, the Ramsey Co. plan as we know it seems dead. Now Dayton can go site-neutral on Monday

Tom Pelissero on Twitter

[PsyDanny]

Is that necessary?
It's not that they aren't wanted. Plenty of people want them. It's just that there are too many selfish, short-sighted people who can't see beyond the short term costs to the long-term benefits.

Jim

If there end up being referendums, I suggest we also start a drive to rescind the "Legacy" tax.
What's good for the Goose....

[dead_poet]

Bagley says #Vikings appreciate guv moving process forward. Says arden hills is preferred site and they are going to work with RamseYCO. #Vikings Bagley says team is eager to see what guv's financing plan is. #vikings bagley says arden hills is ideal site. Says #vikings been talking to RamseyCo today. #Vikings Bagley says all state leaders at the table trying to move forward.

Vikings VP Lester Bagley says decision to require referendum for stadium sales tax increases isn't a setback...still focused on Arden Hilla.

#Vikings Bagley says pulltabs, bonding, memorabilia tax, lottery scratchoff on the table. He says they can find right fit. Bagley dodges question @ whether team would increase contribution to half. Vikings say only thing ruled-out is a local-option sales tax.

Bagley says there is a way to work this out. Bagley says the team has had "zero" conversations with mpls. Bagley says team has been in "constant conversations" with Dayton and Mondale.

[HornedMessiah]

Minnesota politicians have their heads up their ####? Shocking...

Does ANYONE think that 5-10 years from now, they'll look back on this fiasco and think, "Ya...it was a good idea to let the football team leave"? It's almost a certainty that this will be looked upon as a big blunder. How can the elected officials not see that?

[dead_poet]

How can the elected officials not see that?

They want to get re-elected.

[JaredAllenHavoc]

If the Vikings leave, will they keep the name and colors in Minnesota? If they do leave, I would be shocked if they bring back the Vikings in a few years but they will never be the same even if the new Minnesota Vikings win the Superbowl

[dead_poet]

Vikings stadium: Anyone got $350 million?

For weeks, we've been discussing what appeared to be the largest obstacle to the Minnesota Vikings' stadium plan: A state legislature that successfully eliminated all new taxes in the its most recent budget negotiations. Would those same legislators reverse course and agree to a plan that called for raising the sales tax in Ramsey County?

Tuesday, we got our answer: No way.

Gov. Mark Dayton announced there is no legislative support for that funding mechanism, which would have raised $350 million for the project in suburban Arden Hills, without a county-wide referendum. That vote wouldn't take place until next year and, based on history, would almost certainly fail.

So if the Vikings want to move forward with their plan, they'll have to find another source for that money. In a news conference Tuesday, Vikings vice president Lester Bagley suggested electronic pull-tabs, a memorabilia tax and a lottery scratch-off game, among other possibilities.

There have been some strong reactions to this news. Some of you see Dayton's announcement as the effective end of the Ramsey County project. Others think it's the beginning of a site shift to Minneapolis. And all of you are wondering if it's possible to finalize a deal before the Feb. 1 expiration of the Vikings' lease at the Metrodome. After that point, they would be franchise free agents and officially in play for relocation to Los Angeles or elsewhere.

My take: Given the political situation in Minnesota, this development shouldn't be a surprise. Did we expect state legislators to raise taxes for a football stadium when they refused to do so for schools and health care?

Gone is the proposed funding for a third of the stadium's financing. But that doesn't mean state leaders have turned their back on the project entirely. More likely, the Vikings will have to team up with another special interest group, possibly the gambling lobby, to solve multiple issues in one move.

Can that happen before Feb. 1? We'll find out in a matter of weeks. Dayton has said he will endorse a site and funding mechanism by Monday, which would conceivably be followed by a pre-Thanksgiving special session of the legislature. Stay tuned.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_ ... 50-million

[Mothman]

Just me being a pessimist.

I figured as much but most of us are bummed enough already.

Jim

[S197]

Vikings stadium: Anyone got $350 million?

Alright, time to get proactive.

Jim, start squeezing lemons, we need that lemonade stand up pronto.

Dead Poet, you're on bake sale. "Special" brownies if you got 'em.

Cliff will man the bikini car wash.

[Mothman]

Alright, time to get proactive.

Jim, start squeezing lemons, we need that lemonade stand up pronto.

On it!

Dead Poet, you're on bake sale. "Special" brownies if you got 'em.

Cliff will man the bikini car wash.

We'll put on a show and save the Vikings! Craig can direct.

Jim

[JaredAllenHavoc]

Vikings stadium: Anyone got $350 million?
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_ ... 50-million

I thought Zygi has 350 million?

[JaredAllenHavoc]

The purple seats is just fitting for the Vikings and I have to admit that is a beautiful stadium

[PurpleMustReign]

Alright, time to get proactive.

Jim, start squeezing lemons, we need that lemonade stand up pronto.

Dead Poet, you're on bake sale. "Special" brownies if you got 'em.

Cliff will man the bikini car wash.

Cliff wont be wearing a bikini, will he?


I'll start practicing my "erotic" dancing moves.

[purple guy]

Certainly not good news, but not too surprising either.

[thatguy]

The purple seats is just fitting for the Vikings and I have to admit that is a beautiful stadium

Old pictures. Not news.