Vikings Message Board.Com

Though many expect a new Minnesota Vikings stadium to be considered at a special legislative session, there are those who think the increasing war of words between Gov. Mark Dayton and the Republicans who control the House and Senate may prevent that.

One is Sen. Dick Cohen, DFL-St. Paul, who was first elected to the Legislature in 1976 and is one of the longest-serving lawmakers at the State Capitol. Another may be Sen. Dave Thompson, R-Lakeville, one of a group of influential freshman Republican legislators.

The Legislature adjourned Monday with Dayton and the Republicans still at odds over how to solve the state's $5.1 billion deficit, leaving open the possibility of a special session and a government shutdown.

“The acrimony by the time a special session comes around is going to be significant,” said Cohen. “It’ll be a stretch to get the votes for. . .[the state’s overall] budget."
“I’d be surprised if the Legislature will have much of an appetite for anything else,” he added.

“We’ve never seen a budget debate like we’ll have – that we’ve been having, that we will have,” he said. “This is the most intractable situation I’ve seen, and I think by the time we finish, whether it’s the end of June or the end of October, it’s going to be real, real difficult.”

In a separate interview Thursday, Thompson said support for a new Vikings stadium that includes public subsidies was "tepid at best" in the Senate Republican caucus.

"I'd never say never," said Thompson. "[But] I'm having a hard time fashioning in my mind a Vikings proposal that would satisfy all the various concerns within the caucus to make it happen."

Cohen said he expects the stadium debate to be pushed to 2012. But even then, he said, there may be other problems for stadium supporters. “It’s an election year,” said Cohen, suggesting that lawmakers may not want to take votes on such an emotionally-charged issue while trying to get re-elected.

Cohen said he expects the stadium debate to be pushed to 2012. But even then, he said, there may be other problems for stadium supporters. “It’s an election year,” said Cohen, suggesting that lawmakers may not want to take votes on such an emotionally-charged issue while trying to get re-elected.

purple guy wrote:The Wilfs need to make relocation a real possibility IMO. There is no waqy the lawmakers will do anything until they absolutely have to. The only leverage the Wilfs/Vikings have, is to opt to relocate the team. All he has to do is have a dinner or talk with those involved in the LA stadium push and the press will take it from there. I dont care if MN decides to give money or not, but the issue needs to be resloved, and Wilf has been pretty patient IMO, time to make the MN lawmakers #### or get off the pot. Its good he hasnt used the relocation threat to this point, but IMO, its time now IMO. If MN doesnt want the team, find a place that does.

A one-sentence note buried deep within a St. Paul Pioneer Press column caught some eyes around the NFL. Here's what the Pioneer Press' Charley Walters wrote earlier this week: "Spotted at the W Hotel in downtown Minneapolis on Tuesday night were members of Vikings owner Zygi Wilf's management and stadium development team meeting with LA Live! honcho Tim Leiweke and his AEG team that is considering a stadium for Los Angeles."

Let's see. The Vikings have yet to secure financing for a new stadium, and Leiweke is one of the executives behind the proposed Farmers Insurance Stadium in Los Angeles. There is an obvious connection to be made, but Albert Breer of NFL.com reports the meeting was about developing an entertainment district around the Vikings' proposed stadium in Arden Hills, Minn.

We have no particular reason to view the meeting or that explanation with cynicism. But let's also accept, as we noted this week, that interest in and from Los Angeles will only intensify as long as the Vikings' stadium bill remains stalled. That's not fear-mongering. It's an educated assumption based on the real interest of deep-pocketed businessmen in filling the Los Angeles market.

Eli wrote:I wonder how the NFL labor impasse affects the Wilf's decision making process in regard to what to do next.

I would think that it only hammers home the stark reality that the NFL and football team ownership is a business above all else. It's probably the worst possible time that all of this could be coming to a head at the same time.

Ramsey County could issue $350 million in sales-tax supported bonds for a $1 billion Arden Hills Vikings stadium and maintain the top bond rating from New York city agencies, according to a report from St. Paul-based Springsted Inc.

The much-anticipated, seven-page report is unlikely to sway opponents, including St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, of the proposed half-cent sales tax increase, but Springsted found the county's revenue to be strong enough to support the annual debt service on the bonds.

dead_poet wrote:the proposed half-cent sales tax increase

Eli wrote: Is that a 0.5% or a 0.05% increase?

Q What's your strategy going into a special session of the Legislature?

A Right now, we're working continuously with the legislators and the governor's office with the stadium legislation. We understand the budget is of primary importance, and we're working hard to get all the questions answered.

Q How confident are you that the Legislature will even take up the issue, and how confident are you that the plan will pass?

A We believe we will be part of a special session discussion. We've done our part of everything the legislators have asked of us. We've come here with a local partner in Ramsey County and a site in Arden Hills. Now, we're all working together to come up with a financing plan.

Arden Hills really wants to redevelop that ammo site, but everybody's waiting on the Legislature to make the call on the #vikings. And the Legislature, it seems, is waiting for the #Vikings to close the $131 million roads funding gap. Nothing earth-shattering today. Arden Hills has concerns about the #Vikings stadium, but recognizes deal is fluid and kinds could be worked out. WAIT AND SEE, they all say.

dead_poet wrote: Rochelle Olson on Twitter

Demi wrote:His team is going to double in value, supposedly some money coming from NFL. Suck it up and have your little ownership group pay whatever the road money comes to.