Stadium thread

[OJVIKE]

METRODOME SITE IN VIKINGS PLANS
March 25, 2010
Copyright 2009 MediaVentures

Minneapolis, Minn. - The Minnesota Vikings are focusing on the land under the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome as the best site for a new stadium. The team has been promoting the site in its talks with state legislators.

Lester Bagley, who heads the Vikings' stadium campaign, said there might still be a couple of viable suburban sites, but so far none has been able to offer what the team seeks - an appropriate site that will bring with it political and financial momentum.

"There is a sense that the Minneapolis site offers a lot of advantages, so that's the default site, if you will," Bagley said. "But the door is left open for other sites to come forward."

Bagley and the team's landlord, the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, heard a pessimistic report from the commission's stadium lobbyist, William R. McGrann.

McGrann told commissioners at their monthly meeting that the session's highly charged political atmosphere Ð driven by a deficit of nearly $1 billion Ð will make it nearly impossible for a stadium bill to be introduced in time for serious consideration.

The Vikings' 30-year Metrodome lease runs out after the 2011 season, and Bagley said the team will sign an extension only if there is a bill in place and the team can still play there.

Bagley said the team won't consider extending its lease without a stadium deal.

Among the funding solutions being discussed, he said: using taxes generated by the Vikings and economic activity around the stadium, and creating a Vikings-branded state lottery.

Tension over an extension has caused a rift between the Vikings and their landlord, which wants the Vikings to sign a two-year extension regardless. Still, the sides are working together on some things. The commission announced it will replace the artificial turf before next season and will turn part of the old Twins offices into a hospitality area that the Vikings can rent out.

The turf is estimated to cost $600,000, and the commission capped the renovation budget at $700,000.

Asked if the team and commission have bridged their chasm, Bagley said, "They are our landlord, and we have landlord-tenant issues."

this was an update i found on the viking stadium update page

[dead_poet]

Vikings re-launch stadium website

The Vikings have re-launched a new version of a website designed to keep fans updated and informed on the team's quest to secure a new stadium.

The website's new look -- http://www.MinnesotaMomentum.com -- was unveiled Tuesday and includes information about the stadium initiative and the team's work with the Legislature.

The team's blog on Vikings.com has a story on the re-launch that can be found right here.

"Over the last several years we have heard from many of our fans who want a new stadium, who want the same great experience as people who go to the Xcel Energy Center and now the new Target Field," said Jeff Anderson, Vikings assistant director of public affairs. "These fans want to be involved in the stadium discussions and they want to be part of a solution. Knowing that, we thought it was important to re-launch the Minnesota Momentum web site to give them a place to gather information and become engaged in the effort.

Full article at: http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikin ... :QiU47cQUU

Fun fact: EDITED BY THE GOVERNMENT

http://www.minnesotamomentum.com/

[glg]

EDITED BY THE GOVERNMENT

you've divulged your inside source...

[dead_poet]

you've divulged your inside source...

[dead_poet]

Last month, one of the chief lobbyists for the public entity that owns the Metrodome suggested time was running out for the Vikings to get their stadium proposal discussed -- much less passed -- in Minnesota's 2010 legislative session. This week, however, signs have emerged that the effort has not been totally abandoned for this year.

Mike Kaszuba of the Star Tribune reports that behind-the-scenes discussions have "intensified" and quotes a prominent state legislator saying that a formal bill is close to being drafted. There are five weeks left remaining in the session, but many other state issues -- including K-12 education funding -- have yet to be resolved.

The team is hoping to capitalize on public reaction to Target Field, the Minnesota Twins' new outdoor ballpark that has drawn rave reviews. A new Vikings stadium would cost about twice as much at Target Field; it's projected at $870 million. The team's lease on the Metrodome expires after the 2011 season.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth

[vikeinmontana]

i know life isn't so simple, but i'm still amazed that people in minnesota can look at the buzz already generated by target field and not think that a new stadium for the vikes would also be great for the cities. target field is the talk of the league. tony larussa said it's the nicest ball park in baseball. others have agreed. twins lead the league in the difference between prices of tickets last year and prices of tickets this year...and they have still had more season ticket buyers than ever before. yes, a new stadium will cost some money. in fact a lot of money. but the money and exposure it will bring in will be second to none. see you all at target field soon! we gotta group headed there this summer. GO TWINS! GO VIKES!

GET A STADIUM DEAL DONE!!!!!!!!!

[glg]

[bigskyeric]

i know life isn't so simple, but i'm still amazed that people in minnesota can look at the buzz already generated by target field and not think that a new stadium for the vikes would also be great for the cities. target field is the talk of the league. tony larussa said it's the nicest ball park in baseball. others have agreed. twins lead the league in the difference between prices of tickets last year and prices of tickets this year...and they have still had more season ticket buyers than ever before. yes, a new stadium will cost some money. in fact a lot of money. but the money and exposure it will bring in will be second to none. see you all at target field soon! we gotta group headed there this summer. GO TWINS! GO VIKES!

GET A STADIUM DEAL DONE!!!!!!!!!

I'm making the pilgrimage from Montana in August. Have 4 tickets waiting for me. After seeing Span hit the 1st homer out of the park, and the Minneapolis skyline twinkling in the background, I fully understand why it was built where it was built. It makes the city look absolutely stunning in pictures and on TV. A truly world class Venue. I really hope the Vikings can build off of the twins success. GO TWINS!

[dead_poet]

Racino ante raised: $40M for Vikings stadium
A new proposal would bankroll a Vikings stadium in return for slots at Canterbury. Its chances are uncertain.

Trying to revive interest in a racino -- and capitalize on momentum to build a Minnesota Vikings stadium -- supporters of expanded horse track gambling say they are willing to pony up more for a new football home.

Former Sen. Dick Day, a lobbyist for Racino Now, said Thursday that his group is willing to commit $40 million a year to a stadium if the state will agree to slot machines at Canterbury Park in Shakopee.

The Vikings have said they need as much as $42 million a year to pay the costs of the $870 million project, which has yet to gain legislative approval.

Day estimated that 2,500 slots could generate $100 million a year in profits.

"We think we have the answer to the Vikings," he said. "There's no cost to anybody." Day said that four other broad categories each would receive $15 million a year -- agricultural and rural development, biosciences, early childhood education and the state's general fund.

More at the link: http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/90269617.html

[bigskyeric]

I wonder if the members of nearby Little Six Reservation (Mystic Lake and Little Six Casinos) have any members of gov't in their pockets? Slots at the DogTrack could hurt both of these Dry (alcohol free) casinos. If this plan doesn't work, I'll be very suspicious as it seems like a plan sent straight from football heaven. FINGERS CROSSED

[OJVIKE]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/rumors/post ... nfl,232899

[vikeinmontana]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/rumors/post ... nfl,232899

[dead_poet]

Be prepared to be angry. Then I urge you to post a comment and/or write a Letter to the Editor.

Gall. Arrogance. Chutzpah.

Call it what you will, but the tone-deaf insistence of the Minnesota Vikings and their lackeys in the Legislature to push forward the team's preposterous plans for a megadome funded by the public is simply stunning.

It is time for taxpayers to draw a line, whether they are Tea Party stalwarts, Democratic progressives or Republican conservatives. This is no time for bread and circuses, and the Vikings want us to bake them one helluva cake: A $900 million stadium financed mostly by the public. The fact they can talk at the Capitol about such irresponsible absurdities without receiving a shower of ripened tomatoes is a warning of how vast the disconnect is between the governed and their governors.

http://www.startribune.com/opinion/comm ... c:_Yyc:aUU

[TrenchGoon]

Be prepared to be angry. Then I urge you to post a comment and/or write a Letter to the Editor.
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/comm ... c:_Yyc:aUU

the slot machine seems like a pretty good answer to this in my opinion, and I am the type who would not favor raising taxes to pay for a professional sports teams stadium. Though in my opinion they should already be allowed to have their slot machines and the government shouldn't be able to say squat about it. But anyhow, since we are living in the real world, it seems like a sensible solution that should meet minimal resistance.

[bigskyeric]

My old man believes the slot machine thing will never ever work in Minne because of how much money the Tribes contribute to the DFL. He says the LittleSix tribe alone give $750k a year. So if this plan doesn't work, you'll know who to blame. I don't know the actual numbers, but he named off every tribe and how much each contributes. He gambles A LOT so I trust his figures.