Stadium thread

[Cliff]

I hope the Minnesota government refuses to pay one cent towards a new stadium. Wilf and Co have totally #### this franchise up either directly or by giving BC the reigns. I was a solid supporter of public funding, but after watching an entire franchise beg a retired QB to come back, a HC ruin an entire season, half the players on the team quit, they have zero QBs after this season, and the pathetic product the field, I wouldnt support the government giving them a dime. If thats the best they can run a franchise, I cant see why anyone would support giving them money, might as well flush it down the toilet. Wilf is as much of the problem as BC was IMO, totally #### clueless. After yesterday, I wouldnt give a #### if they moved to LA for Mondays game. A bunch of quitters and clueless dipshits.

I don't live in MN but if I did I couldn't see looking at it that way.

As a tax payer you need to be more concerned with the state's economy than with how the team did this year.

How bad will it be for MN if the Vikings move? Is it worth the investment in a stadium?

All teams have good and bad years ... the merits of a team for the community remain the same unless the team is just that continuously bad. The Vikings don't fall into that category. As recently as last year they were in the NFCC.

[mondry]

I don't live in MN but if I did I couldn't see looking at it that way.

As a tax payer you need to be more concerned with the state's economy than with how the team did this year.

How bad will it be for MN if the Vikings move? Is it worth the investment in a stadium?

All teams have good and bad years ... the merits of a team for the community remain the same unless the team is just that continuously bad. The Vikings don't fall into that category. As recently as last year they were in the NFCC.

Yeah exactly, the state needs the Vikings and while things suck now I can't find myself to say "things will keep sucking so bad it's not even worth supporting the team any more."

[purple guy]

I don't live in MN but if I did I couldn't see looking at it that way.

As a tax payer you need to be more concerned with the state's economy than with how the team did this year.

How bad will it be for MN if the Vikings move? Is it worth the investment in a stadium?

All teams have good and bad years ... the merits of a team for the community remain the same unless the team is just that continuously bad. The Vikings don't fall into that category. As recently as last year they were in the NFCC.

Im not sure how bad Minnesota needs the Vikings. I honestly dont. However, I would guess, Wilfs know they need to be putting their best foot forward right now to try drum up support for a new stadium, and this is what the fans get. I doubt the states economy would be drastically effected either way, so I would rather the money go to education, or just about anything else at this point. Building a new stadium wont solve the states budget problems, nor would losing the Vikings. If the crap they are putting on the field now is their best, I would never vote to give them one cent. There are much better ways to use tax payers money than that IMO. The Vikings, right now, are in complete disarray IMO, and even as a pretty die hard fan, they would definately not have my vote or support. The Wilfs are clearly good businessmen, but terrible football people. Not only will I not be surprised if they leave, I wont even be too upset, its just plain disgusting.

[TrenchGoon]

I hope the Minnesota government refuses to pay one cent towards a new stadium. Wilf and Co have totally #### this franchise up either directly or by giving BC the reigns. I was a solid supporter of public funding, but after watching an entire franchise beg a retired QB to come back, a HC ruin an entire season, half the players on the team quit, they have zero QBs after this season, and the pathetic product the field, I wouldnt support the government giving them a dime. If thats the best they can run a franchise, I cant see why anyone would support giving them money, might as well flush it down the toilet. Wilf is as much of the problem as BC was IMO, totally #### clueless. After yesterday, I wouldnt give a #### if they moved to LA for Mondays game. A bunch of quitters and clueless dipshits.

that was a pretty good rant, I enjoyed that.

I am against public funding for any sports team anywhere, but I don't live in the area and have no say in the matter. If people in the state want to fund a stadium for the vikings its fine with me.

[purple guy]

that was a pretty good rant, I enjoyed that.

I am against public funding for any sports team anywhere, but I don't live in the area and have no say in the matter. If people in the state want to fund a stadium for the vikings its fine with me.

Any Minnesotan who would want some of their money to aid in the soap opera that is the Minnesota Vikings is crazy IMO. At this point Id be way more apt to volunteer my time to help them pack their #### into a moving van than I would donate a nickle.

[vikeinmontana]

some of these reactions are pretty knee-jerk. no one was suggesting they were ok with the vikes leaving last season. now after one bad season people are ready to squash any idea of a new stadium and help the team pack up for cali.

bottom line is i hope the people making these decisions look at the big picture and not just how bad this season was. i guess i would agree that if this is the best product the vikes can put on the field than i wouldn't support a new stadium either. however...we all know that this ISN'T the best product they can put on the field! we were almost in the superbowl last year. we were in the playoffs the year before. this is a good franchise with a GREAT fanbase.

letting the vikes go somewhere else would be crazy and i think it would hurt financially as well.

of course we have all seen this before. people will drop the ball and the vikes will head to cali only to win a superbowl in a few years. after 5-10 years the people in minnesota will realize they need football and will build a great stadium and bring in another team. same song and dance...

[TrenchGoon]

Any Minnesotan who would want some of their money to aid in the soap opera that is the Minnesota Vikings is crazy IMO. At this point Id be way more apt to volunteer my time to help them pack their #### into a moving van than I would donate a nickle.

I have no problem with people contributing to build the stadium, I think thats great, but I do think there is something wrong with voting for other people's money to go to such cause. Someone with your views should not be forced to finance the stadium IMO, but if the people of Minnesota want to do that, I will enjoy having my team still in their home state.

[purple guy]

some of these reactions are pretty knee-jerk. no one was suggesting they were ok with the vikes leaving last season. now after one bad season people are ready to squash any idea of a new stadium and help the team pack up for cali.

bottom line is i hope the people making these decisions look at the big picture and not just how bad this season was. i guess i would agree that if this is the best product the vikes can put on the field than i wouldn't support a new stadium either. however...we all know that this ISN'T the best product they can put on the field! we were almost in the superbowl last year. we were in the playoffs the year before. this is a good franchise with a GREAT fanbase.

letting the vikes go somewhere else would be crazy and i think it would hurt financially as well.

of course we have all seen this before. people will drop the ball and the vikes will head to cali only to win a superbowl in a few years. after 5-10 years the people in minnesota will realize they need football and will build a great stadium and bring in another team. same song and dance...

What big picture? All of the Vikings memorable SB victories?? All of the heart and determination they are showing?? If this isnt the best they can produce, what are they holding back for?? We "almost in the SB last year"????? Whoopie, I almost won the lotto last Saturday too, I wonder if my bank will honor a bunch of checks since I almost won it, I need a new truck............#### Vikings.

[vikeinmontana]

well, you specifically said if "this is the best product the vikes have" and i just pointed out that it's not the best product. i have seen a far better product as recently as last season.

look, it's not up to me to tell people how to be fans. if you want to give up on the vikes and volunteer your services to pack them up and move them out that is your choice.

i just pointed out that i find it funny that yourself, and likely others weren't making these suggestions LAST year. if my memory is correct we didn't have any superbowl wins then either. but now, after a crap year, you're ready to send them packing.

as i said, different strokes. who am i to say you're wrong. we all are fans in our own way. i will NEVER stop rooting for the vikes. if they move i will be very, very dissapointed but they will still be my team. it's easier now because we still have family and homes in minnesota but if they move to cali i will still support them.

i just happen to think that it would be very bad for the state of minnesota to lose the vikes. bad season or not. and if it isn't just about this season and superbowl wins.....

....where were all these comments last year?

[J. Kapp 11]

well, you specifically said if "this is the best product the vikes have" and i just pointed out that it's not the best product. i have seen a far better product as recently as last season.

look, it's not up to me to tell people how to be fans. if you want to give up on the vikes and volunteer your services to pack them up and move them out that is your choice.

i just pointed out that i find it funny that yourself, and likely others weren't making these suggestions LAST year. if my memory is correct we didn't have any superbowl wins then either. but now, after a crap year, you're ready to send them packing.

as i said, different strokes. who am i to say you're wrong. we all are fans in our own way. i will NEVER stop rooting for the vikes. if they move i will be very, very dissapointed but they will still be my team. it's easier now because we still have family and homes in minnesota but if they move to cali i will still support them.

i just happen to think that it would be very bad for the state of minnesota to lose the vikes. bad season or not. and if it isn't just about this season and superbowl wins.....

....where were all these comments last year?

In fairness, quite a few people were talking about the long-term stability of the Vikings last year. I don't know if that correlates directly to what you're talking about, but it was being discussed. I know it was being discussed because I was frustrated with the negativity in the middle of a really good season.

I certainly don't want the Vikings to move. They're my team, but they're the MINNESOTA Vikings. So while I wouldn't help pack the truck, I have to admit that it would be hard for me to continue rooting for them if they moved to L.A. or elsewhere. Just as many Baltimore fans can't root for the Colts and many Cleveland fans can't root for the Ravens. It's a betrayal, no matter whose fault it is.

In our case, it's not just the owner's fault -- he can't fund a new stadium himself, and he can't get the legislature to cooperate with him. But when you see other cities getting it done, with great stadiums being built in places like Houston, Dallas, Phoenix, Indianapolis, Seattle, Detroit, Chicago, New York, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and especially Baltimore and Cleveland (whose original teams moved away, ironically, because they couldn't get a stadium), it's pretty damn frustrating.

And it's particularly frustrating in light of the fact that the Twins and Gophers BOTH have new stadiums -- in the same freaking city -- even though the revenue from the Vikings would dwarf either if a new stadium could be built. Obviously it's deeper than this, but it feels a little like somebody thinks the Gophers and Twins are more important to the state of Minnesota and its fans than the Vikings.

[purple guy]

well, you specifically said if "this is the best product the vikes have" and i just pointed out that it's not the best product. i have seen a far better product as recently as last season.

look, it's not up to me to tell people how to be fans. if you want to give up on the vikes and volunteer your services to pack them up and move them out that is your choice.

i just pointed out that i find it funny that yourself, and likely others weren't making these suggestions LAST year. if my memory is correct we didn't have any superbowl wins then either. but now, after a crap year, you're ready to send them packing.

as i said, different strokes. who am i to say you're wrong. we all are fans in our own way. i will NEVER stop rooting for the vikes. if they move i will be very, very dissapointed but they will still be my team. it's easier now because we still have family and homes in minnesota but if they move to cali i will still support them.

i just happen to think that it would be very bad for the state of minnesota to lose the vikes. bad season or not. and if it isn't just about this season and superbowl wins.....

....where were all these comments last year?

As I said, their performance and apparent lack of direction/leadership/long term planning is why my mind has changed. At seasons end, we will have 1 QB on the roster, Webb. And an OL that needs to be completely overhauled. A secondary that couldnt cover high school WRs. A ton of FAs that, rightfully so, wont want to resign with the team. An owner who clearly has the football IQ of an 8 year old. They planned and made made moved based on winning this season or last season, and if that didnt happen, only scraps are left, not a good plan. Gave away a 3rd round pick for a WR that played 4 games, sort of. Traded Sage and kept TJ. Let Chestor go and replaced with a reach in the second that is about as fast as I am. Gave the coach an extension, tons of controll, let him #### the team up beyond belief, then fired him. They clearly just dont get it.

After the Jared Allen trade, every move has proven to be a boneheaded one IMO. I think BC pushed for Allen, it worked out well, so Wilf pretty much let BC run the show, and now we have no show at all. I am not a bandwagon fan at all. The Vikings problems are many, and they start at the top. Im just not sure how they could, with a straight face, ask for financial support after the way the franchise has managed to take a roller coaster ride right out of the league. Not only are they not talented, they have no heart, and seem to have no plan. Tough to get excited to watch them on Sundays, its just a circus both on and off the field.

I dont blame those who support public funding, to each their own. But for me, I dont have enough money to take some and just flush it, hopefully some do. Ill admit, those who support the Vikings and public funding, are better fans than I am, as there is no way I would support that. Ill cheer for them and hope they stay, but I hope Wilf has to pay for them to stay. If the plan they executed over the last 5 seasons is their best laid plan, I think the states money could be better spent.

[thatguy]

After yesterday, I wouldnt give a #### if they moved to LA for Mondays game. A bunch of quitters and clueless dipshits.

No respect.

[J. Kapp 11]

Somebody help me out because I have a few honest questions.

FIRST -- My understanding is that Minnesota law requires a county seeking to raise its sales tax to put the question before the voters.

AND -- if I'm not mistaken, the law also allows a county to seek permission from the state to enact the tax without a voter referendum. In this case, the legislature granted such a bypass to Hennepin County.

SO -- basically, sales taxes in Hennepin County went up 0.15% without voter approval, and Target Field was finally built.

Here's my question: Why is the legislature unwilling to grant the same bypass to Hennepin County this time?

Is it because recent polls show 65% of Hennepin County voters are against a similar tax hike for the Vikings?

Does anybody know what voter sentiment was back in 2006 when the legislature granted Hennepin County the Twins' bypass?

And for the 65% opposed to the 0.15% tax increase ... are you willing to watch the team move away?

Because that's what will happen. Maybe not right away, but eventually. And with it will go all the jobs and economic benefit the Vikings provide the county, either directly or indirectly, not to mention the potential for increased jobs because of the other facilities that are planned around the stadium, such as hotels, shopping centers and offices.

I'm not a Hennepin County resident (I don't even live in Minnesota), so I'm curious as to the sentiment. I don't want to lose the team, but I don't have to pay the sales tax unless I make a trip up to MOA. What's the feeling?

[purple guy]

No respect.

Wasnt seeking any.

[mondry]

Somebody help me out because I have a few honest questions.

FIRST -- My understanding is that Minnesota law requires a county seeking to raise its sales tax to put the question before the voters.

AND -- if I'm not mistaken, the law also allows a county to seek permission from the state to enact the tax without a voter referendum. In this case, the legislature granted such a bypass to Hennepin County.

SO -- basically, sales taxes in Hennepin County went up 0.15% without voter approval, and Target Field was finally built.

Here's my question: Why is the legislature unwilling to grant the same bypass to Hennepin County this time?

Is it because recent polls show 65% of Hennepin County voters are against a similar tax hike for the Vikings?

Does anybody know what voter sentiment was back in 2006 when the legislature granted Hennepin County the Twins' bypass?

And for the 65% opposed to the 0.15% tax increase ... are you willing to watch the team move away?

Because that's what will happen. Maybe not right away, but eventually. And with it will go all the jobs and economic benefit the Vikings provide the county, either directly or indirectly, not to mention the potential for increased jobs because of the other facilities that are planned around the stadium, such as hotels, shopping centers and offices.

I'm not a Hennepin County resident (I don't even live in Minnesota), so I'm curious as to the sentiment. I don't want to lose the team, but I don't have to pay the sales tax unless I make a trip up to MOA. What's the feeling?

Interesting post Kapp, but I have to wonder, if they just put it into effect would any one even notice or care? I mean we're really gonna get all upset over 0.15%? I really had no idea it was only 0.15%, like not even 2 tenths of a percent is what people are freaking out about? I could understand it, in a way, last year or two years ago going through the worst recession in quite a while but yikes, it's time to get back into buying whatever we want right now and worrying about the next recession in another 10 years!

But I'm sure those same people btw are just fine paying social security and medicare each month that they likely won't even get to use because you "have to", lol. I suppose you can see where I stand on the situation, I don't want to get too into it so that's all I will say, just found it interesting heh.