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Vikings Stadium Funding A Tough Political Football

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Nov 20, 2009 6:53 pm US/Central

Vikings Stadium Funding A Tough Political Football

Reporting
Pat Kessler
ST. PAUL (WCCO) ― The Minnesota Vikings say they are prepared to "move on" if the state cannot build a new ballpark for them.

Thursday night, WCCO reported the Vikings want the legislature to get involved.

The Vikings generate a lot of political heat at the Capitol, but so far not a lot of political muscle. Lawmakers need to tackle a record $7 billion deficit when they return next year. But it doesn't mean there aren't stadium bills ready to go.

State Senator Rick Olseen (D-Harris) said he'll introduce a new stadium bill next year, charging each ticket-holder a personal seat license, and using the hundreds of millions of dollars in revenues to pay for it.

"People that go to the games then, they are investing in the seats," said Olseen. "They are investing in the stadium, and they are paying for it. Literally."

Another bill ready to go asks voters to approve a constitutional amendment to legalize slot machines at Minnesota's two race tracks. Its sponsor said the money slot machines would generate is more than enough to pay down stadium debt.

"It would be privately owned," said Rep. Tom Hackbarth (R-Cedar). "They would own the machines. They would run the facility. The state has nothing to do with it. We would just heavily tax their profits on those slot machines"

The Vikings say giving them the Metrodome won't work, but that's what some lawmakers want to do, and charge ticketholders user fees inside the stadium.

"The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission [should] give it to (Vikings owner) Zygi Wilf," said Rep. Tom Rukavina (DFL-Virginia). "And say, 'Here. You fix it up the way you want.' It's worth a lot of money. That should be worth something."

What's common to all stadium proposals so far: no tax money.

Lawmakers must solve a $7 billion budget deficit, and a political riddle with no easy answer.

"Nobody wants the Vikings to leave, and nobody wants to use taxpayer dollars to keep them here," said Olseen.

Politically, next year is a danger zone for politicians. It is an election year -- bad enough with budget cuts. But it could be even worse if they don't act, and the Vikings leave.

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