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St. Paul (AP) ― The Minnesota Vikings worked Friday to hitch their stadium hopes to the on-the-move Minnesota Twins bill as the football franchise's owner pressed senators to keep the football plan alive this year.

The state House has passed stadium finance plans for the Twins and University of Minnesota football team but has given little attention to a proposal to put a Vikings stadium in Anoka County.

All three bills are now before the Senate Tax Committee. On Thursday, a Gophers bill stalled on a tie vote after a sports merchandise tax was added. But the committee voted Friday to remove the tax, though it didn't change the 6-6 split.

The committee intends to meet Saturday and Sunday but was unlikely to conclude its deliberations until Monday.

The price tag for the Vikings stadium is $675 million, plus an additional $115 million in highway upgrades and other related costs. Team owner Zygi Wilf and private investors would put in $280 million. A higher Anoka County sales tax and captured state taxes from the development would pay the rest.

It would have a retractable roof, 68,500 seats, a team hall of fame and connected retail, residential and office space. The Vikings say it would bring $1 billion of private investment to Blaine.

Wilf, a developer who bought the team 10 months ago, told the Senate Tax Committee that it should strive to pass all three proposals this year.

"All I'm saying to you is give the Vikings a fair chance to be heard," Wilf urged. "Give us the chance to be discussed in conference committee."

Lester Bagley, a Vikings vice president and the team's longtime lobbyist, was more blunt.

"Splitting the Twins' bill and the Vikings' bill kills the Vikings' bill and kills the Vikings' chances this session," Bagley said.

Bagley said he was frustrated that the governor's office seemed to be working behind the scenes to keep the Twins and Vikings proposal separate.

"We're not trying to split anything up. They're not together right now," said Brian McClung, Gov. Tim Pawlenty's spokesman.

The day before, the chief sponsor of the Twins ballpark plan floated a seven-county sales tax increase to pay for the two pro sports stadium and transportation projects in the metropolitan area. The tax would be a half-cent on every dollar in taxable sales.

Jerry Bell, president of Twins Sports Inc., took a diplomatic stance on the possibility of a joint stadium bill.

"We're not opposed to a plan that gets a ballpark built under acceptable terms. If it's in conjunction with the Vikings, so be it," he said. "You might understand a little bit of nervousness on our part."

Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove, told Bell the anxiety is well-placed.

"If there is anything that's going to be survivable, I personally believe it's got to be a standalone proposal."

On his weekly radio show, Pawlenty cautioned senators about doing anything to derail the Twins bill.

"If they put in poison pill amendments or general tax increases that they know aren't going to be acceptable to me or to many legislators, it's going to be very disappointing," Pawlenty said.

Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson, DFL-Willmar, rejected any notion that stadium bills are getting hung up in the Senate. He pointed out that numerous House committees held comprehensive hearings on the stadium proposals before bringing them to the House floor.

"The Minnesota Senate is going to be financially responsible in these stadium debates and matters, because that is our job," Johnson said.

Wilf has the support of some members on the 12-member committee. Sen. Don Betzold, DFL-Fridley, is the plan's sponsor. Sen. David Tomassoni, DFL-Chisholm, spoke favorably about it.

"This is an opportunity we shouldn't let go," Tomassoni said. "This guy will be here for a long time. He's not here for a quick buck."

Wilf said unequivocally he wouldn't move the team from Minnesota, with or without a new stadium.

Besides Wilf, the Vikings told senators that NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue would fly in to make the team's case if needed.

Johnson said that he expects a full Senate debate and vote on the Gophers stadium next Tuesday, and action on the Twins plan likely a day or two after that. There's also a good chance the full Senate still could take up the Vikings plan too, he said.

"I do believe that it's more than possible that by the end of the session, you will see approval of a Gophers stadium and a Twins stadium, and a good possibility we will move forward in a positive way on the Vikings stadium," Johnson said.

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The Metrodome opened in 1982.

(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)