Vikings fans group springs up to push stadium

A new Vikings fan group has sprung up to push Minnesota lawmakers to consider stadium legislation.

[Mike]

Only if it does not cost a penny to tax payers!!!!!

[brentwho]

Bye Bye Vikes!!

[voiceofminnesota]

why should the state of Minnesota fund a stadium so someone else - probably a billionaire - can make a pile of money off it? I say let the team foot the bill. Except for this year, they haven't filled the dome in years cause they haven't had a winning team in years...why build another stadium they can't fill? why can't they use the brand new baseball stadium? Why is it every professional team needs their own billion dollar taxpayer paid for stadium? Why is it the people who have to pay for it, never get to vote on it? Why is it that not only do I have to help pay for it but then have to pay to get into it as well? You'd think my taxes would entitle me to a season ticket

[Red Foreman]

Get it done Minnesota or look like little house on the prairie, an embarrassment to the rest of the country. Tax money my a.s.s. you just built 2 stadiums with that argument voice of idiots.

[Fred Boreman]

Six people showed up???? That certainly sounds like a groundswell of support from the voting public. How many of those six had the last name Wilf?

[Is the dome still viable]

Curious- can we sell the dome to Zigi Wilf for $1 dollar? Maybe he can then do a renovation for approx $400-500 Million instead of the 900-1 billion he is proposing. With a $250 million commitment from Zigi, A $100 million commitment from the NFL- that leaves a 100-150 million shortfall. I would think that could be made up through seat licenses and user taxes. Maybe some sort of bond sale...not sure how that really works. Full disclosure, I am a season ticket holder and would hate to see the Vikings leave. I believe they do add to the quality of life and overall appeal of the Twin Cities. It has been proven that relevant cities that lose a franchise pay more to get them bakc (It has happened here with the Wild). That being said, in this economic environment, the taxpayers should not be forced to pay for this stadium. I think the above idea could work for both saides. Thoughts?

[r peltier]

Since the vikings are the only tenant of the dome, I propose giving the stadium to the vikes. Let them spend 100 to 250 million to renovate it for football only. Then they like the packers would own their own stadium and have a stake in their community.This would the idle threats of leaving also!

[r peltier]

Should read "this would END the idle threats of leaving also!

[Come on man]

For 10 years, the Vikings have been pushing for a new stadium. Today, a stadium that would have cost roughly 500 million now will cost 900 million. Get off your hands and get something done! Tired of other special interests (twins/gophers) getting their projects funded but yet, a project that would produce 100s if not 1,000s of new jobs just sits there with no resolve. Get a clue!

[Stadium Man]

Hello,

I believe I may have a solution that will even appease the idiots we have in government.

We find a huge area that is by freeways yet not developed. I am thinking where 35W meets 35E uop north by Forst Lake. Ok I live by there so I have a small bias. We build a huge casino / shopping mall and stadium. Think of Skydome in Toronto meets Mall of America.

Ziggi kicks in half a billion. Taxpayers only pay for roads / infrastructure ( water / sewer / utilitly lines etc.) The people in north have a real casino (think sports betting). Ziggi could have a huge parking lot for tailgating at $25 bucks a spot.

However the dog racing may not like it.

Or maybe there is spot in south east corner of Twin Cities some one else could recommend.

[Suckah]

Oh they'll leave like the Nstars, Lakers, etc. Maybe the owner should build a stadium but not let anyone else make money from it - all the vendor money and taxes, all the player's income taxes, all the hotel taxes, etc. etc. WAKE UP - there's a reason why SUCCESSFUL cities all have teams and stadiums - THEY BRING IN MONEY! Stop being class jealous and realize that the fact that zygy has a team here benefits us ALL - he's not the only one who gains from it. If you don't like it then don't buy tickets, don't stay in hotels near the stadium, don't eat in restaurants near it - that's where the "tax" money comes from to pay it. I love how all you nay sayers want him to build his own stadium but you sure like to "own" the team for bragging rights, you sure buy the tshirts and watch the games. I think I DO get something even more than the tax money the team brings in. I'm for a new stadium or whatever it takes to keep them here. The NFL will not let them stay in an outdated stadium - the dome.

[Pretty Boy]

Can you say Los Angeles Vikings?

[JTY]

I just have a hard time justifying $900 million for a sport that will play in the stadium 9-10 times a year. Lets say we build an open air stadium for $600 mil (like the Vikes want). Will the city pull in 2.4 million per game over the next 25 years? That is how much each game would cost just in initial construction fees (not even including maintenance).

[johns6797]

Tack the cost of a new cathedral to football for the Vikes on to the same .015% sales tax surcharge that is paying for Target Field (yes, it's a tax but it's already in place so nothing new has to be created in terms of a revenue source).

Build the new cathedral on the site of the dome while the Vikes spplit time at The Bank with the Gophers for a couple seasons. Also, once and for all, start condemning some of the crap around the dome and put some reasonably priced parking around the new cathedral.

Finally, the bond that is paying for Target Field is due to be retired much earlier than the 30 years projected...even during the recession. So, stipulate that when the bonds that paid for Target Field and the new Vikes cathedral are retired, the .015% surcharge in the sales tax in Henn. Co. is also retired (airtight sunset clause).

Bing, bang, boom; the Vikes stay, no new taxes, Zygi makes a crudload of $, and we don't have to look like a slightly larger version of Cedar Rapids. Everybody wins.

[Thanks Libs]

Dems and their corporate welfare again. Government shouldn't fund your stupid hobbies. Pay for it yourself or get the money from Al Sharptoon. Idiot leech rubes.

[Red Foreman]

johns6797 wrote:

Bing, bang, boom; the Vikes stay, no new taxes, Zygi makes a crudload of $, and we don't have to look like a slightly larger version of Cedar Rapids. Everybody wins.

That would be a slightly larger version of Sioux Falls SD. Little House on the Prairie, that state between the dakotas and Wisconsin. Wisconsin will look like New York compared to Minnesota. You think Wisconsin makes fun of Minnesota now? Wait until you miserly idiots lose the Vikings. You'll just be another little town on the way to Wall Drug. That better not EVER happen you bunch of liberal sports haters. EMBARRASSING.

[Deep Pockets]

$900 million divided by six fans results in a mere $150 million dollars each that they should be prepared to offer as payment for the new stadium.

Never mind that the downtown area around the Metrodome is an economic wasteland. Unless you're a player/owner, football and other seasonal uses of stadiums provide low paying service jobs.

If it's such a good deal, why don't the owners and NFL do it on their own?

[Thanks Libs]

Deep Pockets wrote:

If it's such a good deal, why don't the owners and NFL do it on their own?

Because there's enough idiot rubes who are begging for the chance to to buy more toys for millionaires. They can't live without watching big guys in tight pants apparently.

[Mike]

It will get done sooner than later. The pressure is starting to mount because the lease is running out. The Vikings aren't going anywhere and with a Super Bowl appearance, the Vikings will draw more supporters and less naysayers. If the Gophers got their own stadium with their mediocrity and much smaller fan base than the Vikings, there's no reason the Vikings shouldn't have theirs. How the Gophers got one I still have no idea, except they must have some alumni who know how the right legislators.

[Incredible70]

Just wait a year. If Mayor McSpendsALot wins, he can tie the stadium in with his $1 billion dollar 'Fountains for All' campaign.