Business

Viking Raid: Minn. Senate Approves Plan to Subsidize New Football Stadium With Nearly Half a Billion Dollars

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP/The Blaze) — The Minnesota Vikings moved to within a governor’s signature of getting a new $975 million stadium on Thursday after the state Senate approved a plan that relies on $498 million taxpayers dollars.

Gov. Mark Dayton has said he’ll sign the measure, meaning the Senate’s 36-30 vote was effectively the final barrier for the stadium. The House passed it overnight.

Viking Raid: Minn. Senate Approves Plan to Subsidize New Football Stadium With Nearly Half a Billion DollarsVikings fans rally in support of the measure (Jerry Holt/AP)

The team chased a new stadium for more than a decade but had little leverage until its lease expired this past year on the 30-year-old Metrodome. Dayton led a newly urgent charge for the team, arguing that without a new building the state could lose its most beloved franchise.

The deal guarantees the Vikings’ future in Minnesota for three decades.

The team would pay 49 percent of construction costs: $477 million, which is $50 million more than owners initially committed. But the public expense is still high: $348 million for the state and $150 million for the city of Minneapolis.

Do the math. That’s almost half a billion dollars.

Viking Raid: Minn. Senate Approves Plan to Subsidize New Football Stadium With Nearly Half a Billion DollarsConceptual art for the new stadium (photo courtesy: USA Today)

Even before the final Senate vote, it had taken on an air of inevitability after the House approved it and adjourned for the year early Thursday. Opponents conceded during the Senate debate that the bill would become law, even as they sharply criticized the state’s share backed by expanded gambling.

Sen. Dave Thompson (R-MN) said he disagrees with “committing taxpayer money to help out an industry that is very profitable and successful,” according to the Wall Street Journal. He said it was “a wealth transfer from the poor…and middle class to the wealthy — to Adrian Peterson [Vikings' running back]“.

Supporters countered by reminding their colleagues of the pain of losing the Lakers and the North Stars to other states in past decades, and said they were inundated with messages from Vikings fans urging them to keep the team here.

“This stadium is the best interest for the state,” said Sen. Julie Rosen (R-MN) who was lead sponsor of the bill. “This investment from three partners is the best for this state.”

Viking Raid: Minn. Senate Approves Plan to Subsidize New Football Stadium With Nearly Half a Billion DollarsVikings fans celebrate the Senate’s approval of the measure.

“It’s time,” said Sen. Geoff Michel (R-MN). “It’s time for us to adopt a framework that allows us to keep a Minnesota franchise. It’s time to keep the Minnesota Vikings here so that our children and our grandchildren, yes, can wear purple.”

Sen. Scott Newman, a Hutchinson Republican who opposed the bill, predicted it would pass. He said the state should be spending its money instead on things like health care, education and infrastructure.

“I know it happens across the nation, but it saddens me to think that our citizens believe that this is a wise expenditure of tax money,” Newman said.

Bagley said the team’s billionaire owners, New Jersey developers Zygi and Mark Wilf, supported the deal even though $50 million of the cost was shifted from the state to the team because time was running out. The Legislature had only two days left to act.

“It is a heavy lift, but it is the right thing to do for Minnesota,” Bagley said after the House vote.

The Vikings intend to take advantage of an NFL loan program, sell naming rights and possibly impose seat license fees to help cover the team’s end of construction costs.

Under the bill, the Vikings would sign a 30-year lease on a stadium to be built on the site of the Metrodome in Minneapolis. The team would pay about $13 million annually in operating fees, though a public authority gets the power to rent out the building on non-game days for concerts, conventions and special events. The Wilfs would get exclusive rights to recruit a professional soccer team to Minnesota.

The bill gives the Vikings the option to upgrade to a retractable roof, but at their expense. Bagley said the Vikings haven‘t decided if they’ll make that enhancement.

Whatever they decide on, it needs to be strong.

After the Senate vote, jubilant Vikings vice president Lester Bagley hugged another team official and shouted, “Let’s build it!“ Vikings fans broke out singing the ”Skol Vikings” fight song and the Senate president admonished them to take it outside the chamber.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Front page photo source courtesy USA Today

Comments (76)

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  • FromSeaToSea
    Posted on May 11, 2012 at 12:01am

    Football is an legal intoxicating drug for zombies. It makes great sense for the State to keep everyone pumped up. When the wake up call comes in the morning the Country will be totally enslaved by the two criminal syndicates wanting the same one world gov. – the marxist UN leadership in America and the international banking cartel out of London. The people are just machines to work, eat, sleep, pay taxes, and banker interest. By the way, UN says knock off
    all the sex. To many people on the planet.

    Report Post »  
    • gemologist
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 12:20am

      Nfl, nba, baseball… And welfare, wic, here in Texas, lonestar .

      What do they have in common?

      If you don’t already know, study late Rome and you will see a shocking coincidence.

      Bread and circuses.

      Report Post »  
    • silentwatcher
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 1:21am

      Ok you sonsabiches,,,,I told you if you used taxpayer funds that I would initiate a class action lawsuit,,,,I meant it. And when that is done,,,,I will still live in Minnesota but will claim my residence in a non taxing state. You dealt the hand,,,,I will play it. I‘m SURE I’m not alone…..

      Report Post »  
    • docgreen
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 3:14am

      @silent watcher
      I’m originally from MN and I just sent to emails to the Governor and Lt. Governor telling them they were F_ing idiots for what their doing! I live in the South but most of my family still lives there! I’m irate seeing what their going to do! I wasn’t sure if these were Democrats or Republicans and just found our both are Dems! WTF are these people thinking? Shovel ready jobs that Obama can count? I’m Livid at the thought of my parents and family members paying more taxes. I asked both Governors the same question. If this was their business and they didn’t have the money, and they had to go to the bank; would the bank lend them the money? I didn‘t think they would and if the Bank doesn’t lend them the money why do they think its OK to take it from the MN tax payers? Then I asked them if they would steal from their own kids futures and or piggy banks? I said their doing Both and they need to be put on Prison!…… Why is it they believe they can steal from the Tax Payers “kids”? Does the Tax Payers get anything from it? No! But they do get something from it “Higher Taxes, Higher Costs for food, beer, suveniers, jerseys, all costing more!” And then turning around and having to pay higher taxes besides! We need to REVOLT and kick them all out of this country, or put them all in prison so they know how it feels to be screwed every minute!…….. _ssholes they all are!

      Report Post »  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 3:27am

      FROMSEATOSEA, Good point. I went to all of the home games during the first year for the Tampa Bay Bucaneers and now look back on those days as a big waste of time. Also, to this day I cannot stand Steve Spurrier and love to see his face every time his team looses a game. Especially to Alabama. These days I almost purposely avoid NFL games except for the Super Bowl. I prefer college football where millionaire crybabies are not whining about simple BS. The games do bring money to their localities, but at these prices it will take decades to pay back those cities and states.

      Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
    • Gorp
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 5:23am

      I’m so glad I live in MN so that my “share” of taxes can go to something I have no interest in and will never use.
      I’ve been to 3 Twins games in my 66 years. The tickets were won by family members and I was offered to go along. If I remember correctly, they lost all three. YIIPEEE.
      I‘ve NEVER been to a Vikings game and have zero interest in going to one in the future but I’m so glad that my money went to help a Billionaire. It gives me that warm feeling all over. No wait! That’s Heartburn… Sorry.

      Report Post » Gorp  
    • Wolf
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 6:01am

      I’ve never been to a sports game, never watched one on Tv, and have zero interest in ever doing either. So how does this stadium benefit me? It’s a detriment to my well being and pocketbook. Just another taxpayer rip-off to feed those who don‘t need it and keep the stupefied zombie even more ignorant and unaware of what’s going on around them. They all want to fiddle with Nero while their world burns down around them.
      Phuching idiots in MN for dhammed sure. Makes me sad to be living here.

      Report Post »  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 6:17am

      FromSeaToSea
      gemologist
      If we give this type of tax payer preference to one company or type of company don;t we have to give it to all of the,?

      Or is it as you both say circuses to keep the masses dumb & happy. Every legitimate business has social utility. The agribusiness, the construction business. Some business have higher social utility? Too keep people pacified?

      Report Post »  
    • johnjamison
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 7:21am

      And Rome built a coloseum for the same reason. Keep the people entertained and the government can run amuck steal their tax dollars. Major league sports only goes to prove that alot of people are sheep. I like Football,baseball,Nascar however if they can afford to pay a single player 12-18 million a season then they better damn be able to afford their own stadiums.

      Report Post »  
    • lawrench
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 10:08am

      Why would a government subsidize billionaires and millionaires at the cost of the taxpayers? Minnesota has a population of about 5 million people, the state runs an annual deficit of 5 billion dollars, and they go and spend another half a billion dollars? I cannot believe the people here has not revolted about this. When will people here in Minnesota realize that only the taxpayer is getting bent over? Who pays the PSL’s? Who will buy the merchandize? Who will pay the taxes to build this thing? Who will get rich on this deal? The owners of the Vikings and the players and coaches. Many do not realize that when the season is over, the players and coaches leave this state and spend no money in sales taxes, they pay no State Income Taxes when they leave. Half of their pay is not taxed in this state.

      Report Post » lawrench  
    • glassaudioguy
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 10:56am

      +1 to your comments, Gemologist. To Silentwatcher, SIGN ME UP for your class action lawsuit! As for the Vikes, let ‘em leave. I don’t pay any attention to sports and resent having to pay for these stadiums.

      Report Post »  
    • rox
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 11:03am

      Vikings games are just an excuse to “tailgate” and get drunk.

      Report Post » rox  
    • johnjamison
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 1:01pm

      Are tax payers of minn. getting free tickets to the stadium they’re paying for

      Report Post »  
    • Leader1776
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 2:39pm

      @docgreen
      Sorry, Doc, but the bill‘s originator and another supporter are both R’s. The Dems don’t have a unique place in this. The R‘s and D’s are both responsible for our current state of affairs in this country. At most it is a matter of degree, but both share in the guilt. A third party is needed ……….. a citizen-centric party not beholding to world banks, corporations, or other special interests. A party that is truly for free markets and is represented by true citizen-statesmen. Maybe we’d actually get back to the constitution.

      Report Post » Leader1776  
  • What_Did_I_Miss
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 11:14pm

    We finally after many years got Republicans into both houses in St. Paul figuring that the
    Tea Party revolution was going to protect Minnesotans from government stupidity.
    ONCE AGAIN…DISAPPOINTED

    Report Post »  
    • docgreen
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 1:22am

      Are these people on Crack? I’m originally from MN. and I can’t believe they forced them into this? So we pay these players millions per year, build them New Stadiums and what does America get? Lets see, higher price seats, expensive hot dogs, more unions, Pushing for this stuff, higher price beers, jerseys and everything else going up! WTF are these people doing? So lets see all these Owners going Bankrupt. Yet who pays for the stadium? Tax Payers!………. Does the Tax Payers get any kickbacks? NO, Cheeper Seats, NO, and whos behind it? The Owners and Unions! Do the people get a voice? Probably not! So what happens to the Dome? It sits Empty!….. Brains on Drugs, everyone who voted for it! Way to go MN!….. You just broke another 10% of the people with Higher Taxes!…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Yep you should ask the Gov. to bail you out! Oh one other thing. Whens the Last time MN has WON the Super Bowl? Has it been a while? If not, you don’t get your NEW STADIUM!… Or all the players take a 50% reduction in pay! Then we’ll build it for you! But NO, the Union steps in and they have to have a new stadium!.. Thats whats wrong with America! People stop buying and building when we can’t pay for the F-ING things! But thats OK, we’ll just ADD to a Bigger Deficit!!!!!!!!!!! SHOVEL ready jobs? NO, the tax payers will pay! WTF is wrong with people? Stup

      Report Post »  
  • TheCoffinMaker
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 11:07pm

    I heard that the majority of the cost for the construction of the stadium is related to a brain surgery clinic located next to parking lot C, just downwind of the tailgater’s porta-potties.

    But as a bonus, and in the off-season, the stadium will be used to house the homeless season-ticket holders and the field will be divided in tracts for their survival victory gardens. Fold-out bench seats available for lard asses.

    Those with losing state lottery tickets will also be honored and embraced.

    Visit the ticket office for beggar’s permits.

    Occupy séances every Thursday night.

    …this country is sick!

    Report Post » TheCoffinMaker  
  • sasquatch08
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 11:05pm

    So sick of this.

    Not one stadium constructed with public money has ever made a single dime (at least not of as when I graduated from college in 2009). Not one. They’re all sold as job creators and a boon for the economy and they end up loosing money every year until the city is stupid enough to build a new one.

    Why do they think the companies that own teams don’t want to pay for them? Because they’re money pits. You use this stadium what? 14 NFL games, call it another 50 events per year (in places where that is allowed), which means the stadium does nothing but sit there and cost you money 351 days a year.

    Report Post »  
    • SageInWaiting
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 10:18am

      Let’s put this into perspective: basketball – the Timber wolves play in their own arena in MPLS; hockey: the Wild play in their own arena in STP; baseball – the Twins recently moved into their new stadium in MPLS; football – the U of MN is now in their new stadium in MPLS; and now the Vikings are about to get theirs. This is not an issue of “a” stadium making a profit, they have 5 facilities competing for outside activities.

      The issues are the competition between Minneapolis and St. Paul for the prestige, and the demand that each team have access to the money from the premium “corporate” boxes… and the tax payer flips the bill. Welcome to the progressive wasteland.

      Report Post » SageInWaiting  
  • GoodStuff
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:28pm

    Pointless… The NFL is dying before our very eyes. Get rid of felons and helmets and maybe you can solve the NFL’s problems..otherwise don’t waste your time.

    BTW, helmets are the reason for the concussion epidemic. Players feel a false sense of security in the helmets and thus, hit each other with their heads. Rugby players don’t wear helmets, so they know to protect their heads, and hit with their bodies. Rugby, with no helmets, does not have a consussion epidemic. Doesn’t take a rocket scientist.

    Report Post »  
    • soybomb315
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:46pm

      goodstuff
      kudos on your helmet theory. I have thought the same thing for awhile now. Nobody would lead with the head if there was no helmet. If you want to give them something, give them those foam helmets they wore on american gladiators

      Report Post » soybomb315  
    • john gault 2
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 12:23am

      Do you know in the early days of football before helmets Teddy Roosevelt was thinking of banning football after several collage players died in one season right? That would mean that they’re were more life threatening injuries than today. You heard that from the lame stream media and believed them. SHAME ON YOU!!!

      Report Post »  
    • sillyfreshness
      Posted on May 11, 2012 at 3:33am

      And the fact that “ghetto” rules have taken over in football. Use yo head to spear people, because dats how we did it in da ghetto. Basically playing dirty and unsportsmanlike. Bringing in undesirables who are just one step away from a prison cell to be star players was the beginning of the end for sports in America. That all stems back to letting people into college who have no business being there just because they can play sports. These pro teams get their players from colleges. Colleges really need to tighten up their standards of admittance. One good start would be to remove the race question on the admittance form. It’s irrelevant and has no place. Your GPA and ACT/SAT score should be all that matters.

      Report Post » sillyfreshness  
  • Blazeanswerman
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:53pm

    How can my state of Minnesota justify this tax increase? How can 8 football games every year be a fiscally sound. Governor Dayton’s family owns Target or did at one time. Guess what? I bet that it will be called Target Stadium. We have Target Center the the Timberwolves, Target Field for the Twins, now we will have Target Stadium for the Vikings. The taxpayer paid the majority of all of these sports arenas yet Target gets to name it. The Republicans that swept the house in 2008 will be driven out in 2012. So much for a Republican majority. All are RINO’s!!!

    Report Post » Blazeanswerman  
    • Baddoggy
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:02pm

      This is one of the reasons I moved out of Houston. They buikt a Basketball, Football and a Baseball stadium. Screw that tax increase..

      Report Post » Baddoggy  
  • progoyim
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:50pm

    better spent here than overseas for the Palestine’s or Israel and the rest of them

    Report Post »  
    • GoodStuff
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:29pm

      Better not spent at all. A billion dollar stadium for only 8 games a year?

      Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 11:02pm

      This State has Lead in the Water… and it is driving all the people to Crazy Acts!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • mharry860
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 11:23pm

      What was the stadium they built 20 years ago that recently got torn down. I read about it somewhere, cost 50 some million to build. When they tore it down they owed 110 million on it, does this make sense to anyone?

      Report Post » mharry860  
  • hersey10
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:44pm

    I don’t see an issue with these kinds of deal , as long as there is a return on the tax payer investment . The ticket , hot dog , beer and jersey prices will be insane .

    Report Post » hersey10  
  • Uncurable wound
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:38pm

    This state SUCKS!

    Report Post »  
  • AeroGNR20
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:37pm

    As a Viking fan in Wisconsin, (just south of Green Bay in fact) I just don‘t know why the Wilf family can’t find a way to pay for the whole thing privately. We could have had this thing done for so much more cheaper and quicker if done so. In the last 12 years, the Cities have opened a stadium for 3 major sports, counting this, the TWolves are trying to get money for their arena, the Gopher football team, and I’ve heard the Gopher Baseball team are trying to get out of the Dome and get a new stadium.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oj-Zyu6hrzI

    Report Post »  
    • soybomb315
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:10pm

      everyone wants to spend other people’s money these days

      Report Post » soybomb315  
  • HorseCrazy
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:37pm

    this is nothing new. I am still paying taxes in wa state for safeco field for the mariners and century link field for the seahawks. don‘t get any of us seattle folks going on the sonics we spent 100’s of millions of dollars on only to lose in the end
    now we are building a new field for the university of wa huskies to play too just tired of this garbage
    http://www.seattlepi.com/local/opinion/article/Seattleites-should-not-have-to-pay-for-another-1256444.php
    http://www.akdart.com/sports.html

    Report Post »  
  • chnswstr
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:08pm

    The old Met Stadium was an open air field, but not good enough. The balloon roof stadium was built as something superior, but now its not good enough. They want an open air field and ritzy sky boxes. Hey folks, ever been to Minneapolis in January? Idiots. It is a single-use venue and a playground for the millionaire boys club…National Felons League.

    Report Post »  
  • lassiegirldawn
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:07pm

    They did the same thing here in Seattle. The people voted down the new stadium but the City Council approved it anyway adding to our sales tax. The game are so expensive to go to the average person cannot afford it. This is just more of wasting our money. The jobs are seasonal so not really helping the economy.

    Report Post »  
  • christos
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:07pm

    …WOW how can poor people afford their spending,,,property tax is included in rent,,when they/government spends taxes go up,,,if this was a private company fine,,the U.S. is burning down it’s financial house and these people keep spending HUGE amounts of $$$ it always hurts the poor not the wealthy,,,they keep everyone down/control financially,,this is their objective —Easy to spend $ that’s not yours,,,Rome is burning and all they want to do is SPEND.Poor people can not afford CAESAR.

    Report Post » christos  
  • stalvan
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:02pm

    What a bargain. In 10 years half a billion dollars is going to be worthless. Time value of money prevails.

    Report Post » stalvan  
    • Baddoggy
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:03pm

      Really thats true. A billion dollars will be chump change when hyperinflation hits…

      Report Post » Baddoggy  
  • Abraham Young
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:59pm

    Minnesota – land of ten thousand idiotic collectivists and their victims who fall for it every single time.

    Report Post »  
  • Midwest Blonde
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:55pm

    Why do taxpayers have to pay for a venue for a privately owned team? What’s in it for the state? Anything?

    Report Post » Midwest Blonde  
  • HI_Don
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:53pm

    Prediction – the state goes bankrupt 1 year after construction completes and then asks for a federal bailout. The tickets, the player and coach salaries, and the facilities are rediculous for U.S. sports. I don’t care what stats you look at or how big you build the arena, there are not enough fans to make this cost effective. Let them play in the back 40 and televise the stupid thing if anyone cares to watch, I don’t. Haven’t watch pro-sport “anything” in the last 20 years. High School foot ball or little league baseball is free and more exciting. These prima donas need to find a real job.

    Report Post »  
    • MAMMY_NUNN
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:24pm

      It probably won’t be completed at all they will have to have union workers so they will milk it out as long as they can.

      Report Post »  
    • MAMMY_NUNN
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 9:26pm

      No sports are the same anymore since they started the slave trade and put a end to hometown hero’s.

      Report Post »  
  • Psychosis
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:49pm

    what is the return on this investment ???????

    half a billion dollars of tax payers money and how long till a return on that investment is realized.

    too bad we dont have any real journalists out there that would actually write stories with actual pertinent information to the subject. but , we sure get a lot of worthless information that has no bearing on topics like the fans wanted them to stay ….( of course they do)

    Report Post » Psychosis  
  • jhaydeng
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:48pm

    As a fan I think that people don’t care about dolllars because it takes their minds off of their current situation. Similarly, shopaholics and alcoholics do the same thing! State level is one thing, but if it were to hit fed level……

    Report Post »  
  • REPUB1
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:44pm

    what a WASTE!!!!!!!!!! for your loser team… hang your heads in shame

    Report Post »  
  • Mr.Fitnah
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:41pm

    What a disgrace.

    Report Post » Mr.Fitnah  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:41pm

    More waste.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • soybomb315
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:40pm

    pathetic. Seems like every sports team these days threatens to leave unless the taxpayers subsidize their monstrous stadiums/complex. Meanwhile, these municipal governments and states are bankrupt

    Report Post » soybomb315  
  • chuck_in_st_paul
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:38pm

    So 100% of the taxpayers have to cough it up for 1% of the population to enjoy watching a football game in a stadium in the cities. And this benefits the rest of us how exactly?

    Welcome to Teh Peoples Republic of Minnesota. It’s a beautiful place but overrun with retards and stupid people.

    Report Post » chuck_in_st_paul  
    • soybomb315
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 8:46pm

      sorry for you guys.

      I‘m begining to be proud that Virginia doesn’t have any professional sports teams….But then again we have DC next door :(

      Report Post » soybomb315  
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