[Cinciman7]

Monday night's rejection of the proposed stadium plan by a Minnesota House committee could be the beginning of the end for the Vikes to remain in Minneapolis.

[Aargyle]

PFT:

Quote

“We’ve got to get a stadium next year or the Vikings will leave,” MN Governor Dayton said Tuesday, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

He’s right, sort of. The deal needs to be in place by February 15, 2013, or the Vikings will leave. February 15 is the annual date by which a team must inform the NFL or an intention to relocate.

Thus, this needs to happen quickly, if it’s going to happen at all. As a practical matter, the process should get rolling as soon as possible after a November election in which every legislative seat will be up for grabs.

[Tough Guy]

Minneapolis is the key.the whole problem is that the city of Minneapolis doesn't want to bend to keep them but the legislature doesn't want to let them leave minneapolis because of what it would do to downtown. There are a few other sights that want to host a new stadium and it sounds like this one is dead so now they are going to move on to the farmers market sight next to the Twins stadium. Also other sights are Arden Hills and Shokopee whichalso has valley fair ammusement park and a horse racing track. The one thing that would kick this into high gear is the racino which would legalize gambling machines in the state but the local indian reservations that hold the casinos are bucking that pretty hard. It will get done. Its just that ea h side is pushing and trying to play that they have the upper hand here. Things like this almost slays find a way in the 11th hour. Just like the Twins did

[Aargyle]

Owner's plane spotted in LA today. PFT runs down >ten things to know< about this story.

Quote

The Vikings already are following the steps outlined in the league’s relocation policy, which requires a team to “diligently [engage] in good faith efforts” to “obtain a satisfactory resolution of its stadium needs” before informing the league of the existence of a “stalemate.”

The fact that the league directly is involved in the negotiations suggests that the Vikings have indeed informed the league that a “stalemate” exists. If the situation can’t be resolved, the Vikings can then provide formal notice of an intention to relocate, sparking a process that could eventually culminate in a vote by the full ownership. If 24 of the 32 owners agree, the move will be approved.

Many stories I've read put this all down to politics. MN state Senator Scott Dibble:

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The Vikings have asked for the single largest taxpayer subsidy for any professional sports stadium in recent U.S. history, while at the same time refusing to disclose financial information that is required of all other projects receiving taxpayer money. Elected officials are accountable to safeguard public dollars, making the Vikings’ refusal to negotiate in a forthright manner unacceptable. This monopoly industry, filled with millionaire players and billionaire owners, should be more forthcoming with all of us if it wants $600 million in public money. We do know is that the Vikings and its owner will receive over $80 million per year just on broadcasting rights. That will jump to over $150 million per year under the contracts that begin in 2014.

In a down economy with wrath on the rich, the local politicians are pointing out they shouldn't be forced to pay for a new stadium when those tax dollars could benefit other programs. Many that are pointing this out are remaining unnamed: that way they won't be blamed when the Vikings leave. That way the politicians can say now "I am for saving money!" and say later "I was for the Vikings staying here!". The Vikings and the NFL are calling for an up or down vote on the issue, trying to get the politicians on record.

I like the Vikings in LA, they can re-do the divisions. Vikings in NFC-W, St. Louis in the NFC-N (two times zones away and called "west" never made sense to me).

[Tough Guy]

Ya it definelty doesn't look good with zygi going to socal. Im just hoping thsat he was there on buisness or on vaca than seeing the mayor of LA

[Vikings4ever]

Tough Guy, on 19 April 2012 - 02:26 AM, said:

Minneapolis is the key.the whole problem is that the city of Minneapolis doesn't want to bend to keep them but the legislature doesn't want to let them leave minneapolis because of what it would do to downtown. There are a few other sights that want to host a new stadium and it sounds like this one is dead so now they are going to move on to the farmers market sight next to the Twins stadium. Also other sights are Arden Hills and Shokopee whichalso has valley fair ammusement park and a horse racing track. The one thing that would kick this into high gear is the racino which would legalize gambling machines in the state but the local indian reservations that hold the casinos are bucking that pretty hard. It will get done. Its just that ea h side is pushing and trying to play that they have the upper hand here. Things like this almost slays find a way in the 11th hour. Just like the Twins did

There was a plan to build the stadium without spending a dime of taxpayer money.

http://www.minnpost....-plan-seems-doa

Didn't have the support of the anti-gambling GOP, or the DFLers that get a crapload of money from the other Indian tribes.

I hate politics.

[Tough Guy]

I was actually exchanging emails with a few of the state reps today. Sounds like Goodell sent them a reality check big time. They should know that when he comes to town he means buisness. Hopefully they can finally get things right!

[Stalker711]

This is an absolutely horrible time for billionaires to be sniveling about not making 'enough' money in their current stadiums and threatening to leave town. Most states are woefully over-extended financially, running deficits they can never hope to repay, and the not-local billionaire owner of the Vikings is demanding $600M more in tax payer money so they can make more money than they already do.

While I would hate to see the Vikings leave Minnesota, I can't say I disagree with the nameless politicians who can't justify wasting that kind of money on a public works project that will never break even.

Maybe the GSA can share some the money they earmarked for their next great bender to help with the funding.

Didn't Crazy Jerry pay for his billion dollar stadium himself? If not the Cowboys, I recall one team building their own, and reaping all the rewards. Just can't recall which one atm.

Why not hold a state-wide referendum, clearly explaining each tax payers portion of the bill to buy the billionaire a new stadium and require a 75% Yes vote to do the deal. If you are screwing the people, at least let them be part of the fateful decision.

This post has been edited by Stalker711: 21 April 2012 - 02:18 AM

[Tough Guy]

It was Jerry. Infact I made that point to one of my reps yesterday that the supeebowl paid off jerrys stadium. Shows you re power of having a new stadium and getting a superbowl

[Tough Guy]

The thing is that zygi has offered to pay for the stadium and wants total control of it which is rightfully so. But the state said oh no we still want the same as before as far as tax dollars and stuff. And the Wilfs said well if you want that then pitch in and help pay for it then you have the right to get you cut but the state doesn't want to. Basically the state wants the same cut on the taxes and such as if they helped even if they didn't. Which is BS! It'd just a major mess

[Aargyle]

Maybe getting closer to staying. PFT:

Quote

Vikings director of corporate communications Jeff Anderson told PFT by email last night that the bill is now ready for a vote on the House floor, and that it will be presented to the Senate Finance Committee at 9:00 a.m. CT on Wednesday.

Another piece of good news comes from the fact that the Minneapolis City Council passed a resolution supporting the bill on Tuesday. Both the Legislature and the City Council must sign off on a deal that previously was reached by the Vikings, Governor Mark Dayton, and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak.

Of course, there’s a third branch of government beyond legislative and executive — and it’s only a matter of time before a Minneapolis taxpayer files a lawsuit claiming that the plan violates the City Charter’s requirement that any investment of more than $10 million in a sports facility be approved by a public vote.

[Aargyle]

Bill stalled, again. PFT on how the Republicans don't want to get money from gambling sources.

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Mike Benson, a Republican member of the House of Representatives, says he would propose a four-percent income tax on Vikings players, along with any executives earning more than $200,000 per year. Benson also suggests increased sales taxes on sports memorabilia, liquor, and purchases in the stadium, and a sales tax online purchases of NFL merchandise.

[Aargyle]

MMQ

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Actually, it's the first of two D-Days. Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives will debate and then vote on the proposal for a $975 million, fixed-roof stadium next to where the Metrodome stands in downtown Minneapolis. On Tuesday, the Minnesota Senate will vote. The vote must pass in both bodies for the stadium to be built. If it passes -- and the smart political money says it will pass, barely -- the new stadium will be ready for football in 2016. If it doesn't pass, well, no one is saying what will happen. But I can tell you what is likely:

The Vikings will be the prime candidates to move to Los Angeles, following the Lakers and North Stars out of town. When commissioner Roger Goodell went to Minneapolis a couple of weeks ago to sound the alarm about football's future in Minnesota, he told legislators and civic leaders that now they controlled the fate of the Vikings. But if a stadium bill wasn't passed, and soon, the control of the team would be out of their hands. And he's right. The wheels will be in motion for Los Angeles quickly if, by Tuesday night, the stadium deal hasn't passed.

The owners of the team, the Wilfs, have offered $427 million in stadium construction costs plus $13.5 million per year in operating fees (65 percent of the cost of operating the stadium annually). The rest of the cost would be borne by the city ($150 million toward the stadium) and state ($398 million toward the stadium). Because the Vikings were third in line in local stadia -- the Twins and University of Minnesota's football team were in line first -- this will be the final stadium project the city and state will have to support for a while. Even though the Wilfs are offering the third-most money any NFL ownership group has ever offered in stadium construction, it's still a difficult time for politicians to spend public money to support millionaire owners. If the project fails, that will be the reason.

But one other point is clear: If this stadium initiative does not pass, the end of the Vikings in Minnesota will be in sight. And the politicians are in a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don't position. Some fear voting for the bill and getting voted out by the Tea Party types. Some fear voting against it and getting voted out by the Vikings fanatics. Watch for a very interesting week in Minnesota.

[MTskibum]

The vikings have decades of tradition, and the commissioner is going to let a new owner just move the team.



Goodell is the worst commissioner in all of sports.

[Aargyle]

PFT:

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Pat Kessler of WCCO-TV reports that the Vikings stadium bill passed the Minnesota House of Representatives by a vote of 73-58, five more votes than the number needed to advance the bill to the Senate.

Along the way, however, the bill was amended to increase the amount paid by the Vikings and the NFL from $427 million to $532 million. And the NFL wasn’t thrilled with that revision.

It’s not yet known whether the Senate will make a similar amendment to its version of the bill and, if the Senate doesn’t, how the $105 million gap will be reconciled.

Vikes respond:

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“That particular amendment is not workable,” Vikings V.P. of stadium wrangling Lester Bagley said, via the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “[But] I don’t want to take away from the moment.”

As the Star Tribune points out, Bagley didn’t say the deal won’t work with the Vikings and the league paying an extra $105 million. The hope could be that the number is reduced via additional negotiations.

[Aargyle]

Looks like it is time to start looking at Buffalo/Jacksonville. Rams can get out of their stadium in 2014, think LA would want them back?

PFT:

Quote

The Vikings stadium bill has now cleared every hurdle but one.

With a Conference Committee striking a deal Wednesday night on language harmonizing the House and Senate versions of the stadium bill, the Vikings signed off on the revised agreement — and early Thursday morning the House of Representatives voted to accept the deal, 71-60.

The vote consisted of only two fewer “yes” votes in the House, even though the compromise bill reduced by $55 million the Vikings contribution as determined by the House.

“The Vikings and the Wilfs have stepped up,” Vikings V.P. Lester Bagley said, via the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “We’ve made a commitment to secure this franchise.”

The Legislature has stepped up, too, even though plenty of the members don’t like the outcome.

The Senate, which approved the bill by a 38-28 vote early Wednesday morning, will consider the compromise bill at 9:00 a.m. CT on Thursday. If the Senate passes the measure, it will go to Governor Mark Dayton for a final signature.

Of course, the Minneapolis City Council must also approve the final plan. However, a majority of the council members previously have expressed support for the effort.

[Tough Guy]

I love it! Finally its done! My favorite team is getting a new home! As a season ticket holder this is just like christmas to me.