The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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August 2, 2010

Our View: Candidates should talk about Vikings stadium

The Free Press

Fans watching the Minnesota Vikings training camp in Mankato are most interested in getting autographs, evaluating the performance of injured players and theorizing on the return of Brett Favre.

But they, and most Minnesotans, also wonder about the future of the team in Minnesota. With the Vikings playing their last year under contract in the Metrodome in 2011, it’s time those who want to be the next governor tell Minnesotans where they stand on a new Vikings stadium.

There have in recent years been numerous plans floated for state assistance in building a new stadium, but with pressing budget shortfalls, the issue has been easy to put off.

But with next year’s Metrodome contract expiration and the Vikings leadership indicating they will look to other states if some agreement isn’t reached on a new stadium, the issue can’t be avoided by the next governor and Legislature.

Last week Independence Party gubernatorial candidate Tom Horner sketched out his plan that would have the team paying 40 percent of an estimated $900 million project.

Horner said the state would pay the rest through a penny-per-drink liquor tax statewide, plus revenue from a racino and a tax on game tickets.

So far, Democrats and Republicans in the race haven’t offered stadium plans and have in the past been mostly cool to any proposal.

Democrat Margaret Anderson-Kelliher last session dismissed speculation that the Legislature was considering a stadium bill, saying other budget decisions were more important. That stand was easy to take when she was speaker of the house, but she needs to give specifics on what she as governor would support in a stadium deal or if she will oppose any plan.

Mark Dayton has said that while he supports a racino, he wouldn’t support any of the revenue going to a stadium. What wasn’t as clear is if he would support any public assistance for a stadium.

He and fellow DFL candidate Matt Entenza should be telling voters their position on a new stadium.

Republican candidate Tom Emmer has apparently voiced support for some type of user-based model to finance a stadium, but he hasn’t publicly provided details on what he would support or whether he would actively oppose any other types of financing.

The politically convenient strategy of ignoring the issue of a new stadium is no longer an option. While it may not be the most important issue, it will increasingly become of great importance to a state that is largely fanatical for its football team. The next governor will play a key leadership role in the debate and voters should know now where the candidates stand. 

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