Dayton endorses no stadium proposal, but shows leaning
by T.W. Budig
ECM Capitol reporter
Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton today (Jan. 18) styled the Vikings’ stadium proposal floated by the City of Shakopee last week as meriting serious consideration.
Yet Dayton poked holes in the Shakapee bid, saying it lacked a local financial contribution and relied on racino for funding — a revenue
Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton today (Jan. 18) found fault with all the Vikings' stadium proposals but indicated a degree of support for Linden Avenue proposal in downtown Minneapolis. (Photo by T.W. Budig)
source even if passed by lawmakers that would likely get bogged down for years in courts.
But if Dayton didn’t endorse the Shakopee stadium bid, he didn’t endorse any other stadium proposals either.
“The governor laid out the questions that need to be answered,” said Ted Mondale, the governor’s point man on the Vikings’ stadium issue, of the stadium analysis the governor presented today.
In his analysis of the $1 billion-plus Arden Hills/Ramsey County stadium proposal — still preferred by the Minnesota Vikings — Dayton noted the unwillingness expressed by lawmakers to allow Ramsey County officials to raise local taxes without a voter referendum and how it leaves the county without a stadium contribution.
Even if the state opted to increase its contribution by $100 million, moving the Arden Hills’ stadium proposal forward without the county as a local partner would kick-up the Vikings’ share of the project to $700 million, Dayton explained.
Vikings’ stadium development front man Lester Bagley this afternoon said the team was unwilling to accept a $700 million burden.
Dayton indicated that in his judgement the Arden Hills’ stadium proposal, in reality, was not viable.
Dayton styled the stadium proposals brought forth by the City of Minneapolis as “meager” in detail.
But he expressed more interest in the Linden Avenue proposal — a proposed stadium site on the west side of downtown Minneapolis near St. Mary’s Basilica and the Target Center — than in the Metrodome.
Indeed, Dayton called the Metrodome the “default site.”
In his analysis, Dayton criticized the Metrodome site for lacking the potential for economic development that Linden Avenue promises.
“That’s my judgement of it,” he said.
Concerns have been raised by church leaders at the basilica over the idea of a Vikings’ stadium being built nearby, Dayton noted.
But Mondale said they feel they understand these concerns.
Dayton plans to meet with church officials on Friday.
Minneapolis officials have indicated they prefer the Metrodome over Linden Avenue, in part because it’s less expensive: $918 million over $995 million, respectively.
Dayton down played the cost difference.
Vikings' stadium point man Lester Bagley spoke to the press this afternoon. (Photo by T.W. Budig)
Besides, there would be serious problems if the Vikings would need to play their home games at University of Minnesota TCF Stadium over the three years of stadium construction, he argued.
But he also noted that the Vikings unwillingness to state how much they were willing to financially commit to a Minneapolis stadium project makes a final assessment of their viability impossible.
For his part, Bagley indicated that if the Arden Hills’ stadium proposal was politically untenable, the Vikings were willing to consider a Minneapolis stadium solution.
But Bagley, as he has in the past, said a Minneapolis stadium solution did not merit the amount of investment the team was willing to commit to Arden Hills.
The Vikings were proposing a contribution of about $400 million.
Bagley said the amount of money the team was willing to commit to a Minneapolis stadium solution was for negotiations.
Both Bagley and Dayton were upbeat about finding a stadium solution.
“I think we’re very close,” said Dayton.
“We’ve moved a long ways forward,” he said.
Bagley agreed.
“We feel good,” he said.
Sen. Julie Rosen, R-Fairmont, Vikings’ stadium bill author, in a statement said she would continue to evaluate all serious Vikings’ stadium proposals.
Rosen and other key legislative leaders are meeting this evening to discuss the stadium situation.
“Crafting and voting on a stadium bill is an important goal for us, but it is one of several priorities this session,” said Rosen.
Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer, R-Big Lake, said everyone wants to keep the Vikings in Minnesota.
But she argued the amount of money the Vikings have been willing to chip in towards a new stadium has been inadequate.
“The owners (the Wilf family) have to step up a lot higher into this thing,” she said.
