Speaker gives Vikings stadium plans little chance

Posted at 12:20 PM on October 5, 2009 by Tim Pugmire

A Republican legislator says the state could pay for a new Minnesota Vikings stadium with the revenue from slot machines.

Rep. Tom Hackbarth, R-Cedar, proposed today letting voters decide whether to amend the state constitution to allow slots at Minnesota's two horse racing tracks, Canterbury Park and Running Aces. Hackbarth introduced a similar plan earlier this year to create a new metro-area casino to fund a stadium. The "racino" idea has also been tried before without success. But with the Vikings Metrodome lease ending in 2011, Hackbarth says the state is running out of time.

"We have to do something about this issue," Hackbarth said. "We have to build a stadium. And my constituents are telling me I don't want taxpayer dollars gong to build a stadium, but I also don't want to see the Vikings leave. This is a perfect solution."

Hackbarth says he has not talked talked to officials with the Vikings or the horse racing tracks about his proposal.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty raised the stadium issue Friday during his weekly radio show. He sounded sympathetic to the Vikings but offered no specific solutions.

"I think it's fair to say the Metrodome has served us well, but it's time is fading," pawlenty said. "And so we've got to figure out a way to keep the Vikings here. We value the Vikings. They're an incredibly important asset to Minnesota."

But House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapils, isn't giving the stadium issue much of a chance next year.

Kelliher, who's also a candidate for governor, says everyone wants the Vikings to do well on the field. But she doesn't think the state can do much about a stadium with a major budget deficit on the way.

"I think it probably has a very difficult time getting traction, Kelliher said. "It's kind of like a truck on bare ice at this point."

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