Public money for a new Vikings stadium? Here's where the gov candidates stand.

Posted at 3:21 PM on December 21, 2009 by Tom Scheck (5 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

MPR News questioned all 18 of the major party candidates for governor to see whether they supported public funding to help build a new Vikings stadium. You can read the story soon. here.

Here's a of where the candidates stand and the audio from my interviews with them. As you can see, some of the candidates are carefully trying not to be boxed in on the issue.

Tom Bakk: SUPPORTS WITH USER FEES
He said an income tax surcharge on player salaries, ticket taxes and merchandise taxes are a few possibilities.
"The question isn't how you pay for it. I think the question is what kind of proposal can you generate support for. I think most people want to keep the Vikings in Minnesota. Is it multiuse? Is it a rehab of the existing Dome? Is Minneapolis the right location?" Listen

Mark Dayton: NOT CLEAR
"The Vikings and Mr. Wilf do not need Minnesota, They can move to LA to a privately built stadium... If we build a stadium, we'll build it for the people of Minnesota because it's in the best interest in Minnesota." Listen

Matt Entenza: MAY BE OPEN TO IT
Entenza didn't specify what he would support.
"We're dealing with a very sophisticated property developer and right now he's trying to convince us to do it. Whenever you deal with a property developer, you never take the first deal..." "We have a huge deficit, schools are getting hurt. I don't see a stadium being our top priority." Listen

Susan Gaertner: OPPOSES NOW
"I'm hoping that there will be some kind of rationale discussion that will focus on meeting the needs of the Vikings and a long-range plan and their economics but is also respectful of the fact that our budget situation is as bad as it gets. We can't do it right now, but can we have discussions in longer range ways." Listen

Steve Kelley: OPPOSES NOW
"If we can get to a different point in the economy where we have these other issues under control I'm not opposed to it, but right now is not the time." Listen

Margaret Anderson Kelliher: OPPOSES
"I'm not open to taxpayer financing to the stadium but I'm open to helping." (with infrastructure improvements like roads, etc.) Listen

John Marty: OPPOSES
"I've been very consistent on the idea that taxpayer money should not be used to subsidize private businesses." Listen

Tom Rukavina: SUPPORTS WITH USER FEES
"There's a way that we can bring in money on the people who go to the games..." "Minnesotans should understand that we have a lot of Fortune 500 companies because we have pro sports that enhance our quality of life." Rukavina suggested user fees like ticket taxes, etc. He also suggested that the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission give the Metrodome to the Vikings to refurbish. Listen

R.T. Rybak: OPEN TO IT BUT DOESN'T OFFER SPECIFICS
"If we're ever going to build a stadium it would be right now when up to half of the people in the construction trades are out of work. But we have to make sure it's seen as a lower priority than our schools, our transportation and our health care." Listen

Ole Savior: SUPPORTS
"Go Vikings. I'm the only candidate, Republican or Democrat, saying Vikings, we need a new stadium. We can do it. One fourth for the Vikings. One fourth for the NFL and one half for the Racino/Casino and that they should do it for them." Listen

Paul Thissen: IS WILLING TO USE TIF TO FUND
He suggested using income derived from development around the site to help pay for the stadium.
"I would love it if they did it on their own but it's a public interest. There's a benefit to all of us for having the team here." Listen

Pat Anderson: OPPOSES
"I think it's appropriate to have dialogue and I know that's what has been occurring. But the idea that we're going to spend $200 million in taxpayer money is not realistic and inappropriate. But there are other ways to achieve these goals."
She didn't specify how to pay for the stadium. Listen

Leslie Davis: OPPOSES
"If they want to build a ballpark, they should build it with their own money." Listen

Tom Emmer: OPPOSES
"I support a solution for a Vikings stadium but I don't think you give $700 million in taxpayer money and hand it over to a private business."
Emmer suggested a voter referendum linking funds from a new casino to pay for the stadium. He also suggested community ownership (Green Bay Packers model) or giving Wilf the Metrodome. Listen

Bill Haas: OPPOSES
"They're holding us hostage with that situation..." "If another city comes and says hey, we'll build you a stadium, that's what will happen." Listen

David Hann: OPPOSES
"I still don't think it's a good idea. It's a mystery to me as to why the team is pushing for public financing when everybody is financially strapped." Listen

Phil Herwig: OPPOSES
"I, in no way, can support funding a private enterprise. It doesn't matter if it was the Vikings, the Timberwolves or XYZ company..." "Sometime we have to stop this. We can't afford it." Listen

Marty Seifert: OPPOSES
"Other states have done this so it's not like it's a pie in the sky idea and keep in mind that with the Vikings successful season - they are filling up the dome So people say we can't be competitive in this stadium, really? The team is winning now so what's the issue?"
Seifert suggests the Vikings can rely on the marketplace (higher ticket prices, parking, etc.) and don't need public money. Listen

Comments (5)

Scheck's article on the MPR site says this:

All seven of the Republican candidates for governor say they don't support taxpayer money for a new stadium. Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Delano, summed up the feelings of every Republican candidate.

"I support a solution for a Vikings stadium, but I don't think you give $700 million in taxpayer money and hand it over to a private business," Emmer said.

Yet Scheck's item here says this:

Emmer suggested a voter referendum linking funds from a new casino to pay for the stadium. He also suggested community ownership (Green Bay Packers model) or giving Wilf the Metrodome.

Why wasn't Emmer's offer to give away the Metrodome to the Vikings noted in the MPR article? If giving the Metrodome to the Vikings isn't "handing it over to a private business," what is?

Posted by Karl | December 21, 2009 4:53 PM

Voters should support only a candidate for Governor who would sign their name to this letter:

Dear Zigy:

Sorry, there are No public monies for a new stadium. Minnesota has projected multi-Billion Dollar budget deficits that extend far beyond the expiration of your lease on the Dome in 2011.

You are a billionaire real estate developer who owns the Vikings because of your success at raising funds to make private investments in commercial and residential properties that have positive cash flows for your companies. Perhaps you should reconsider what you can raise in this tough economy to pay for a new stadium for your team. However, should you believe a new Billion Dollar stadium will be a successful investment for you, and you're able to raise the cash, you should build it.

In the meantime you and Favre are packing them in at the Dome. It 's great that the Vikings are winning and making you a profit in this recession. I would advise you to tell your man Bagley to quit his Drama Queen act and negotiate a lease extension with the Sports Facility Commission on the Dome; at least until you raise the Billion Dollars plus for your new stadium.

PS: I hate to be the one to tell you, but stadium blackmail is not Minnesota Nice, especially when 218,000 people here don't have jobs.
If you get a better deal elsewhere we know it 's YOUR Team, and we Minnesotans can't make you keep your word about not moving the Vikings, but that won't stop us from reminding you of your promise to our state.

Posted by Greg Copeland | December 21, 2009 8:22 PM

John Marty's article on how to deal with the stadium is highly recommended reading:

http://www.apple-pie.org/ttp/default.asp?articleid=97

I support community ownership like the Green Bay Packers. The NFL should not be allowed to bar public teams from the league. If the Vikings and the stadium are a community resource, no one person should have the ability to hold the team hostage and demand ransom.

Posted by Colin | December 22, 2009 10:36 AM

Wow, bleeding heart liberal much Colin? We get the same old, recycled tired argument that billionaire owners shouldn't build stadiums for millionaire atheletes.

Guess what, outside of insane Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowgirls, no owner funds 100% of his stadium on his own. Mr. WIlf has been more than fair and patient.

As for the 218,000 people out of work thats just a crutch and an excuse. Employment is increasing everywhere and in every state. Thats not just a MN probem. Its not the Government's job to take care of them. All states have people out of work yet they move on.

This is the same old bleeding heart crap as to why I left that lib state. Instad of building stadiums for the betterment of the state, which all other states do without this much trouble and gridlock, MN talks about education and healtcare.

Don't worry, King Obama will soon have all that taken care of when he socializes medicine leaving more time and money to invest in a stadium in MN.

You don't want MN to become just another corn-hick Iowa state do you where the only interesting thing each year is guessing the yield of corn because that is what will happen should the Vikings leave.

They give the state national swag and you can't put a price on that you whiny obstructionist. Go volunteer at a shelter, bleeding heart.

Posted by Colin: Typical MN Democratic response | December 23, 2009 3:15 PM

Hey Greg Copeland...

stfu and do some research before you know what you're talking about...sorry to tell you...but the Vikings rake in more money than anything else in the state. Lose them...and expect more deficits and more cut jobs...

so screw yourself until you do some research Greg...

Posted by whoever | December 27, 2009 3:41 PM

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