What should be the public contribution to a Vikings stadium?
Posted at 5:00 AM on October 11, 2010
by Eric Ringham
(56 Comments)
Filed under: 2010 Governor's Race, Culture, Politics/Government
Each Monday now through the election, we'll pose a question on an issue that's pertinent to the race for Minnesota governor. Today's Question: What should be the public contribution to a Vikings stadium?
Independence Party candidate Tom Horner:
Leadership requires candidates to offer details, especially on controversial issues. I'm the only candidate to offer a specific plan for a stadium -- the details of which are available at Horner2010.com. My plan says that those who benefit the most from a new stadium and those who use a stadium will pay for it. The proposal I've put together allows taxpayers who don't want to support a stadium to avoid paying one cent. But I've also said that we won't take up this issue until after we have dealt with the far more urgent matters of the budget, jobs, education and other key issues -- and we won't use a single penny of general revenue money to pay for a stadium.
Democratic candidate Mark Dayton:
Any new stadium must be a "People's Stadium" where the financial benefits to all Minnesotans from the taxes paid by 8,000 people working for three years to build it and other public benefits are greater than any public cost. As governor, I would try to negotiate that good deal for the people of Minnesota.
Republican candidate Tom Emmer:
We need to recognize that our sports teams are businesses, and every business is important to Minnesota. As governor I would work as hard to keep the Vikings in Minnesota as I would to keep 3M and Cargill here. Like every other business we want the Vikings to be successful and we should help them facilitate potential local partnerships that will ensure their future success in Minnesota. Nobody wants to see the Vikings leave and I am committed to keeping the Vikings in Minnesota.
Comments (56)
Nominal
If it's true, as Cory says, that a stadium can actually be profitable, then it should be no problem for the Vikings to find private investors to finance the entire thing. Let them pay for it, and let them reap the profits, if profits are to be had.
It's time to stop the sports teams from sponging off public money.
The question should be "what should the public contribution be for a Community Stadium". The Vikings will use the stadium 10-12 times a year at most. The stadium will be used another 200 days a year at a minimum by the community for non related NFL events (Less the Super Bowl which the state profits from, not the Vikes).
All 3 candidates have it right, there are ways to do this without taking away from education, GAMC or other social issues facing the state. There are ways to structure a deal that the state actually profits from.
At the end of the day everybody is going to be happy as those who support it will pay for it. Those who don't want to, won't have to. Either way, the Vikings belong in Minnesota and are a contributing factor to it's economic engine and cultural identity.
For more on how to support the Community Stadium effort go to www.SavetheVikes.org or www.MinnesotaMomentum.com.
None. The NFL can easily finance a new stadium for each of its teams every thirty years out of the league's TV revenue (eight BILLION dollars per year currently).
Even if it made fiscal sense to spend precious public funds to build a stadium for the benefit of private business, It's completely unnecessary. The NFL will continue to be immensely profitable even without a raid on the public treasury.
When they build the stadium with taxpayer money (because who are we kidding? They will) I hope they build the concourse walls out of brand new textbooks to serve as a quiet memorial to our state's common sense.
I have loved watching the Vikings for over thirty years, but I oppose giving them any money. The NFL and the team owners are running a system of extortion. We all need to be adults and tell the extortionists that if they expect us to pay them (the Vikings' owners) to keep their team here, then they need to leave. Simple as that.
Actually I d be very happy to see them leave. We don't need corporate citizens and wealthy people who expect welfare.
ZERO.
As many have said before me, why don't they open up their own damn checkbooks and build one for themselves? They make more than enough money as it is.
Zero, nada, nunca, NO public contribution to a Vikings stadium.
I don't care if the Vikings leave. Heck, I WANT the Vikings to leave -- who am I Tom, a "Nobody"? Where's the real Conservative here???
Nope, don't like it. Other bona fide needs (education, health care, transportation, public safety) should take priority over subsidizing billionaires.
Now, if the owners are willing to fully open their books to independent auditors so we can assess their "need" and profitability
AND
If the people of Minnesota get an equity stake in the team as a result of a public investment, well then I would be willing to consider a business partnership.
I would rather see money spent on R&D for a Hydrogen economy.
∑
DTOM
If the public funds it, then the seats should be given to the public. The seats could be placed in lotteries and handed out to winners. The funds from the lottery could pay for the stadium. Once the stadium has been paid for in this fashion, then the team owners could collect the ticket revenues. The team, too, would have to sign a lease for 30 years. I don't want this noise to come up again in my life.
Considering how the state legislature ran roughshod over the residents of Hennepin County who wanted to have a say in the building of the Twins stadium, and at the same time making the residents of Hennepin County responsible for the cost, I cannot believe that what we, average citizens want will be of any concern. This is a pure example of what is wrong with our political system, those that have money can manipulate policy to their own ends. The team owners provide politicians with money and glamor. How can we compete with that?
No money should be provided to a sports franchise without an ownership stake. They are big business and shouldn't really need the help. Short of that, there should be no deal.
When will they listen to us? We keep saying NO, but the question keeps coming up. I don't go to see the Vikings so I don't want my money going to support a new stadium. Let the owners and players build it!
Pahleeese. Education first. Football stadium, well, as close to last as you can put it. Pawlenty doesn't seem to believe in funding education. I certainly don't belive in funding football. I already have to drive 4.5 hours (paying for gas as I go) then pay for parking, tickets, a hotel, and food if I want to see a single live game. That's more than enough of my public assistance already.
The public contribution to the Vikings should be reserving to not throttle the whiny punks on sight for asking such a stupid question.
I'd like the Vikings to stay in Minnesota, but only for the game of football, not for a platform to champion standards of public behavior. Sports should be an escape from political angst, not its amplifier. Unless the NFL and its media coverage ceases to tell the public what to value and how to behave, it should be denied public funds.
Have the Vikings thought of moving to Duluth and become the Duluth Superiors? There wouldn't be TV blackouts in theTwin Cities.
First they have to prove they can win a championship!
The gopher's got a new stadium because they promised good things...they stink! I mean really stink.
The Twins got a new stadium and they too promised good things...they ended the same way they always end.
Now the vikings want one, come on man!
Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me, But, fool me three times...
lets highlight some of the Vikings high points...
run a fumble the wrong way (TD for other team), the team transgressions in Brainerd, the moss moon, run over a meter maid, the randy ratio, love boat, favre gate, and no championships (NONE).
If we buy a new stadium for these clowns the state should own a part of the team. Just like in GB. These owners are running an embarrassing circus and want us to pay for it with nothing in return... Not so fast!
Many people in the Twin Cities and wider Minnesota like to have the Vikings in town. They should pay for it, too, for example by personal seat licenses, which could make up for more than half of the building costs. The state should only help to provide good traffic connections to get people to and from the games.
I love the Vikings. I would hate to see them leave Minnesota. I think the owners should foot the bill for a stadium; however I am a realist and know that won't happen. There are plenty of cities/states that would build the Vikings a stadium. I would like to see a private/publically owned mega complex built. A hotel,casino,stadium,entertainment complex could pay for itself and keep the Vikings in Minnesota.
David presents a common argument: the mere presence of the football team generates secondary commerce and sales tax revenue as visitors stay in hotels and shop in the Twin Cities.
By that logic, the state ought to subsidize my day-to-day expenses, because then I would spend more money at area businesses, and would not think about moving out of state when the opportunity arises.
So, to our three gubernatorial candidates: When can I expect my first check?
none.
I'm guessing that if all the Vikings players got together and tossed a few million each in, they could build a pretty nifty stadium on their own.
Alternative 25 is to treat the home games of an NFL team as a service. The procedure should be to bid for the service of an NFL team playing its home games in Minnesota. The winning bidder can play in an existing stadium such as Pipestone, Grand Marais, or an existing stadium in The Twin Cities or they can build one with their own money.
No!
If you believe the right wing groups, government only screws up what they do. Why would the Vikings want a bunch of screw ups build a new stadium for them?
Alternatively, a 1% sales tax on the 80 counties outside of the metro to finance the stadium. The stadium has delux boxes only with seating for 10,000. The team gets a 1 year lease for $1.00. If we want them back we will renew the lease for one year.
No
The NFL is not very serious about keeping the Viks here anyway- but if they stay-
Building a stadium for a mere few home games can be paid for by those who live off the team. The owner, players, refs, team office, sports reporters, bookies and vendors come to mind.
Why bother to ask? We voted no for Target Field for 10 years and politicians went behind our backs and did it anyway. Do we really have a choice? How many of Twins fans who did not want Target Field, voted no for Target Field bought tickets and concessions after it opened? Most Minnesotans are not responsible consumers or they would boycott Target Field on principle.
The Vikings know they can do what they want, there might be a little grumbling but they will build a new stadium one way or another and the fans will go. We have taught them well. Thank you Minnesota!
The Vikings are definitely a state attraction, not only branding the NFL but also Minnesota. However, the bottom line is that the Vikings are just another business enterprise. The public has no obligation to provide the team with a venue. As a business, they should be able and willing to build their own stadium.
If the public must step in and build a new stadium, then the public reaps ALL the revenue from concessions, advertising, private boxes, and non-Viking stadium use. The Vikings will pay game day rental and sales taxes for tickets and football related items. Other than that, they get nothing else.
For the public to fund a new stadium and allow all the revenue to go to the Vikings would be a gross misallocation of available money. That money would not be repaid and in fact, the public will be increasingly out-of-pocket each year. We would be paying the Vikings to play in Minnesota when it should be the other way around.
The Vikings, as did the Twins, may threaten, badger, and even blackmail Minnesota with relocation. In the end, where would they go? There is only one city (Los Angeles) capable of hosting an NFL team and they currently have a choice of three teams (Jacksonville, New Orleans, & San Diego) that could possibly move. The Vikings would be number four.
No public funds for a new Vikings stadium. Not one cent.
Another fishing trip for the Vikings! The public should only pay for stadiums of teams that the public actually owns.
The owner of the Vikings is not even a Minnesotan and undoubtedly has NO allegience to it's citizen's.
Once again the state is being threatened by big business. How do these people sleep at night?
R U CRAZY? couldn't watch the twins playoff even with basic cable[had to go to a bar!] same thing with major vikes. games in previous seasons. Put donation cans at all dome exits so fans can pay for whatever THEY want.
Even I, not a sports fan, can see that the Vikings add a lot of money to the state coffers, not to mention the quality of life, just like the Guthrie, MIA, Twins, Wild, etc. There is a realistic and sensible formula that takes into account the income tax on players, coaches, etc.,sales tax on merchandise, property taxes, as well as secondary loss to businesses and jobs and the effect on the state economy if they were to move to another state. That annual impact should be multiplied for half the projected life expectancy of the new facility...approx. 15 years. That should be the logical amount the state is willing to contribute. The concerts and other events and what they contribute is just an added bonus.
The billionaires, millionaires, and hundred-thousandaires who will profit from and use this football stadium should pay for it. A user tax added to every ticket sold and a payroll deduction from every player, manager, and other participate who profits from the “game” should be how this should be funded. The regular person who is not a fan should not be forced to pay one cent for this private business capital expense.
Money for a stadium? Absolutely not! I WOULD support a $.01 sales tax increase on clothing with the funds going to BUY the Vikings. I'm sick of the Wilfs holding the state hostage! If they want a new stadium, let them spend some of their own billions of dollars. No more handouts and welfare for billionaires!
The Metrodome was designed for football. Congratulions Vikings, you have your own place. Spend half of one players salary and fix it to your liking.
I am going to agree with Khatti. If the Vikings want public funding for the stadium, the public should receive a share of the ownership in relationship to the proportion of funding provided. 50% public funding, 50% public ownership. Do we want a retractable roof but have 70% public funding? Great, then let's have 70% public ownership. As the owner(s) begin to pay back the public funding, we (the public) will sell them back their shares.
In terms of public ownership, it works for Green Bay and if Minnesota stands firm, perhaps other States will do so as well meaning that the team may have nowhere to go. Of course, other states would salivate to give money for a large sports franchise, so they would probably go and fairly quickly.
Nothing! The public contribution needs to support infrastructure, police, fire, education, etc. We do not have enough money for basic services at this point. If the Vikes want a new stadium they need to pay for it, after all, the reason it's needed is because the "poor" owners just can't make enough money at the dome. Not our problem!
Not a blooming thing. I don't even like football. The only good thing about football are the Superbowl halftime commercials, most of which over the years have been sponsored by Bud. Go figure, the worst beer known to humanity making money hand over fist. If that doesn't describe the American consumer I don't know what does. By the way, did anyone notice all the Christmas decorations in the stores already?
For about the millionth time, zero. Quit asking for money for a stadium.
Sigh. I want the Vikings to stay, so I suppose I support some sort of public funding. This is not to be confused with my being really happy about the idea.
I think the Attorney General should see if they can bring the NFL to court and break the ownership clause that forbids a public corporation from owning a football franchise. I still think that if we are going to pay for the staduim the people of Minnesota should own the team. This is the case with the Packers.
On an unrelated note, is MPR going to mention the fact that they got punked Friday the 8th on this posting sight?
While I have enjoyed Target Field this summer (and even last Tuesday in that horrible first game loss to the Yankees), I struggle with how this community can build new stadiums for every sports team. Xcel and Target Center get used at least 40 times each year for pro sports events and numerous more times for trade shows, concerts and other events. A Vikings stadium does not offer the possibility of more than a dozen or so uses each year. The state has pressing budget issues that we can't ignore, so I would have to say 'not a penny' for the Vikes.
I don't want the public to pay anything toward a stadium. I don't care if the Vikings leave Minnesota. I don't like living under the threat that they will leave if we don't build them a new stadium. Spectator sports are ridiculous. Watch the crowd yelling and cheering for rich men beating up their bodies in an artificial contest with everyone surrounded with advertising and artificial hype--dumb!
None, The owners should pay for it them selves. They're the ones making money wether the Vikes win or loose.
Zero. It is absurd to ask the taxpayers to contribute money to a solvent sports corporation. If the corporation does not have the funds necessary to build a new stadium, then the marketplace is not asking the corporation to do so. Stop corporate welfare in this state.
$0, nothing, not a single penny. I am not a fan and do not want to use my taxpayer funds to pay for any stadium. Why don't they just price the cost in ticket price. That way the fans can pay.
A new stadium adds no value to my quality of life and I don"t care if they relocate to LA.
"The Metrodome is an embarassment, and the Vikings/City deserve a more modern facility."
If the vikings 'deserve' a more modern facility, why don't they open their checkbook and treat themselves to one?
My kneejerk reaction is to say: nothing. But am willing to compromise, and perhaps offer a free lease to the metrodome site. Beyond giving up that opportunity cost, I don't think the public should spend one dime on another stadium.
I don't think taxpayers are looking into what typical arrangements are for financing a stadium. t\The Metrodome is an embarassment, and the Vikings/City deserve a more modern facility. It brings more to the city than a handful of home NFL games. There is a reason why a highly competitive team with a loyal fan base is in the bottom 5 for revenue.
Not a penny!!
The public contribution to a Vikings stadium can be attendence at games held in that stadium. Isn't that enough?
Alternatively, if a stadium is built with public funds, the state should receive a receive a matching share of the stadium's revenues.
It's utterly ridiculous that in the current economic climate people are even asking this question.
I had been under the impression that Viking raids ended hundreds of years ago when the Norse were Christianized, but now we're threatened by a Viking raid on Minnesota taxpayers.
None. The Metrodome is perfect for football. If the Vikings had consulted me before bringing back Randy Moss, I might have a different answer.
Get serious. Nothing. These subsidies are so 90's now. The Giants and Jets in Mr Wilfs home atate have payed for thier new stadium, The Vikings can do the same.
Have the tribes from White Earth and Red Lake Run a casino in the immediate area of a new stadium. Have a % of the profits go to covering a portion of the stadium costs. I believe this is similar to what was done in Portland, Oregon for a new stadium complex.
The fund should be a mix of public, tribal, and team funds. The state can underwrite the bonds and pay the interest. The tribes and the Vikings can pay the principal. A regional sales tax could also be applied to the principal.
Regardless of the politics, we need a new stadium. Big business wants to be in a city with all the means to entertain clients and keep the execs happy. If we lose the Vikings, the metro area will become just a cold Omaha.
Nada. Zip. Zero. No more billionaires at the public trough!
Zip! It is time to stop supporting sports teams who pay their "employees" millions of dollars.
why does this always happen sports teams trying to hold the cities/states a financial hostage to their profiteering. I'm no a football fan so I shouldn't have to pay for a new stadium so they can get richer.
NONE! If they want a new stadium, they can buy it themselves. Or get it from the fans that support such a thing.
When I want a new toy, I have to save for it myself. I don't see any MN taxpayers helping me out there.
Zero. We shouldn't use public funds to build places of business.
How many times are you going to ask this question or one just like it?
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