Commentary
Giving the Metrodome to the Vikings would bring a measure of sanity to the debate
by John MartyZygi Wilf and the Vikings are attempting to make their Ramsey County stadium deal sound like a run-of-the-mill, routine proposal. It is not. The Vikings are asking for the No. 1, all-time, biggest taxpayer subsidy of any sports franchise anywhere in American history.
At a time when many families are struggling to pay their bills, the Vikings and their political allies want Minnesotans to put up more taxpayer money than any other community ever - think of that -- to subsidize a team owner.
I joined with Rep. Linda Runbeck, R-Circle Pines, to offer a bipartisan alternative: Give the Metrodome to the Vikings in exchange for a 25 year contract to play in Minnesota. This proposal does not require any public funding. No Ramsey County sales tax, no Ramsey County automobile tax, and no state taxes or fees or other revenues. Taxpayers would be fully compensated for the value of the Metrodome through property taxes, from which the Vikings are currently exempted.
In contrast, the Vikings' Arden Hills proposal requires $350 million from Ramsey County taxpayers, $300 million more from still-to-be-determined state taxes, plus $15 million from the Metro Sports Facilities Commission -- and a sales tax break on construction materials (that's an additional $19 million to $30 million public subsidy), plus a property-tax exemption that is worth several million dollars year after year.
Giving the Metrodome to the Vikings is not a perfect solution, but one that reflects fiscal responsibility and fairness for both the Vikings and the taxpayers of Minnesota. We are by no means alone in wanting a fair resolution. Minnesota voters oppose the use of public money for a new Vikings stadium by more than 3 to 1 (22 percent favor using public funds, 74 percent oppose). Yet the Ramsey County Board and some state officials are talking seriously of a taxpayer subsidy of more than $650 million.
Of course the Vikings' initial reaction to our proposal has not been favorable - who wouldn't prefer a $700 million handout? Recognizing that three of every four Minnesotans reject any subsidy for the Vikings, state leaders should remove the Ramsey County proposal from the table. At that point, when the Vikings conduct an honest assessment of the Metrodome proposal, they will understand the fairness of our offer.
The Vikings' first response to our proposal was to call it a "non-starter." Until recently, Christian Ponder was a "non-starter" as Vikings quarterback. Now he is a starter. Things change. The Vikings need to take another look here.
The only reason any politicians are even considering a $650 million tax subsidy for the Vikings is the possibility that the Vikings could move to Los Angeles. But Vikings owner Zygi Wilf has staked his personal integrity on that matter.
Making it clear that what is most important to him is his family's integrity, he has promised to keep the team in Minnesota: "From Day 1 ... I have promised that I would keep the team here in Minnesota forever... ." When asked whether that's true whether we have a new stadium or not: "Yes, I've stated that from Day 1 ... all I can tell you is this, that I live by my commitment."
Some who claim to be his allies think he will break his promise. So let's compare this Metrodome transfer proposal to the Los Angeles options. The best of the Los Angeles stadium proposals is to give Zygi Wilf the land on which to build his own stadium, at his expense. We would give him the land with a stadium already on it, and he could improve, enhance or rebuild it as he desires.
Los Angeles offers no public subsidy. We offer no public subsidy.
This Minnesota option is a reasonable, competitive alternative. And under our proposal Wilf avoids a $250 million (or more) NFL "relocation fee," and he gets to keep his integrity and a truly loyal fan base.
At a time when most Americans, including the populists from Occupy Wall Street to the Tea Party, are angry at outrageous corporate bailouts, some politicians want to force Minnesotans to pay for the biggest corporate subsidy in sports history. It's time to inject some fiscal sanity into the stadium debate.
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Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, is serving his eighth term in the Minnesota Legislature.
Comments (6)
Not paying a relative handful employees millions of dollars per year each would be the real way to bring sanity to this. If the owners of privately owned professional sports businesses paid their employees reasonable wages they would be able to afford the other costs of running their businesses, including the places where they conduct their business. Taxpayers are not to blame for this flawed business model. The profitability of these business should not be based on the ability of their lobbyists to extract money from taxpayers.
Not paying a relative handful of employees millions of dollars per year each would be the real way to bring sanity to this. If the owners of privately owned professional sports businesses paid their employees reasonable wages they would be able to afford the other costs of running their businesses, including the places where they conduct their business. Taxpayers are not to blame for this flawed business model. The profitability of these businesses should not be based on the ability of their lobbyists to extract money from taxpayers.
I hate sports about as much as a person can, but if we are forced to pay taxes for arts, then why not for sports? I do neither, yet pay for it anyways. Sports contribute $, arts don't. Also, the Metrodome, to put it mildly, is a death trap. I used to have season tickets, so I know. I am surprised no one has been trampled by the crowds, or fallen down the uneven stairs in a drunken stupor. And the roof collapsed! It is also a nightmare to navigate Minneapolis as it is with all the stadiums and conference centers, why add more? Blaine, now Arden Hills, are a more viable option. And, the all who get paid through the Vikings organization contribute through their taxes, of which is half, this I know through personal experience.
When are we going to wake up and stop and think. Yes the economy and job situation is bleak. But by letting the Vikings go we would lose tax revenue on liquor, hotels, bars and etc. Gone would be tax revenue from salaries of players. Gone would be a viable tax resource for our state. Who will replace that money, will it be the arts? Will it be the Twins, the Gophers? Seems to me the only main contributor to our state in taxes is the one we don't want to work with. It will be the average worker that gets to make up what we let leave. Do we not see the jobs this stadium would create? I don't know how anyone could show in writing that we would gain by them leaving. We have more to gain to help fund this stadium. Yes I am a biased season ticket holder for years. But I am a practical person and see not only the tremendous loss for me to lose the team but the financial as well. As for the Dome solution presented I ask have you been to the Dome? It is a nightmare waiting to happen you have 65000 people leaving the dome thru only a couple of doors at each entrance that are opened. If there was any kind of emergency fake or real it would be a nightmare. I am a taxpayer I have been paying for all the other programs that people's personal interests have determined what gets paid for. I see Mr Wilf as an owner that has done nothing but invest more and more money to this team. He hasn't been threatening like all the prior owners. Lets wake up and look at it practically.
Given the state of the economy, this might be the most workable solution. Zygi and the NFL could use their portion of new stadium money to refurbish the Metrodome instead.
I hear the arguments about how old and unsuitable the Metrodome is; but consider this- Green Bay and Kansas City have both revamped older stadiums to keep them viable. Not to mention the Superdome- that thing was trashed during and after Katrina; yet it was cleaned up and expanded to keep it viable.
The same thing can happen with the Metrodome- no matter what Zygi and the NFL say.
Hmmm. Using Sen. Marty's figures, we'd have to recoup in Vikings related tax revenue around $34,250,000 every year for 20 years in order to break even on that public investment. I believe the return on public investment for a new stadium is about zip, whereas statistics indicate return on investment in Early Childhood Education, for instance, is greater than 15%, resulting in a far more productive populace capable of contributing to our growth rather than requiring yet more public funding 20 years down the road. There's no question regarding where I'd rather have my tax dollars invested.
It's not unreasonable to ask the Vikings to do the same thing as many people in the extended metro area have had to do: tighten their belts and make do with less than they dreamed if they want to retain their home place.
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