Posted on 03/04/2010 9:05:47 AM PST by MplsSteve
The Vikings' uphill battle to get a new stadium paid for by Minnesota's taxpayers isn't getting any less steep.
A new poll shows that nearly two-thirds of Minnesotans say state funding shouldn't finance a new stadium for the team.
According to a SurveyUSA poll commissioned by KSTP TV, 64 percent of respondents said the state should not help finance a new stadium, which team officials insist they need. Thirty-one percent supported a subsidy.
The Vikings, who have said they won't renew their lease at the Metrodome after their lease expires next year, have deployed a gaggle of lobbyists at the Legislature to push their case for a new stadium.
It has a price tag of an estimated $870 million at a time when the state is facing multi-billion-dollar deficits.
DFL legislative leaders have said that in such an economic climate, there's little appetite for a stadium subsidy. And while Gov. Tim Pawlenty isn't actively pushing a stadium funding plan, he has suggested that state lottery proceeds could be a revenue source.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
But then again, at least that many people were opposed to public financing of a new Twins baseball stadium back in 2005.
But the GOP-controlled state house of representatives and GOP Governor Tim Pawlenty just about fell all over themselves to kiss the butts of Carl Pohlad and Jerry Bell.
Folks, I can't even begin to tell you how strongly opposed I am about this. Back in 2006, I even stopped giving money to the House Republican Campaign Committee because I didn't want one cent of my money going to any legislator or candidate who supported the Twins Stadium debacle.
Unfortunately, we opened up a Pandora's Box od sorts when the Twins Stadium bill was signed. We can't very well tell The Twins "Yes, we'll pay for a new stadium" and then tell the Vikings "No, we wob;t pay for a new stadium".
Worse yet, what's to stop any other business from coming to the Legislature and saying "Hey, you did it for the Twins and Vikings! I've got a business plan and I want you to fund it as well.
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Based on the precedent set by the president if 66% are against then those 66% must be racist. Therefore you will have the stadium jammed down your throughts.
I’m with you Steve. One thing I would mention is the taxpayers of Hennepin country bought the Pohlads their stadium and not the state as a whole.
If they start building right away, Brett Favre might still be the starting QB - just imaging how magical THAT bit of circus would be!!!
I thought the days of teams holding taxpayers for ransom were over, especially in this economy. Here in Jersey, the Jets and Giants each went half on a $1.1 billion stadium, no taxpayer money involved. What was stopping the Twins and Vikings from doing the same? And what’s the problem with one multi-purpose stadium anyway? It’s not like it NEEDS to look like another Three Rivers or something...
Good luck to you. Hope you have more luck stopping this than we did in the Pittsburgh area. We even had a referendum vote that was, if I remember correctly, 60+% against taxpayer funding of the stadiums. The local pols totally ignored the vote and went ahead with the plan anyway.
Coincidentally, I just got off the phone with a Republican party fundraiser. I told him I won't give money to the party because I don't trust them.
The Astrodome (public financed) still has more
money owed then it cost to build it.
The prospect of free money.
Just ask the good people of Montreal how long they spent paying off the Big O, which is now collecting bird droppings.
And the opportunity cost. What could the tax payers have built with that $billion that was sucked out of the economy and spend on a stadium? That question is always ignored when the discussion of what a good deal "investing" in sports statiums is.
I don’t support public funds for this stuff either. FYI. The guy in LA is ready to turn the shovel if he can get a team to commit. FYI, Minn, San Diego and others.
“The prospect of free money.”
I’m all for contraction by contrition. Can’t finance a stadium on your own? Moving to Birmingham or New Orleans not an option? Then you’re SOL. Stay in your million-dollar hovel, drop to AAA, form your own league, or die. Too many Jacksonville Jaguars around, and it’s ruining every sports league.
OOPS, that should say “contraction by ATTRITION”. Nope, I wasn’t an English major...
The Metrodome is not exactly a hovel. Just not enough $10,000,000 private suits to sell.
If anyone wants a primer on this issue, read Free Lunch. Gives the details on how sport’s team owners and other businesses have built their riches with tax payer subsidies and tax breaks.
LOL, contrition is not in the sports “community’s” vocabulary.
Right, it’s not just the sports industry. No town gets a big new company unless they are willing to pay a tax payer bribe.
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