Posted on 05/03/2010 9:54:44 AM PDT by ConservativeStatement
Legislators released their playbook on a $791 million Minnesota Vikings stadium Monday morning, saying only those who benefit from the new complex would pay.
The Vikings are asked to pay $222 million for construction, with another $527 million to be financed over 40 years with $31.9 million in annual proceeds from sports lottery tickets and taxes on hotels, jerseys and rental cars.
(Excerpt) Read more at bizjournals.com ...
Taxes on hotels and rental cars? That seems to be a lot wider universe than just Vikings fans.
Hotel and Rental Car taxes — taxes on people who don’t vote in Minnesota elections.
Maybe they can have a tax on illegitimate children so the players can pay their fair share.
Through a Google search is this:
http://min.scout.com/2/967504.html
The financing would include taxes on room rentals for hotels and car rentals within the stadium district, jerseys, and would introduce a lottery game that would be specific to supporting sports facilities.
Sen. Tom Bakk (DFL-Cook) said taxing sports memorabilia at the wholesale level is one way to assure that the taxes impact the users of the stadium and avoids putting the bill on the general population.
“It gives people all across the state the opportunity to participate in the financing of the stadium,” Bakk said during the news conference.
The bill called for two proposals, one that is site-specific to the City of Minneapolis and one that is not, with the Vikings contributing $264 million of the $791 million cost.
L.A. Vikings in 2012. Bet on it.
...these things always start off good....but slowly things go wrong and the public gets roped into paying up to finish the project....it’s the old “we’re-halfway-thru-we-can’t-quit-now” syndrome...
40 years are they kidding?
I don’t see the taxpayers in LA being interested in building a stadium, and the Coliseum and Rose Bowl are not considered up to NFL standards anymore, are they?
The only team that makes sense to have in LA is the Chargers. They already have a fan base there, they could still build a stadium close enough to San Diego to keep their San Diego fanbase as well.
If the revenues from ticket purchasing sports fans aren't sufficient to cover the cost of the stadium, then don't build it. It clearly isn't important enough to the "fans" to pay the cost of their own entertainment. It certainly isn't the responsibility of tax payers to subsidize their entertainment.
This is a favorite ploy here in AZ, where we are constantly reminded how important tourism is for our economy, yet it seems every time there’s a budget discussion, the plan includes raising taxes on hotels and rental cars.
As you say, most who use those don’t live in the area and hence have no vote on the increases.
Can you say “L.A. Vikings”?
They’ll take a step towards moving, the politicians will panic and cave, and they’ll get a shiny new taxpayer funded stadium. (that’s how it went down in Pittsburgh, and the Steelers had only threatened to move to the suburbs)
This is a favorite ploy here in AZ
Arizona came within a gnats eyelash of having an NHL hockey team pick-up and abandon a taxpayer financed arena that was only five years old.
Court overruling Pawlenty’s unallotment, resulting in $BILLIONS in deficits ought to put a stake in this one’s heart.
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