Minnesota Facilities Commission Wants New Agency To Manage All Twin Cities Stadiums

Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission Chair Ted Mondale "wants to create an umbrella agency that would have jurisdiction over all professional sports arenas in the Twin Cities," according to Mike Kaszuba of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. Mondale said that Minneapolis and St. Paul have "built too many duplicative stadiums, all controlled by separate governing agencies." Placing all stadiums under one agency "could end the city-vs.-city competition to build sports arenas in the Twin Cities metro area that led to Target Center in Minneapolis and Xcel Center in St. Paul." Minneapolis City Council President Barb Johnson: "You get to the point that these facilities compete against each other." Mondale said that an umbrella agency "could revolutionize the way stadiums and local arenas are built and financed," and that "too often in the past professional teams wanting stadiums have driven the debate, leading to inefficiencies and likely higher public costs." Kaszuba notes the "individual requests are piling up." St. Paul "wants help retiring the Xcel Center's debt," and the independent Northern League St. Paul Saints "want money for a new ballpark." Target Center also has "asked for a $150 million face-lift and the Vikings want a new home that would cost at least" $700M. A "draft copy of legislation for a Vikings stadium is about to be circulated at the State Capitol," and the MSFC today will vote on a "plan to restore the Metrodome's storm-damaged roof" that could cost up to $18M. Mondale said that it is "too early to decide whether a broader umbrella agency would have taxing authority or could assume the public debt of existing facilities, but the idea is being seen as a possible assist for the Vikings stadium" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 2/10).

PAY TO PLAY: The STAR TRIBUNE's Kaszuba noted Minnesota Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk, "who played a large role in last year's unsuccessful Vikings stadium push, is complaining that the Twin Cities business community, despite publicly wanting a new stadium, is providing 'weak' and 'hollow' leadership." Bakk said that there are "few indications that business leaders will back any tax increase needed to help build a stadium." Bakk: "They say they support a stadium, but then they say, 'But we're not going to support new tax increases.' OK, then how exactly are you going to pay for the (state) bonds?" Minnesota Chamber of Commerce President David Olson said, "We're not interested in a new tax to do (the stadium). We still think there's a possibility of getting there ... with both reducing the construction costs and some creative financing" (STARTRIBUNE.com, 2/9). In Minneapolis, Duchschere & Kaszuba noted a month into the state legislative session, there still is no bill to bring a new Vikings stadium "to fruition, let alone any consensus on public financing for it," but "at least there are four possible locations." The Vikings confirmed that they are "looking at the Metrodome site and the former ammunition plant" in Arden Hills, Minn. They "won't divulge the other two sites," but it is "likely they're the area west of Target Field on Interstate 94 in downtown Minneapolis, and Target Corp. acreage in Brooklyn Park near Hwys. 610 and 169." Mondale said that all four sites "have been researched and are large enough for a modern football stadium and necessary infrastructure." But "previous obstacles appear no closer to being overcome," including the lack of a financing plan and the NFL's labor talks. Duchschere & Kaszuba reviewed each of the four potential sites (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 2/9).

HITTING THE LOTTERY: The AP noted the Vikings "partnered with the Minnesota State Lottery and the NFL on a Vikings-themed scratch game just before the team reported to training camp in late July," and the $10 game "has cleared $12 million in total sales, making it one of the most successful games in the state." The Vikings hope to "use some of the money generated to help pay for a new stadium." But Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton "has been cool to the idea of using gambling revenue in a stadium bill, saying it is too volatile to satisfy bond holders who would be looking for a reliable revenue stream to ensure the payments would keep coming in" (AP, 2/9).