The NFL "put the Minnesota Legislature on notice Friday that failing to deliver Super Bowl ticket tax breaks could hamper the Twin Cities' bid for the 2018 game at the new Vikings stadium," according to Brian Murphy of the ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS. Six league execs "concluded a two-day review of stadium site plans, transportation infrastructure and hospitality venues that local organizers say will help bring the game back to Minnesota for the first time" since '92. However, state lawmakers "are debating whether to grant league-mandated waivers on sales taxes on game tickets and related events during the week leading up to Super Bowl LII." NFL Senior VP/Events Frank Supovitz said, "All of those types of considerations really figure into what the bottom line of a Super Bowl might be and whether it is financially competitive." Murphy noted the Twin Cities "are competing with Indianapolis and New Orleans to host the game scheduled for Feb. 4, 2018." Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority Chair Michele Kelm-Helgen "pointed out that Indianapolis and New Orleans hosted Super Bowls in 2012 and 2013, respectively, after including tax breaks in their bids." She said that Indianapolis reported a $40M net gain "in tax revenue from hosting the game." She added, "What is the tax revenue we're going to leave on the table if we don't win this bid? At some point, people have to look at what the tax gain is that we would be giving up if we're not competitive. If they don't come, we don't have any of that" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 3/15).
