The effort to build a new Vikings stadium in Ramsey County "gained a big boost" yesterday from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, but by day's end "that momentum slowed to a crawl when a top Republican said no stadium plan would pass the Legislature until the state's $5.1 billion budget deficit has been solved," according to Kaszuba & Olson of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. Goodell met with Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton and said he is "very excited" about the Arden Hills site, adding that the NFL would contribute financially. But state Rep. Morrie Lanning, the chief House author of the stadium legislation, later said that Goodell "did not appear to offer new money on top of the $407 million the Vikings must commit." With less than a week until the state Legislature adjourns, "complications surrounding the 65,000-seat stadium plan in suburban Ramsey County might be too much to overcome." State Sen. Minority Leader Tom Bakk, who attended the Dayton and Goodell meeting, said, "It appears to me that Arden Hills is now the site." But Bakk said that he "also told a roomful of state and NFL officials that the stadium project was unlikely to be ready for a legislative vote by the weekend." He added that the stadium's "overall prospects seemed to be improving but simply would not be resolved by the Legislature's May 23 adjournment." After yesterday's meeting, Bakk said, "There was no urgency" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 5/18).
BATTLE FOR POSITION: Vikings VP/Public Affairs & Stadium Development Lester Bagley yesterday "expressed frustration with what he said were 'hurdles' being thrown in the way of the team's agreement with Ramsey County to build a stadium in Arden Hills." Still, Bagley said he is "optimistic" a plan to build a stadium in Ramsey County can succeed. Meanwhile, state Sen. Julie Rosen yesterday said that she is "considering introducing a bill to finance a stadium -- in Minneapolis." Rosen is the "chief co-sponsor of a framework stadium bill that has already been introduced." She said, "Do you put two bills in, or do you just put one bill? I don't know. That's what we're trying to figure out." While asserting that she "was 'still site-neutral,' Rosen said she liked many aspects of the Minneapolis plan" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 5/18). In St. Paul, Frederick Melo notes if Ramsey County "imposes a half-percent sales tax to cover its contribution" toward the proposed $1.1B Vikings stadium, St. Paul's "general sales tax rate would rise to 8.125 percent -- the highest in Minnesota." Ramsey County Commissioners Tony Bennett and Rafael Ortega said that "if the Legislature approves its share of the cost, the county is ready to add a half-cent sales tax to every dollar of goods and services bought within the county to fund its portion" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 5/18).
