The Vikings "will have to wait a little longer for a new stadium" after state legislators said that a proposal will "not be on their agenda for a special session" this week, according to Duchschere & Olson of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. State Rep. Michael Nelson: "There's not a lot of support for cutting people off health care, cutting jobs, then turning around and authorizing bonding for a stadium." State Sen. Julie Rosen added, "I strongly feel that we need to stay focused on the budget." Rosen called Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton and Vikings VP/Public Affairs & Stadium Development Lester Bagley late Friday to "tell them that she would not push consideration of the bill in the upcoming session." However, Rosen said that Dayton "may call a second special session later this year to deal with the stadium." Rosen said that the stadium bill "has a few unresolved issues ... such as the state's share of road improvement costs for the Arden Hills site." She added that the bill "needs committee hearings and a chance for public testimony before the Legislature is called back to act on it." Duchschere & Olson noted Dayton "met privately" Friday with Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission Chair Ted Mondale, and "neither commented on the conversation afterward." Bagley "by late afternoon" Friday said that he "still believed a deal was possible for the summer session" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 7/16). In St. Paul, Frederick Melo reported Vikings Owner Zygi Wilf Friday spoke with a "budget-weary" Dayton and "urged him to keep up momentum on talks." Bagley said Wilf "made the case that we've done everything that we've been asked." Bagley: "We're very close to an agreement that would take a couple hours to hammer out. Now's the time to do this. ... They had a good discussion. We're still trying to find a path to resolve it within the next few days, within the special session" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 7/16). However, a Dayton spokesperson said, "The governor is focused on negotiating the final details of the budget at this point" (AP, 7/15).
POLITICAL FOOTBALL: In Minneapolis, Sid Hartman wrote he believes the Vikings "will get a stadium if a special session is called this fall, when the football season is on and the great force of Vikings fans, faced with the real possibility of losing the team, will have a different attitude about the need for a stadium." In addition, the "next big election comes in 2012," and there is a "much better chance of getting a stadium bill passed with the current group in St. Paul than with a new group that would have to be lobbied all over again." But "before any special session focused on a stadium is held, don't be surprised if there is a big drive by downtown executives for a stadium in the Minneapolis farmers market area rather than Arden Hills." Hartman: "There will be a lot of money spent to get that done" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 7/17).
