Minnesota state Rep. Morrie Lanning yesterday said that if Ramsey County “decides to put a Minnesota Vikings stadium sales tax to voters in 2012, the stadium project -- at least in Arden Hills -- is dead,” according to Doug Belden of the ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS. Lanning said, "If somebody wanted to kill the project, that would be a good way to do it." But state Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch “called the prediction premature.” The Ramsey County Charter Commission “will hold two public hearings in the next month and is expected to vote by mid-November on whether to put a question before voters in November 2012 about the county using a new sales tax to fund a stadium” (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 9/22). The Vikings, whose Metrodome lease “expires in February, are focused on Arden Hills as a site rather than downtown Minneapolis.” Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton said, "They don't see a Plan B" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 9/22). In Minneapolis, Kaszuba & Olson note city officials “want at least a $30 million slice of the Metrodome's value, a move that would significantly cut into the money being counted on to help build a new Vikings stadium in Arden Hills.” City officials sent a letter to Dayton on Monday stating Minneapolis had “clear and demonstrable rights” to the proceeds of the Metrodome. Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak yesterday said, "We hit the roof when we heard there was a plan to take proceeds from the Metrodome and use it to build a stadium in Arden Hills." He added the money "does not belong to someone trying to move a business out of our city." Rybak: "We will fight it every step of the way" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 9/22).
STAYING INFORMED: ESPN L.A.’s Arash Markazi noted the Vikings’ ownership group “receives personal updates” from AEG President & CEO Tim Leiweke “whenever there is something new to report.” Vikings VP/ Public Affairs & Stadium Development Lester Bagley said, “We’ve been in contact with Tim and he provides us with updates but our focus is on getting a new stadium in Minnesota. That’s our plan A and we don’t have a plan B.” The Vikings “have also been contacted by Ed Roski’s Majestic Realty Co. which has permits in place to begin construction on a football stadium on a 600-acre lot in the City of Industry.” Bagley: “It’s no secret that the Vikings have been approached by other communities that have said, ‘When your lease expires and if you don’t get your deal done, we’d like to talk to you about an opportunity in our community.’ Our owners are aware of that but we still have time left on our lease” (ESPNLA.com, 9/21).
