There are plenty of Green Bay Packer fans in Minnesota - most of whom migrated from Wisconsin - that follow their the team with rabidness whether they finish 12-4 or 4-12. The typical Viking fans tends to be more of the fair weather variety. This is one of those years when new Viking fans are coming out of the woodwork, passing themselves off as if they've been longtime loyalists.
This brings us to recent support for a new Vikings stadium brought up by two 2010 Democratic candidates for Governor, House Speaker Margaret Anderson-Kelliher and State Senator John Marty. Kelliher announced last week a plan for a "Purple Ribbon Panel" to explore ideas for a new building a new stadium, essentially one-upping Marty after he mentioned the topic a few days earlier.
As long as the Vikings keep winning, more and more candidates, Republican and Democrats, will begin offering more and more support for the new stadium. In the past, both parties have been opposed to public subsidies for "billionaire owners." Republicans are opposed to creating new taxes to fund a stadium (even though that is exactly what happened with the new Twins stadium that will open next year) and Democrats won't spend tax dollars they'd rather see go to education and social services (even though they spent 25 million in 2006 on the Guthrie Theatre and the University of Minnesota opened a new stadium less than three months ago).
I'm like most in the state who'd like to see a new stadium with the Vikes ... but NO NEW TAXES. Some ideas that have been discussed:
- Fund any public subsidies with non-Indian casino revenues. The problem is that Democrats received
bribescampaign contributions from the tribes that run Indian casinos in the state, after promising not to allow non-Indian gaming. Also, many Republicans are not keen on the idea of expanding gambling in the state.
- Make the stadium part of a larger real estate development which Vikings owner Zygi Wilf would control. Wilf has made his fortune in real estate development. If they find the right location, and the deal is sweetened with state and local tax breaks, this could work
- The University of Minnesota Gophers play in the brand new TCF Bank stadium three miles from the Viking's current home, the HHH Metrodome. The Vikings balked at sharing with the U, and the U didn't seem interested in the idea either. The fact that they aren't sharing a stadium boils down to the fact that they don't want to be sharing revenue. This is still a future possibility, but since the U has made TCF Stadium 100% alcohol free, 365 days a year a year, it's much less likely. (Note to the University Board of Regents and President Bob Bruininks: If you sell beer - they will come ... and your ticket and concession revenues go way up)
The Metrodome was built for the Twins and Vikings almost thirty years ago. By the mid 90s' both teams were asking for a new stadium. The Twins wanted to play outdoors and the Vikings wanted to play in a stadium designed around a rectangle, not a semi-circle. Both teams wanted to play in a stadium where they didn't have to share revenues with the other.
In back to back years, the state has subsidized two new major stadiums for the Twins and Gophers. The state of Minnesota started off the year with a 5 billion dollar shortfall in the biannual budget. It seems impossible that in 2010 the Minnesota legislature would find a way to broker a deal for a new stadium for the Vikings, but the 8-1 start has some brought about some unlikely supporters. What if the Vikes win the Super Bowl? What if they don't?
If the Vikings were 5-4 right now, a new stadium deal isn't an issue any candidate would touch. With visions of a championship season, it's amazing how public opinion on the stadium issue changes. Even more amazing is how quickly politicians change their positions in response to the fickleness of public opinion. At the moment expectations for the Vikings are high and if they fall short, their only chance of getting a stadium built in the next ten years will be if they move to Los Angeles. Or, at least threaten to move.
