This thread discusses the topic: Stadium Chatter

An editorial and a letter to the editor to display there feelings on the subject.

The editorial was out of the St Cloud Times, the Times sports editor Dave DeLand. A quote of his is common, and probably the biggest misconception of the whole whole argument.
[I]t seems irresponsible to even be talking about building a billion-dollar football stadium for a rich guy.
Just like building the fire station is for your benefit, it is not built for the fire chief's. Just like building a zoo is a benefit for you, it is not built for the zookeepers. Just like building a museum is a benefit to you, it is not built for the curator. Just like building a light rail transit system is a benefit to you, it is not built for the conductor. Just like building a new stadium is a benefit to you, one that the state agreed with for pro basketball, pro hockey, and recently pro baseball and college football, it was not built for the "a rich guy". None of these facilities were built for and given to the fire chief, zookeeper, curator, conductor and rich guy, those facilities our ours, the public's, and are intended for our use and enjoyment. It is the fire chief, zookeeper, curator, conductor and rich guy, that we ask/hire to manage each facility to bring us maximum benefit, use, and enjoyment.

If the fire chief said that he needs to replace the old broken down truck that can't do the job anymore with a new bigger and better one to match the growing neighborhoods he must provide protection to, you'd get him one. If the zookeeper says he needs to add a higher fence to the tiger enclosure to ensure the tiger doesn't escape and eat zoo visitors, you'd get him one. If the museum curator says he needs a climate control system to protect the multi million dollar masterpieces from mold and rot, you'd get him one. The conductor needs tracks cleared of snow so you can get to work, you get him a plow. The rich guy says he need a new stadium because he can no longer compete, or you miss the sport not being here, and you get him one.

...All except for the Vikings. You want him to pay for it all, and then you want to use it when he isn't, over 300 days a year for state tournaments, spring baseball, conventions, concerts, shows, etc. Makes sense doesn't it?

One question, do you mind if I use your house for more than 10 months out of every year? It's your house and you should pay for it, but I'm going to use it. Make sense?

I really love your points Luft. it does put it in the light it needs to be put in keep it up maybe you should go to the capital when they discuss this

Steinarr

I hope I am wrong but I just do not see any way the Vikes get a Stadium.

First, A billion dollar stadium in a small market for 10 Pro games a year don't see it.

As for the other other uses the rest of the year a strong argument can be made that there are pawlenty of other veneus.

As a matter of fact both the Excel Center and Target Center are asking for subsidies and the Dome has had very few attractions (monster truck ??).

What has made the dome work all these years has been the fact that the Gophers and Twins also played there.


as I said before if the Vikes leave the person to blame is McCombs. All he had to do was team up with the University for the Stadium. But he was too focused on selling the team at the time (or moving it himself). No he is the real villan in all this.

They could still step in and work out a deal with the Gophs' but I don't see it.

Red is surely the root of evil with this whole topic.

I agree that the 10 pro games won't be enough; but if they do go with a retractable roof they will get a Superbowl (yeah I know Noroof ) and they can bring in larger events.

The dome just plain sucks; the Goph's and Twins didn't deserve their stadiums anymore than the Vikes IMHO.

If they move the team; I'll be pissed; and will just have to find a new team to support because unlike some here, I won't be able to support the Vikes.

It's like Cleveland and Houston all over again....

There were a couple of articles (actually more) yesterday about Zygi's effort to purchase the 5 blocks owned by the Kevin Seifert-less Star Tribune. The 5th block houses the STrib's main building and was the one the Wilf reportedly coveted the most as key to the development deal and wasn't included in the 4 block bid that the Vikes backed out of earlier. He is also talking still with other land owners in the area and doing everything possible to make this happen.

Star Tribune in land talks with Vikings / Vikings, Avista talk again over Star Tribune land deal

There are some great comments after the STrib story along with the "why give money to the rich guy" posts. The very first one has some great logic.
Quick Math

The NFL salary cap is $116,729,000 (most teams spend to the cap) How many employers in the state of MN have an annual payroll of $116 million (I'd venture to say not many) the income tax rate for single people in MN is 7.85%. That means the Vikings Players pay $9,163,226 in taxes to the state of MN each year. The visiting team's players also pay taxes on money earned in MN, so double that to $18,326,453. If you figure that this stadium's life span is 30 years $18,326,453 x 30 = $549,793,590. That number is sure to jump as the salary cap goes up every year. That number is players income taxes only, not to mention the property taxes they're going to pay on their multimillion dollar homes, the sales taxes they're going to pay on their $100,000 SUV's and on and on....Can we as a state afford to lose an employer who's going to generate that kind of money for economy? and how about Joe construction worker and Joe peanut vendor and the guy who owns the restaurant next door and the hotel's that people stay at and the rental cars they get. they all generate $$$$ for the state so those of you people who can only see a $750,000,000 handout to Ziggy so he makes money need to take the blinders off, you're out of your mind thinking that only the rich guy's making money here.
[color=#A7A7A7]posted by dude4894 on May. 14, 08 at 3:14 PM | [/color]
That guy is the featured comment on the story's front page, and so well deserves it. Look at the logic, especially the politicians because it makes good business sense and cents.

If I could, I'd give dude4894 an all expense paid pass to VV anytime he wants one. [But all he has to do is click over here and sign up like the rest of us, but I'd still give him a months worth of Karma for that.]

Skol4life wrote:
The dome just plain sucks; the Goph's and Twins didn't deserve their stadiums anymore than the Vikes IMHO.


What have Gophers done to earn their stadium even a little. I can't believe we'd be more willing to pay for a perennial joke football program that has a combined 275-320-13 since 1951. Additionally, the Gophers aren't going to move to LA.