Links (updated 4/19/2012):
HF 2810 (Lanning bill) Bill text
HF 2995 (Mahoney bill) Bill text
SF2599 (Metzen bill; Senate companion of HF 2995)
SF 2127 (Chamberlain bill) Bill text
Multiple bills related to gambling (Rep. John Kriesel)
Vikings stadium needs "miracle" after Minnesota House committee defeat (4/16/2012)
Tom Goldstein's cover story in City Pages, "Vikings Stadium Proposal isn't for the 'People'" (3/14/2012)
Funding questions quickly sideline Vikings stadium bill (MinnPost article) (3/14/2012)
Five Things They're Not Telling You About the Vikings Stadium (MinnPost article) (3/12/2012)
Rolnick and Rybak debate whether public money should go into stadium (MPR article, audio clip is on same page) (3/14/2012)
Hamilton County, Ohio forced to sell hospital to pay new stadium debt in Cincinnati (Huffington Post article) (3/16/2012)
St. Paul stadium opponents hold the line in St. Paul (MPR article) (3/13/2012)
Articles about the March 14, 2012 Senate Local Government & Elections Committee hearing:
Vikings stadium bill stalls at first hearing (Star Tribune)
Vikings stadium bill tabled (ECM Newspapers)
Senate committee vote on Vikings stadium delayed indefinitely (MPR)
If you read only one article about government and taxpayers getting involved in stadium funding — this is one of the best reports we have ever seen on the subject! It was published in the Dec. 2011 issue of Governing Magazine. Here's the link to the article on the web and a PDF file (900k) of the same article.
Can Electronic Pull-Tabs bring in enough revenue for a stadium? MinnPost (3/7/2012)
How the Stadium Deal Shakes Out MinnPost (3/1/2012)
The Vadnais Heights City Council has a special meeting Wednesday to talk about giving another loan to the Vadnais Sports Center, if the facility does not have enough money to make its next bond payment. About $581,000 is due on Feb. 1. Star Tribune article (1/22/2012)
Link to video of the Dec. 20, 2011 Ramsey County Board meeting. Click to Agenda Item 10.22 on the left side, under the video window. This is the portion of the meeting dealing with the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for an architect on the stadium plan. Commissioner Janice Rettman offers her misgivings about issuing an RFQ, while Commrs. Reinhardt and Ortega complain about the legislature's foot-dragging, saying “it's their job” to bring the proposal to a conclusion. Download the excerpt from the meeting packet, which is a small PDF file.
Governor's Press Conference Feb. 10, 2012 Gov. Dayton heaps praise on Ramsey County officials and damns the Minneapolis City Council as a bunch of potshot artists carping about something they should fully support, even though Minneapolis residents are against the plan. Video of the press conference.
"Deadline Day" Jan. 12 press conference. PDF file (11 MB) of document entitled “Ramsey County proposal to build a People's Stadium in Arden Hills (Jan. 12, 2012) submitted at the request of Gov. Mark Dayton, Sen. Julie Rosen and Rep. Morrie Lanning”. County Commissioner Tony Bennett proposes again a 3% Food and Beverage (sales) tax in Ramsey County. Video clip of the press conference.
Recent additions to Ramsey County's stadium document collection. Go to the county's front page to see these documents:
Ramsey County Stadium Development Proposal, Jan. 12, 2012
Ramsey County/Minnesota Vikings Updated Principles of Agreement, January 11, 2012
Vikings Letter to Minneapolis, Jan. 9, 2012
Gov. Dayton Letter to Ramsey County, Jan. 5, 2012
TCAAP Remediation Request for Qualifications, Dec. 20, 2011
Board Resolution Authorizing RFQu, Dec. 20, 2011
Ramsey County Response to Legislative Hearings, Dec. 15, 2011
Springsted Report on Special Local Taxes, Dec. 15, 2011
Gray Plant Mooty Letter on Financing Options, Dec. 15, 2011
Stadium Development Benefits, revised Nov. 22, 2011
Minneapolis perspective on the stadium Ed Kohler's blog
Gov. Dayton's $775 million bonding bill includes $27 million of state taxpayer dollars for Saints stadium in downtown St. Paul.
MinnPost, Jan. 13 article
MinnPost, Jan. 17 article
PDF file of bonding bill specifics
Associated Press article Jan. 17
St. Paul mayor Chris Coleman's enthusiastic support for Saints stadium bill (1/17/2012 press release)
Dec. 13, 2011 Ramsey County Board meeting. A line-item accounting of the county's stadium expenditures through Nov. 22 that totaled over $342,000 was presented to the Ramsey County Board at this meeting. The information was requested of the County Manager by County Commissioner Janice Rettman, who estimates at least another $300,000 to $500,000 worth of county staff time has been spent on the project. The line item expense sheets do not include that figure. To download the document, use this link. (If you can't open the file, change the .php on the file name to .pdf and it will open as a PDF).
Don Poss, former Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission official in charge of the Metrodome construction offers his views of today's stadium issues 12/4/2011 Star Tribune article
A Stadium's Costly Legacy Throws Taxpayers for a Loss (Wall Street Journal, 7/12/2011) Sobering story of a county funding a stadium in Cincinnati. Says the article, "one of the worst professional sports deals ever struck by a local government — soaking up unprecedented tax dollars and county resources while returning little economic benefit . . ."
Field of Schemes Feb. 13 article "Minnesotans tell Vikings to take new stadium and shove it" (2/13/2012); Jan. 5, 2012 article
Stop the Subsidy-Sucking Sports Stadiums by Neil DeMause, 8/5/2011 (The Nation)
Minnesota Historical Society statement opposing the use of Legacy Amendment funds for Vikings Stadium
VIDEO: LIBERTARIAN VIEWPOINT with Sue Jeffers and guest Blake Huffman on the Arden Hills stadium plan PART 1 (8:33) PART 2 (12:13) Part 3 (7:44)
Contact House Leaders
Contact Senate Leaders
Contact the Ramsey County Board
NO SUBSIDIES FOR
BILLIONAIRES!
Q: Should the super wealthy owners of the Vikings get a brand new stadium in Arden Hills—paid for by your tax dollars?
Q: Should the state legislature, the Governor, and the Ramsey County Board be able to deny your right to vote on a sales tax increase—a violation of both state law and the county charter?
Help us pass an ordinance to prohibit stadium funding in Ramsey County.
Sign the ballot petition TODAY!
To have your signature count, you must be a registered voter and reside in Ramsey County.
Reader comment made on the Field of Schemes website:
“Ziggy Wilf is a real estate developer. A pro. He's seen Minnesota politicians' negotiating skills in action. Why on earth would he volunteer to pay half of a stadium when he knows that Minnesota politicians will gladly stampede over tax payers to give him money. They did it before and they'll do it again. You see, giving candy to children makes you popular which is a lot like building a stadium. These officials build stadiums, attend the games and are adored by the single-minded sports fan. No doubt it's a good feeling.”