Oakdale's State Legislators Said They See Value in Keeping Vikings in Town

Oakdale’s state legislators said they support working on a stadium agreement to keep the Vikings in Minnesota, however, they’re concerned about overburdening taxpayers to do it.

“The things that are important to me are to look at the public versus private share of money being spent,” said Rep. Nora Slawik, DFL-Maplewood. “I don’t think it’s fair to put a significant burden on the taxpayers.”

Gov. Mark Dayton has been meeting with Vikings leadership and various stakeholders this week, and he said he intends to prepare his own stadium proposal by Nov. 7, the Star Tribune reports. Dayton said he’d like to call a special session to vote on a stadium bill by Thanksgiving, according to the report.

An NFL official said Tuesday if the state can't reach a deal on a new stadium before the team's lease expires next year, the Vikings might consider moving to another city, according to another Star Tribune report.

Both Slawik and Sen. Chuck Wiger, DFL-Maplewood, said they oppose funding a new stadium with a general sales tax on purchases made in Ramsey County, as has been proposed.

“Especially in these times,” Wiger said, “the people that subsidize it should have a direct benefit or a voluntary participation.”

Both legislators said they prefer alternative methods of getting the money such as taxing licensed apparel, tickets or parking at a new stadium.

One thing the legislators’ views differ on is where a stadium ought to be located.

Although Slawik cautioned that she can't take any firm stances without knowing the details of a stadium bill (or bills), she said at this point she favors the Arden Hills site because of its size and potential.

“It could support the stadium, parking and retail if this moves forward,” she said. “I just think that’s the right place for it.”

Wiger said he thinks staying in the Metrodome would make more sense.

“It’s a big facility that can be remodeled,” he said. “It’s not falling apart at this point. They replaced the roof; they just put in new turf that’s supposed to be really good.”

Admittedly, it seems like the Vikings aren’t interested in going that route, he said, and he also thought it would have made sense for the Vikings and Gophers to build a new stadium together that they could share.

Although Slawik said she can’t decide whether she’ll support a stadium bill without seeing the specifics, she does see value in trying to keep the team in the Twin Cities.

If they left, “we would lose all the income from the games, all the jobs that are created when there’s a Vikings game and we would lose all the spending, whether it’s getting a hotel room, eating in a restaurant,” she said. “There would be a big economic impact."

The Vikings also add to Minnesotans' quality of life, she said.

 “The Vikings have been a part of Minnesota for a long time,” she said. “A part of the culture of Minnesota would be gone.”

Wiger said he expects a special session will be called and a stadium bill will pass. He said he thinks the Vikings and NFL will put more money toward the stadium than is currently proposed, and that they’ll find a means of funding it that doesn't include a general sales tax.

“At the end of the day, the Vikings will stay,” he said. “It’s just a matter of what the details are, and those are very important.”