- This? Ain’t gonna happen.
It was destined to fail, and it looks like opponents of the latest [intlink id=”35″ type=”category”]Minnesota Vikings[/intlink] stadium proposal have found a way to fuck things up again.
A new group, NoVikingsTax.com, says it’s discovered a loophole that would let voters decide whether a new stadium should be built with public money — no matter what the Legislature or Ramsey County do.
Group members say the “charter” nature of Minneapolis and Ramsey County governments allow them to collect voter signatures and place a referendum on the next election ballot.
That would essentially override any state measure banning a public referendum on the stadium.
“We could usurp their usurpation,” said Chris David, head of the small group, which wants the Vikings and their owners to pay the entire cost of a new stadium.
Last week, Ramsey County and the Vikings announced public-private financing of a 65,000-seat stadium in the Ramsey County suburb of Arden Hills at a cost of more than $1 billion. Minneapolis has a competing stadium proposal.
Key to both plans is a provision that prevents the project from being put to a public vote, just like Hennepin County did with the new Twins stadium.
As someone who lives in Minnesota, and who despises the Vikings, I don’t want to pay for their new effing stadium. They should pay for it themselves, and I agree with opponents that the project is being steamrolled through the Legislature and Ramsey County.
“I think it’s great that they want to build a Vikings stadium,” Gayle Bonneville of Minneapolis told the Star-Tribune. “I just don’t want to have to pay for it. It seems like this is being rushed through.”
The proposed sales tax increase to fund the Ramsey County project is ridiculous, and the mayor of St. Paul — the county’s largest city — is not a fan. Many have said it would, essentially, make St. Paul the most expensive place to shop in Minnesota.
A recent Star Tribune poll found I’m not alone. Seventy-four percent of respondents said they don’t want a new stadium funded with public money, and 62 percent even think the team should stay in the Metrdome.
Public and personal opinion aside, this latest twist makes the project seem even more destined for litigation, if not all-out failure. Again.
Sounds like the Vikings better start polishing that turd of a stadium known as the Metrodome for another season. Or, better yet, look into homes in the L.A. area.
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Get real, Sarah. Nearly every stadium recently built was funded by taxpayer money. Why would Minnesota be any different?
I completely agree with the taxpayers in this instance though. Who the hell would want to pay higher taxes to watch the shit-circus known as the Vikings?
Interesting contrast, the Vikings intentions to end-run a vote on this subsidy and the sales tax vote in Brown County back in 2000. The Lambeau vote passed in Brown County by something like 53%-47%. Pohlad avoided a vote on the public subsidy of Target Field, but he was an expert at getting public subsidies for his enterprises. I think people in Minneapolis-St Paul (I live in Mpls too) are on to what a pathetic franchise they have in the Vikings, and wouldn’t miss them if they left.
Why don’t u get a life a polish that turd of a car u have and drive it off a cliff. Or maybe u should have been playing ur penis flute on the 50 yard line of the metrodome when it collapsed and saved ur family the money it cost to feed u in the basement of their house and change out ur shit bag. Sincerely ur grandad.
As much as I despise the Viqueens, I want a healthy NFC Norris division and I would hate to lose the Queens if they moved to LA or anywhere else for that matter. Plus, there are LOADS of Packer Backers who show up in Minneapolis to support the Pack (and the Packer fans have an easier time getting tix in Minneapolis than they do in GB). It’s a really cool stadium concept in Arden Hills; what a contrast to the historic and legendary Lambeau which will forever remain the mecca of football.
65,000 seat stadium? That’s tiny.
Asimov, they’d still probably have a tough time selling out 65 thou
So true.
Out with the LA Vikings and in with the St. Louis Rams.
We all know what Milwaukee and Madison are; so, Green Bay is pretty much the conservative capital of Wisconsin. You combine that with being a blue collar town, and people around here don’t like to have their taxes raised, for anything. Besides that fact, the Lambeau Field renovation vote was closer than people expected because many Packer fans didn’t want a renovation. They wanted a brand new, retractable roof, stadium built out in Lawrence. I know of several hardcore Packer fans that voted NO because they wanted the new stadium instead of the renovation. I also would have preferred a new stadium, but I wasn’t going to take the chance of voting NO.
To be honest, besides the temporary hilarity of the Vikings having to pack up and move to LA, it would be a shame to see them go after all the laughter had subsided. NO ONE is more fun to pick on than the hapless Vikes.
I am only 31, but do remember the vote back in 2000 fairly well. I said it then and will say it again. Who in the hell would want the Packers to tear down Lambeau and build a new stadium??? That could be the dumbest thing I have ever heard. To quote John, Lambeau is the “mecca” of the NFL. Thank god only 47% of the voters were dumbasses.
Man what a professional article this is! As classy as Miller Lite (sure hope you can sense the irony in that statement!). Now go get drunk(er) and make a baby! Cheers!