Minneapolis Council president Barb Johnson and Vikings’ front office executive Lester Bagley spoke to Sports Headliners this week regarding the proposed St. Paul soccer stadium, and the possibility of Minnesota hosting a future NFL Draft.
Minnesota United and St. Paul officials want to see the construction of a soccer stadium in the city’s Midway district. The facility could be the home for a Major League Soccer franchise starting in 2018 if the Minnesota Legislature approves an ongoing exemption from property taxes and a one-year exemption on sales tax for stadium construction materials. The stadium is to be privately financed but United and St. Paul officials insist tax exemptions are necessary to make the facility a reality.
Bagley, the point man at the State Capitol for years on the Vikings’ stadium effort, is optimistic about United and St. Paul leaders winning approval for the exemptions before the Legislature adjourns in a couple of weeks. “We think it’s in pretty good shape,” he said. “(But) if there is no tax bill, then this one will probably not stand alone. Bottom line—it appears to be on track—and it’s a fairly modest proposal. It doesn’t seem to be gathering too much controversy.”
Passage of an omnibus tax bill, with a number of initiatives including the soccer stadium, seems a likely path for United and St. Paul officials. If legislation doesn’t happen this spring, Johnson is interested in pursuing a location in Minneapolis.
“Well, I never say never until the shovel turns on the groundbreaking,” said Johnson who has been City Council president since 2006. “I am always open to Minneapolis being the home for these facilities. I think there are great amenities in our city.
“I’ve watched deals over the years with both the Twins ballpark and then the Vikings stadium be proposed for other sites but they landed in Minneapolis. I am willing to keep my ears open…and look at a potential deal in Minneapolis.”
Those comments could feed paranoia in St. Paul. Years ago the new Twins ballpark appeared headed to St. Paul but ultimately landed in Minneapolis. Five years back Arden Hills, St. Paul’s Ramsey County neighbor, appeared on track to have the new Vikings stadium, but in the end Minneapolis won out.
United owners were initially interested in buying private land for a soccer stadium in the Minneapolis Farmers market area. Unable to close the deal and convinced nothing else was available in Minneapolis, the United leaders found an ally in St. Paul mayor Chris Coleman and other officials from the city.
Johnson, though, suggested there are potential locations for a privately financed soccer stadium in her city including the Upper Harbor site along the Mississippi River in north Minneapolis. The 50-acre parcel of land is owned by the city and is near Interstate 94. “There’s lots of places that soccer could happen in Minneapolis,” Johnson said.
If the Legislature says no to the exemptions and building a new stadium doesn’t happen, the expectation is the MLS will withdraw the franchise offer to the United which currently plays in the less highly regarded North American Soccer League. The best case scenario for the United is to break ground as soon as possible on a stadium and initially play one year at TCF Bank Stadium or Target Field before moving into its new facility in St. Paul. ..
The three-day NFL Draft and ancillary activities have become big business for the league and host cities. The event was held in New York for decades but now the NFL office is amenable to other league cities hosting the spring event where the nation watches as teams select college players during seven rounds of drafting.
The last two years the draft has been in Chicago. Reports of direct economic impact use a figure of about $44 million for the 2015 draft. Although no formal announcement has been made, it’s believed Philadelphia could host the 2017 draft.
Bagley said the Vikings have expressed interest in bringing the draft to Minnesota, perhaps in 2018, 2019 or 2020. “Kind of down the road a little bit. Just digging into that right now.”
No formal proposal has been submitted by the Vikings but Bagley is confident the Minneapolis-St. Paul market has the attributes to successfully host the draft. He said those attributes are the same ones that impressed league officials so much they awarded the 2018 Super Bowl to Minnesota, and include “great hospitality,” facilities, corporate leadership, transportation, hotels, bars and restaurants.
Early speculation is draft headquarters could be the proposed new Vikings complex in Eagan. The project includes a new practice facility, team offices and a 6,000 seat outdoor stadium expandable to 10,000 that Bagley said could be used by spectators at the draft. There has also been talk of building a hotel and large conference center as part of the project.
The Vikings hope to receive approval for their complex by the Eagan City Council by the end of May. Bagley believes his organization could “potentially break ground” in Eagan in June.
“We are working with Eagan to try to bring forward a major plan and development,” Bagley said. “It’s going to be very unique in the NFL. It’s going to be the best practice facility-team headquarters in the NFL. Lots of upside there to do a lot of great things—NFL Draft notwithstanding.”
That Eagan project, along with a “75-day” countdown to the opening of U.S. Bank Stadium has Bagley and other Vikings executives busy. Too busy to spend a lot of time on a future draft for Minnesota. “We’ve got our hands full,” he said.
If the Vikings and other Minnesota officials do make a formal bid to host an NFL Draft, Johnson makes it clear she wants Minneapolis, not Eagan to be the host city. “We’re where the action is. Eagan is not, and I don’t mean to diminish Eagan, but we’ve got a lot more going on here in Minneapolis,” she said.
Johnson said the Minneapolis Convention Center or U.S. Bank Stadium are locations that can host the draft. Minneapolis invested $150 million along with the Vikings and the state in the shared cost of the stadium. Asked if that doesn’t give the city leverage in discussions about a draft site, Johnson said, “Well, sure. That’s what we’re depending on is events coming into our city because we have that investment in the stadium.”
Johnson said it will be a major disappointment if the draft isn’t hosted by Minneapolis, giving the city maximum economic impact and national publicity.
“I will have a conversation with Lester,” Johnson said. “I will also talk to Mark Wilf (Vikings president/owner). He and I talk on a regular basis.”
Johnson is respected by the Vikings. She is considered a voice of reason in City Hall—a place that sometimes leaves business leaders scratching their collective heads.
“We have the highest regard for her,” Bagley said. “Some of the other interactions down at the city (hall) are not as always clean and positive as it is with Barbara. We have not had a conversation with her about the NFL Draft. Again, early stages of telling the league we’re interested in our market (hosting the draft). Then in terms of where and which facilities, we haven’t even seriously looked into that.”