Category: Stadiums

 

A legislative panel was told the Vikings are not “making money” and the state of Minnesota could make a $140 million profit from its stadium financing, but these and other arguments didn’t persuade the House Government Operations and Elections Committee to approve a bill on Monday night funding a new multi-purpose stadium in downtown Minneapolis.

The panel rejected the bill for a nearly $1 billion stadium by a 9-6 vote at the State Capitol in a meeting that Sports Headliners followed via Twin Cities Public Television.  The vote may have ended hope during this legislative session for approving a new covered roof facility that would have the Vikings as its primary tenant, although Senate leadership could yet be heard from.

Among those voting no were two committee members from Minneapolis, Rep. Marion Greene and Rep. Frank Hornstein.  They and the seven others who rejected the bill voiced numerous concerns and questions including why “billionaire owners” couldn’t fund part or the entire stadium project.

Committee member and bill advocate Rep. Terry Morrow said stadiums that base funding on private dollars have been financed in larger markets able to attract revenues through the sale of personal seat licenses in the facilities.  In this market, consumers can’t support such a revenue stream, he said.

The majority of NFL stadiums and baseball parks are funded through public and private partnerships.  Team executive Lester Bagley said the Vikings’ proposed stadium contribution of $427 million would be the third largest ever for an NFL franchise.

The Vikings have long argued their revenues are among the lowest in the NFL and remaining in the Metrodome isn’t an option.  “The team is not making money,” said Ted Mondale, chairman of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission.

The bill reviewed Monday night calls for $398 million from the state of Minnesota and also $150 million from the city of Minneapolis.  Rep. Morrie Lanning, the chief author of the bill, said that after 30 years the state would make a $140 million profit because of income taxes received from the Vikings and visiting players.  “This is a good deal for Minnesota,” he said.

Lanning said for seven years the Vikings have been before the legislature, and his bill was the best ever proposed.  He also noted that the Government Operations and Elections Committee was where the bill stalled two years ago.

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A new Vikings stadium could also be home to a Major League Soccer franchise.  The Vikings owners have shown interest in owning a Minneapolis MLS team, although the proposed downtown fixed roof stadium doesn’t conform to the MLS facility model.

The MLS website states that in 2011 13 of the 18 franchises played in venues built for soccer.  Those stadiums have capacities about one-third smaller than NFL facilities including the proposed stadium here with projected seating of more than 60,000. Then, too, none of the MLS franchises play in fixed roof stadiums.

But Djorn Buchholz, chief executive officer of the Minnesota Stars FC North American Soccer League franchise, doesn’t think a covered stadium is a deal breaker in acquiring a MLS franchise.  “It’s not an ideal stadium for soccer, but we are in Minnesota, and we could (sometimes) have three feet of snow on the ground,” Buchholz told Sports Headliners.

The Stars will play their first game of the season at the Metrodome on April 7.  The game was scheduled indoors because of weather concerns.  The remaining regular season home schedule will be played outdoors at the National Sports Center in Blaine.

Buchholz said the MLS regards Minneapolis as a possible franchise location and he described this area as “one of the remaining top markets.”  He hopes the Stars will be part of a cooperative venture with a new MLS team here, rather than a competitor.

Soccer in this area has seen highs and lows, ranging from the Minnesota Kicks tailgating phenomenon and capacity crowds at Met Stadium during the 1970s to the struggles of other franchises in more recent times.  Although the Stars won the NASL playoffs last year, the franchise has sold only 300 season tickets for 2012 but Buchholz is optimistic about renewed interest in soccer here.

The franchise averaged about 1,800 fans last year, an increase of approximately 700 from the season prior, he said.  This year he’s projecting an average of 3,000 and 5,000 in 2013.

Stars tickets are affordable including general admission seating available at $5 for the home opener on April 7 against the Carolina RailHawks.

 

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