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Stadium has value beyond NFL
Published Friday, January 11, 2008
Members of the Metroplitan Sports Commission visited the area Tuesday as part of an eight-city “listening tour” to promote the plan of a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings. The $954 million project favored by the commission includes a 65,000-seat retractable-roof stadium as part of a larger development project in downtown Minneapolis at the current site of the Metrodome.
Stopping in Fergus Falls was the commission’s vice chair Loanne Thrane, a Rothsay native who says a stadium will keep football in Minnesota for at least 30 years.
A stadium is a hard sell for taxpayers in Otter Tail County and the rest of outstate Minnesota when looking at its purpose as solely saving an NFL football team.
But the debate runs much deeper. A facility isn’t used only for the Vikings.
Thrane points out that a covered stadium would retain an indoor, climate-controlled facility to host amateur sports, concerts and other events year-round. These are events that Otter Tail County residents might attend on trips to the Twin Cities. Just this November hundreds of county residents traveled to the Metrodome when the Perham High School football team advanced to the state tournament.
When considering support for a stadium, area residents should remember that Fergus Falls’ MSCTC Spartans play their football championships in the Minneapolis stadium. Our high schools play their state band meets in the facility, and our cheerleaders travel to the dome for their state meets.
A stadium just might bring more to outstate Minnesota than meets the eye.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by eripsni (anonymous) on January 11, 2008 at 1:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
State band meets? What on earth? I was in band just a few years ago. When did this happen?
Posted by 1125thmp (anonymous) on January 11, 2008 at 9:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The stadium would be used for other things? Isnt that half the problem with all the proposals the team owners have? They don't want to share with anyone else! I sure hope that if any common sense still exsists, the citizens of this state would send a resounding no to such a proposal. The team wants to move, great. When I'm a billionaire some day, I'll be sure to get as much out of my fellow citizens before I shell out a buck.
Posted by jafo (anonymous) on January 11, 2008 at 11:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A billion dollar stadium for a dozen or so football games??? I don't think so. The Metrodome is just fine for football.
Posted by vikingfanfromnc (anonymous) on January 12, 2008 at 11:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am not a native of Minnesota, but I do enjoy visiting and going to Viking games every year, and have spent thousands when there. Are you that shortsighted that you do not want this income, because you have to pay a relatively small tax? If you get a referendum to vote yes or no on a new stadium, also be sure that there is a drop down box to choose what state you want the Vikings to move to. I would prefer it be within driving distance so I could go more often (not California). The Metrodome is not going to have Viking games there after the lease expires, period, and I would not blame Wilf if he moves the team elsewhere. If you think Viking fans are not going to drive or fly to another state and take their money to spend in another state, think again. Ask fans of the St Louis Rams, Baltimore Ravens, Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts if they want their franchises taken away- or better yet, ask an LA Ram, Cleveland Brown, St Louis Cardinal, Houston Oiler or Baltimore Colt fan how they felt. I will continue to enjoy Viking games, visit and spend my money whereever their new home state is.
Posted by Nicolas12 (anonymous) on January 13, 2008 at 8:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Are you KIDDING ME!!! The you know how many jobs would come around for these poor construction workers who haven’t had a job all winter. If so just enough to barely get by! You guys are ripping on the Vikings to dish out some money but you don’t want to dish out the small amount it will take out of your taxes. During Super Bowl week how many people will be in the state of MINNESOTA TONS!! When the Final Four came in town everything was pack even. Get really people!! And yeah tons of other events happen in the metrodome Wilf its apposed to that still happening so get your fact straights as for you BAND NERD (eripsni ) your band sucked that’s why they didn’t go. Because the state competition is there. You people are one mind and narrow mind think that we only want it for a “ FOOTBALL STADUIM”. Think about all the bars that will take a hurt on top of that! People won’t be going to the bar to watch the Vikes anymore.
Go Vikings!!! I will give my back yard to you guys if you need some where to play!!
Posted by jafo (anonymous) on January 13, 2008 at 7:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Metrodome worked just fine for a Superbowl already. What's different now, besides new and better turf?
The Vikings aren't going anywhere.
Posted by theorist50 (anonymous) on January 14, 2008 at 9:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't live in Minnesota but all of my family either does or used to (Fergus Falls, actually), so I have quite a bit of pride and respect when it comes to the people of Minnesota. The lack of unanimous support for a Vikings stadium is totally disappointing. It'd be refreshing if Minnesotans saw the bigger picture here, especially with the bright future the team currently appears to have. The Vikings are a huge part of Minnesota's nation-wide identity, and if taken care of properly, will provide benefits to Minnesota's people on both social and economic levels without doubt. Give a little for the greater good, and don't be small about this.
Posted by jafo (anonymous) on January 14, 2008 at 11:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Can anyone please explain to me why the Metrodome is no longer acceptable for NFL football???
Posted by dietrick5 (anonymous) on January 14, 2008 at 1:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am not a minnesota resident either but i have been a vikings fan my whole life, and i have a great time every year when i travel the 4 hours to get to the metrodome. I agree that the dome should be suitable for nfl play for a while yet, but a lot of teams get new stadiums so i think that all minnesota vikings fans and minnesota residents need to do whatever they can to keep the vikes in minnesota!! I also dont think the vikings are goin anywhere else.
Posted by Stonewall (anonymous) on January 14, 2008 at 1:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why? Everyone knows this! Short and to the point, 8,000 club seats and 150 luxury suites! That is where the revenue is! In whatever business you are in, you have to keep up or you can not compete.
Posted by Mel (anonymous) on January 14, 2008 at 2:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why should the taxpayer pay for the stadium? Just because it is a sport? It is a big business. Other business people pay their own way! Maybe the state should put up a building for me to run a business in also. All honest business is good for the state! Sooo,, treat everyone equal.
Posted by pkbeau (anonymous) on January 14, 2008 at 2:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
An extra Packers home playoff game — which comes courtesy of the Giants upsetting the Cowboys — will pump about $4 million into the Green Bay economy.
This is why MINNESOTA people should SUPPORT and BUILD a stadium! Otherwise what are you but a BIGGER North and South Dakota? (yeah, you have a semi-competitive pro baseball team anda second rate everything else!
The VIKINGS rule MN and make it great! They are the MOST LOVED in MN. Keep them happy and your quality of LIFE!
Posted by Stonewall (anonymous) on January 14, 2008 at 2:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If you want to go there Mel, you will have to start with the casinos and Indian Sovereign Nation status in th U.S.A.
Posted by Mel (anonymous) on January 14, 2008 at 3:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Stonewall, Did our taxes build the casinos? Or was it private investors into a building in which people throw their money away?
to pkbeau, I think it is a good idea to invest private money into the stadium. Then share in the profits. Great idea.
Posted by Stonewall (anonymous) on January 15, 2008 at 8:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, are tax dollars have paid for everything the Indians have got since 1850.
Posted by sevebaum (anonymous) on January 15, 2008 at 10:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It kills me to think that the Vikings will likely move on, but the sad fact is that I don't blame them. Well, the current situation is not going to compete with the rest of the NFL. ZW has given the state some good plans but all have been rejected. What does he have to do? Any owner of a team considers the luxury box issue as critical. The Dome just doesn't compete.
The question that I hear is that Minnesotans don't see why they should subsidize the stadium. The income brought in for workers, store owners, restaurants and bars make this a no brainer. Income from the stadium flows back to Minnesota with taxes, jobs and publicity for the state. The dome has worked fine, for a time, but welcome to the modern era. Owners can't compete if they have two arms tied behind their backs.
When the Vikes move on and no one comes with their cash to see the Superbowl or any other event, there will be many gripped with sorrow because you assumed the team would stay in the ancient building.
Wake up people...the Vikes WILL LEAVE. CALIFORNIA has the money and the pull to bring the Vikings out of Minnesota. But what is keeping them here? Only a new stadium will do that. Let's get this building done!!!!!!
Posted by Gael64 (anonymous) on January 22, 2008 at 4:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's be clear: govts help big business all the time. Do you think that Wal-Mart enjoys having a federal minimum wage under six bucks/hr? Do you think that factory farms benefit from subsidies? This would not be a unique occurence.
Moreover, there are only four NFL teams that have stadium problems: Jax, N'Orleans, Buffalo and Minnesota. The other 28 teams all have new stadia (or new stadia coming online) and all of them received some level of subsidy. So, the market is clearly there for other communities to help fund stadia. As others have noted, new stadia contain fair more suites/club seats than HHH. That is why one is necssary, and that is why 28/32 teams have done this already. Of the remaining 4/32, they will either get new stadia, or else will likely move. Portland and San Antonio are prime targets, as is greater Los Angeles.
I'm don't live in Minnesota. I'm a Vikings season ticket holder, and should consumption (hotel/rental car/restaurant) taxes be levied, I'll happily pay them to keep the team in Minnesota. I, like every non-U.S. resident in the western world, live in a country with free health care. I can certainly appreciate that some Minnesotans do not want to have increased taxation to build a stadium. That's each individual's choice. Do realize, though, that the consequence will be that the Vikings leave? There are economic arguments on both sides of the debate.
To each their own, but please realize that no funding for a new stadium means that the Vikings leave. Moreover, I don't see HHH remaining viable for all of the other events that it hosts when it doesn't have the Twins/Gophers/Vikes as anchor tenants. The question then becomes, is it worth having a major stadium, and a NFL team, in Minnesota?
Posted by halvea76 (anonymous) on January 23, 2008 at 9:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am a huge Vikings fan, but I don't live in Minnesota, but in Milwaukee. Milwaukee went through this a few years ago when the Milwaukee Brewers wanted a new stadium. Us as tax payers saw a LITTLE rise in our taxes, but the benefits of having the Brewers here FAR outweigh the small taxes we have to pay to cover the stadium. Keep in mind that sooner or later, the stadium will be payed for and your taxes will go down. For those of you who say the Metrodome is good enough for an NFL team, look again, look at all the new stadiums around the league and then look at the Metrodome. Think of all the revenue the new stadium would bring in, not about the small tax you as a tax payer have to pay. Think about all the good times that come with the Minnesota Vikings, even if they haven't been a contender as of late. They are definitely on the rise and have players that many would pay to see alone. It is still a blast to go to a game or go to a local bar and watch the game. All that would be lost when they walk right out of Minnesota.
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