Charlie Walters column

Charlie Walters reported in his column that if the new Vikings stadium is built in Arden Hills the cost would be about 900 million dollars! Last year the estimates were coming in around 650 million dollars for a open air stadium. In his column he called it a “non-retractable” roof. Does that mean open air stadium or a dome stadium?

The Vikings are expected to chip in around 300 million dollars. Ramsey county and State taxes will foot the rest of the bill he said.

A stadium bill is expected to be introduced this week. I’m sure both parties will sing the virtues of a new stadium paid by NEW taxes. But, the same people will be against raising fishing license by 2 bucks because they don’t want new taxes. These people we elect are priceless. A complete joke.

Remember, this new stadium is for the same league that is forcing a work stoppage because they want a bigger chunk of 9 BILLION DOLLARS.

While I think it will eventually happen, I don’t think that the stadium currently has enough political momentum to get passed.

We are not done with this economic downturn and the gov doesn’t yet have the political pull (or poll) to get it done. Plus the current work stoppage is a big negative on the NFL.

I don’t think the deflated dome currently is enough to get it done either.

BK will be using two lines in MN with sunfish attached to each line before that gets done.

Send ’em to LA or Vegas – in 3 years no one will remember that there was a “professional” team in MN anyway! Won’t cost much to ship the trophy case!
Ha Ha Ha!
Go Pack Go!

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Send ’em to LA or Vegas – in 3 years no one will remember that there was a “professional” team in MN anyway! Won’t cost much to ship the trophy case!
Ha Ha Ha!
Go Pack Go!

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Ouch! Heartless!

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While I think it will eventually happen, I don’t think that the stadium currently has enough political momentum to get passed.

We are not done with this economic downturn and the gov doesn’t yet have the political pull (or poll) to get it done. Plus the current work stoppage is a big negative on the NFL.

I don’t think the deflated dome currently is enough to get it done either.

BK will be using two lines in MN with sunfish attached to each line before that gets done.

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While I hope it doesn’t get done this year I haven’t seen the politician with the balls to oppose it either. Sad times we live in. State is 5 billion in the hole and still we want to spend more?

From what I understand BK will attempt to get the 2 line bill attached to the stadium bill which will be attached to a bill to run light rail from the Iowa border to LOTW. Total cost might be around $20 billion but the Feds would chip in $50,000 towards the light rail.

no one talks about the “other revenue from the team”.. the restaurants, hotels and stores that “get IN ” on a great team..

I was talking to a business man today.. and being in the soft drink industry, has already earned his improvement on the year, due to the Packer playing in the Super bowl..

soft drinks have sold a ton because of the Packers,, and the playoffs and the super bowl..

so while the stadium may cost X number of dollars , if they leave, how much more will the state and the area lose?

Whats the debt service on $600 million over 20 years?

As I’ve said many times. If you want a new stadium for civic pride that’s fine. Just don’t try and twist the numbers to say this thing will ever pay for it’s self. It can’t and it won’t. Study after study in city after city have came to the same conclusion.

BTW, have they removed the hotel and liquor taxes they instituted when the dome was built?

I had a long response but for some reason it did’t go they talked about the stadium issue in 97 or 98 for both the twins and vikes it took them how long to build a seasonal park at what price for the twins compared to building one with a retractable roof to accomidate 2 professional teams but also create revenue year round for other events at least now they built one in which weather dictates if they play guess it would be worth the trip to drive and stay in the hotel room holding a rain check for a game most from outta town wouldn’t come back to see I’ll say this the Gopers stadium was long over due but come on look at the cost for the twins stadium and what ya coulda had and that was when times were good. But hey at least some of the fishing and hunting fees the sportsmen pay go to help the arts URRR Sorry Just Venting ! ps i won’t respond after this (hell i don’t even live in the state but been workin here since 97) but will read any follow ups tks

Surprised they havent looked at doing what the Packers did when they remodeled,charge a seat tax to the season ticket holders.one time deal.I paid 600.00 to keep my seat.And i only have the 3 game package.(milw package)put some of the cost on the people that have the seats,including the luxury boxes.Tho if i didnt pay it,there is 65,000 people on the waiting list to get season packer tickets Dont put all the cost on the tax payers

I have brought up the seat license fee also, as I had to pay for my seats too. Based on the lack of response, I have to think the fan base is not strong enough to support it, hence why most of the burden is falling on the government, which is a bad place for anything…

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Tho if i didnt pay it,there is 65,000 people on the waiting list to get season packer tickets

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And there’s your rub…

Personal seat license is something the teams do to grab more ticket revenue. It has nothing to do with the public sectors funding.

The packers seat license was used to directly help pay for new improvements to the stadium, thereby bringing down the total costs to government and taxpayers as much as possible.

The Packers do not keep the seat license fee, when a season ticket holder no longer wants to attend games and turns in his tickets they are given a refund, and the next person in line must pay the same seat license fee to start getting tickets.

The Packers also sold stock that was used to help pay for improvements also and bring down the total cost.