The dispute is centered on where to place the stadium and how to pay for it. The Vikings ownership group wants to place a new stadium in the Twin Cities suburb of Arden Hills on the site of an old U.S. Army Ammunition Plant while the state government seems to be favoring a site in Minneapolis near the Vikings current stadium, the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. The problem of how to finance either of these proposed stadiums has been the most troublesome factor, especially in an economic climate where new taxes or raised tax rates are extremely unwise. Both stadium plans have called for the state and county governments to contribute a substantial portion of the financial bill and that has met with widespread opposition from the residents of the counties and many other Minnesotans. Due to this, the financing problem is fast becoming the albatross around the neck of the effort to keep the Vikings in Minnesota with a new stadium.
There is a solution to this standoff, believe it or not. It is based on a rule many parents use with children who have irreconcilable choices centering around what movie they want to watch, which park they want to go to, where they want to go out to eat and so on. If you cannot agree on the preferred choices, then scrap them and talk about other options. The Vikings and the State of Minnesota should do the same.
How would we do that? Simple. There are more Vikings Stadium proposals then the two currently being discussed. Throw out the plans which would place the Vikings Stadium in Arden Hills or Minneapolis and look at the other two options which have been presented – and mostly ignored – to provide the solution. The stadium plans which have the Vikings either placing their stadium in Shakopee, just south of the Twin Cities, or in Minnesota's great port on the Great Lakes: Duluth. Re-focus the debate to these two proposals, and it is pretty certain that a solution will be found which will be more beneficial for all involved then the two plans currently being discussed.
What is there to like about both proposals? For one, both stadium proposals do not call for raising taxes, which would make it easier for the fans to accept. Shakopee's plan calls for racino funding to pay for the stadium, which, while a bit controversial, is worth debating on and has been gaining some support. Duluth's plan calls for raising revenue by allowing liquor stores to remain open on Sundays, thus bringing in tax money without raising taxes or tax rates. Both options have potential and are definitely worth the debate if they will not adversely affect the citizens of Minnesota economically.
The Shakopee site has the advantage of a completely clean site ready to begin construction immediately. No expensive, extensive and lengthy environmental clean-up would be needed like the Arden Hills site requires. Also no building tear-downs and pavement bulldozing would be needed like the Minneapolis site requires. The site is ready to build on. At $920 million, the site would be the second cheapest to build on after the Metrodome site with the advantage to this price tag being that, unlike the Metrodome, no demolition or extensive re-building would be needed.
How would we do that? Simple. There are more Vikings Stadium proposals then the two currently being discussed. Throw out the plans which would place the Vikings Stadium in Arden Hills or Minneapolis and look at the other two options which have been presented – and mostly ignored – to provide the solution. The stadium plans which have the Vikings either placing their stadium in Shakopee, just south of the Twin Cities, or in Minnesota's great port on the Great Lakes: Duluth. Re-focus the debate to these two proposals, and it is pretty certain that a solution will be found which will be more beneficial for all involved then the two plans currently being discussed.
What is there to like about both proposals? For one, both stadium proposals do not call for raising taxes, which would make it easier for the fans to accept. Shakopee's plan calls for racino funding to pay for the stadium, which, while a bit controversial, is worth debating on and has been gaining some support. Duluth's plan calls for raising revenue by allowing liquor stores to remain open on Sundays, thus bringing in tax money without raising taxes or tax rates. Both options have potential and are definitely worth the debate if they will not adversely affect the citizens of Minnesota economically.
The Shakopee site has the advantage of a completely clean site ready to begin construction immediately. No expensive, extensive and lengthy environmental clean-up would be needed like the Arden Hills site requires. Also no building tear-downs and pavement bulldozing would be needed like the Minneapolis site requires. The site is ready to build on. At $920 million, the site would be the second cheapest to build on after the Metrodome site with the advantage to this price tag being that, unlike the Metrodome, no demolition or extensive re-building would be needed.
In addition, the stadium would be placed among many of Shakopee's big entertainment parks, such as the racing track at Canterbury Park and the nationwide-famous entertainment park ValleyFair. This would help attract even more fans and would raise even more money for the people of Minnesota as several Vikings fans, like yours truly, come from out of state to see their team and many would naturally enjoy themselves at many of the other attractions which would be surrounding the stadium. Finally, in its biggest advantage, the site would be just across the Minnesota River from Winter Park in Eden Prairie, Minnesota where the Vikings hold their practices during the season. It would make traveling for the team very simple indeed.
Here is the layout of the plans for the Shakopee Stadium Site: The Minnesota Vikings Shakopee Stadium.
The Duluth site, like Shakopee, also has the advantage of not needing environmental clean-up or bulldozed buildings or pavement. The site already has had it done. The price tag has not been set, but seeing as the site has already been cleaned, it should be around the same amount that the Shakopee site has been estimated at. Duluth, like Shakopee, is one of Minnesota's great tourism sites, though for its scenery and not amusement parks, and having the Vikings based there would also draw in more tourists and raise revenue for the people of Minnesota. Finally, it would place the Vikings in a similar situation to what the Green Bay Packers enjoy in their lake-side location in Green Bay. The stadium would be built on the shore of Lake Superior's main tributary, the St. Louis River, and would provide a gorgeous scenic background for Vikings fans to enjoy as they come to watch their team.
Here is the layout of the plans for the Duluth Stadium Site: The Minnesota Vikings Duluth Stadium.
So there it is. The Minnesota Vikings ownership group and the State of Minnesota should scrap the Arden Hills and Minneapolis sites and proceed with a constructive debate on the Shakopee and Duluth sites. This would likely lead to real results and a great new stadium for a team which needs one. It would keep the Vikings in Minnesota, possibly for good, and end all talk about re-locating the team to Los Angeles or San Antonio. Finally, Vikings fans would be able to re-focus their energies towards cheering their team on towards their first Super Bowl victory. Skol Vikings!
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