“Hundreds” show up for Vikings stadium rally

[A.E]

Hundreds showed up at the Mall of America today to rally support for a Vikings stadium ahead of Monday's vote.

Those there included Governor Mark Dayton and Vikings defensive end Jared Allen. Elected officials there urged people to call house lawmakers and encourage them to pass the vote.

Governor Mark Dayton says, "it just shows how enthusiasm there is, how much support there is...I just hope everybody will contact their legislators between now and the vote and tell them we need to keep the Vikings in Minnesota."

The nearly $1 billion plan includes $427 million from the team, $150 million from Minneapolis and $398 million from the state. Critics call the deal bad for taxpayers.

http://www.wday.com/event/article/id/63182/group/homepage/

The fact only hundreds showed up to the biggest Mall in North America shows just how shitty the support for a new Vikings stadium really is amongst Minnesota taxpayers. Over 5 million residents in Minnesota and yet "hundreds" show up to campaign for a new place. Not to mention, Jared Allen showed up to give his support too.

Looks like a lot of this Minnesota Vikings shit I own will soon be nothing but relics of a complete FAIL franchise moved to LA.

 

[Rice18]

Didn't they learn how much money they bring in from a sports team already ? Lakers made them lose a ton of money, why do it again ?

 

[.infamous]

LA is drooling right now. Rams to the NFC North soon ayee lol

 

[Rice18]

LA is drooling right now. Rams to the NFC North soon ayee lol

 

[BwareDWare94]

As loyal as the fanbase is at every game, you think there'd be more support for a new stadium. Mall of America Field is not up to par.

 

[Rice18]

With a vote scheduled for Monday on the Vikings stadium bill, politicians are finding pros, cons and contradicting ideologies. Exactly how that vote will turn out is still anybody’s guess.

Minnesota House Speaker Kurt Zellers could have been speaking for many of his fellow lawmakers when he struggled to describe his position on a $1 billion Vikings stadium bill before a vote that could be critical to the team’s future in the state.

“I won’t vote for it, but I want to see it pass,” the Republican said in an interview late last week on sports radio.

With votes scheduled Monday on a huge public payout, 200 lawmakers are under pressure from plenty of people who oppose the project — but worry they will be blamed if it fails. A defeat this week, while not fatal, would accelerate fears that the state could lose its most beloved team.

After years of trying, stadium supporters know better than to predict the outcome.

“I think it’s within striking distance,” Lester Bagley, the team’s chief stadium lobbyist, said on Friday.

The Vikings haven’t openly threatened to leave Minnesota, and are committed to playing in the 30-year-old Metrodome this season.

But stadium boosters, led by Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton, say punting on the proposal could set up a nightmare three-peat for Minnesota sports fanatics. After all, the state lost the NBA’s Lakers to Los Angeles in 1960 and the NHL’s North Stars to Dallas in 1993.

“Nobody wants the Vikings to leave the state of Minnesota. Nobody wants that to happen,” said Rep. Sarah Anderson, a suburban Minneapolis Republican who is undecided how she’ll vote on Monday. “It’s just a matter of figuring out whether this package will work and is a good deal for our taxpayers.”

Stadium support doesn’t break down neatly — it has Democratic and Republican backers, but also plenty of opponents in both parties.

Fiscally conservative Republicans loathe the potential handout, but the party’s business wing wants to preserve a valuable asset in the city’s core. Democrats — especially the party’s labor base — crave the thousands of hardhat jobs that would come with a new stadium.

The Vikings would have to kick in $427 million — which isn’t enough for some lawmakers.

“I’m concerned about whether the owner is footing enough of the bill,” said Sen. Julianne Ortman, the Senate’s deputy Republican leader. “I’m really concerned that what we’ve got is a minority partner in this project dictating the terms, wagging the dog if you will.”

Ortman said she thinks fears about the team’s possible departure have been overhyped, but signs of pressure are everywhere.

Vikings fans have roamed the Capitol for days, adorned with face paint, horned helmets and purple-and-gold superhero costumes. Schoolchildren on field trips have shown up to the Capitol in jerseys. And a few die-hards presided over a mock tailgate outside of the building.

The team even trotted out star running back Adrian Peterson late last month to glad-hand lawmakers.

Some would-be opponents are tripped up by their fandom. Rep. Chris Swedzinksi, a Republican from rural southwestern Minnesota and a likely yes vote, said some of his most hard-right constituents want the stadium. He called it “a beast all on its own.”

“I’ve got folks that I know are active in the tea party that have said, you know, I’m going to suspend my rational thought right now, Chris,” Swedzinski said. “I know what I believe and I know where this country’s headed if we continue down this path — but don’t lose the Vikings.”

Rep. Kerry Gauthier, a Duluth Democrat, said he was won over even before hundreds of construction workers lobbied at the Capitol during a critical moment last week.

“I think it’s good for Minnesota all the way around,” said Gauthier. “Not only do we put people down here to work, but that prevents people from having to leave town to go to work in my city, so it keeps our guys and women working.”

Not all Democrats are swayed by the job-creation argument. Rep. Susan Allen, a Minneapolis Democrat, said she heard from labor lobbyists who told her the project would bring at least 200 jobs to her cash-poor south Minneapolis district, mere blocks from the stadium. But she and other Democrats look at the state’s proposed $400 million share and see money that’s not feeding the hungry, housing the homeless or caring for the sick.

“In our district, we have over half the children living poverty, the unmet needs are so great,” said Allen, who plans to vote no. “I wouldn’t be able to defend my vote in light of all those circumstances.”

Other lawmakers fret over what they see as shaky financing, saying the state overestimates the tax revenue it will bring in by expanding legal gambling. And some on both sides of the aisle object to increased gambling on moral grounds, no matter the money.

Stadium supporters say even if the bill isn’t perfect, it’s time to settle the issue.

“At this time, in this political climate, it’s probably the best we can do,” said Rep. Paul Marquart, a Democrat from Northwestern Minnesota. “We’re fourth and inches. Let’s push this thing across the goal line.”

I think LA is about to have a new team.

If they move I will not root for a LA team.

 

[Rice18]

With the House scheduled to begin debating the stadium later in the day, Gov. Mark Dayton played the role of head cheerleader, joining in chants of “Build it!” in a raucous Rotunda rally.

“Minnesota’s a can-do state,” Dayton told the crowd. “We’ve been successful because we say, ‘Yes we’re going to move ahead. Yes, we’re going to create more jobs. Yes, we’re going to do the things we want to do to remain vital and strong.’”

Vikings players Christian Ponder, Kyle Rudolph, John Sullivan and Brian Robison were among those attending another rally Monday afternoon.

Great to see the support from the team. I sure hope we don't move.

 

[Rice18]

Even as fans rallied for a new Vikings stadium, lawmakers amended the bill to increase the team's contribution by $105 million. Outside and in the rotunda, the Vikings were getting support from their fans and the labor force Monday as they tried to send one last message to politicians before a vote on the stadium.

If Wilf is willing to pay, I think we are staying.

 

[Rice18]

 

[.infamous]

cricket..cricket..

 

[Rice18]

cricket..cricket..

 

[.infamous]

SEASON	TEAM	GP	 CMP	ATT	CMP%	YDS	AVG	TD	LNG	INT	FUM	RAT
2011	DET	16	421	663	63.5	5,038	7.60	41	73	16	3	97.2

 

[Rice18]

SEASON	TEAM	GP	 CMP	ATT	CMP%	YDS	AVG	TD	LNG	INT	FUM	RAT
2011	DET	16	421	663	63.5	5,038	7.60	41	73	16	3	97.2

 

[.infamous]

That post makes no sense. Glad I got a top 5 qb though.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

701 is out in full force today.

:yao:

 

[Rice18]

That post makes no sense. Glad I got a top 5 qb though.

701 is out in full force today.

:yao:

 

[jonathanlambert33]

You rarely make sense dude...

 

[.infamous]

Got nothin to say I see. And if you wanna post injuries..

good luck with that

 

[Rice18]

You rarely make sense dude...

That was aiming at the picture of stafford.

 

[Pugz]

:mcnoob: