Minneapolis city council votes to approve $ 150 million funding for new Minnesota Vikings stadium
Plans to develop a new Minnesota Vikings stadium in downtown Minneapolis continues to bring out a range of emotions from lawmakers.
On Thursday Minneapolis City Council voted 7-6 to approve plans to provide $ 150 million towards the construction costs of the new $ 975 million stadium.
The approval though did not come about easily as Mayor R.T. Rybak had trouble convincing lawmakers to vote for the measure that will redirect a sales tax towards the stadium.
Opponents of the bill contended vociferously against the measure as they questioned the long-term benefits of subsidising the stadium in addition to the huge costs involved.
Rybak though managed to gain a majority with the help of lobbying from construction workers and Vikings fans who had come to monitor the discussions over the stadium.
He said after the vote.
"This is not something that's all about billionaires. This is about lots and lots of people who need work."
Adding further he said.
"Please, no one should say that if this passes tomorrow, sales taxes will go up. That's simply not true."
Another vote on the measure to give final approval will take place on Friday and the result is expected to be similar to the one on Thursday and will likely be a formality.
This is the final step for the Minnesota Vikings whose plans to develop a new stadium are finally reaching fruition.
Negotiations over a new stadium finally became serious this year after the franchise’s lease of the Metrodome stadium came to an end this offseason.
The Vikings were feared to move out of the state altogether if plans for a new stadium were not approved this year.
Council vote over the measure was not without hiccups as many council members panned plans to fund the new stadium with taxpayer money.
Council member, Lisa Goodman, fighting tears said.
"To me, this is a really sad day for the city. My constituents will have to pay more to eat in their own neighbourhood as a result of this."
Another opponent, Gary Schiff contended that the state did not negotiate a good deal with the franchise and they could have asked for a higher private contribution from owners Mark and Zygi Wilf.
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