Minnesota Vikings closing in on new stadium as Senate Taxes committee approves bill - NFL News
Minnesota Vikings got one step closer to getting State funding for a new $ 975 million home in downtown Minneapolis after the Senate Taxes committee passed the bill by the narrowest of margins.
The committee after a long debate over aspects of funding for the new stadium approved the bill and moved it up to the House and Senate floors “without recommendation”.
The bill passed by a 7-6 vote as many Senators showed their disapproval of generating funds for the new stadium through an expansion of gambling.
Senators tried to change the bill’s text by removing the gambling aspect and pushing for a sales tax on each and every thing sold in the new arena.
However, the Minnesota Vikings were extremely against the new measure as they called it a violation of their agreement with Governor Mark Dayton.
Senator, Geoff Michel a supporter of the bill said about the proposed Sales Tax.
"I think it sends a pretty rough message to the folks who've been working on this, including the governor, who made this framework. This rips out the backbone of the bill."
However, some supporters of the measure which included Senator John Howe said that applying the Sales tax would target people who will most use the stadium instead of those who might never even go there.
"It's about making it market-based rather than taking revenue from everyone. The people who use the stadium the most are the ones who should pay for it the most."
The Bill will now move to the House and Senate for approval and lawmakers are running out of time to approve the measure as they look to end their current session by midnight on Monday.
The Vikings have long pushed for a new stadium and their lobbying efforts now seem destined to come to fruition.
With the bill’s approval, the State would fork out around $ 400 million while the franchise will contribute around $ 427 million while another $ 150 million will be paid by the city council.
Minnesota Vikings’ current home of the Metrodome is now 30 years old and the franchise has long struggled to generate revenues that will allow it to keep pace with their rivals in the National Football League (NFL).
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