Be careful what you wish for, Minnesota legislators

Another day, another Vikings stadium story in Minnesota. Only this time, elected officials said they would rather have the team leave than fund a new stadium.

State Sen. David Hann, R-Eden Prairie

During a press conference Thursday at the State Capitol, a bipartisan group of legislators announced their opposition to publicly funding a new Vikings stadium and expanding gambling statewide as a way to pay for the costs. Dubbed "the marriage of two bad ideas", Sen. David Hann, R-Eden Prairie, said there's always been a call for more casinos while solving budget challenges.

"The proponents of gambling describe this as harmless fun, entertainment and, in effect, free money," he said. "None of that is true. In fact, casino gambling is highly destructive to individuals, [and] to families."

Hann added that he was tired of professional sports teams using other states to blackmail the public to pay for stadiums for them to play in. "We don't want them to leave, but if they're going to leave I guess that is going to happen," he said.

Sen. David Thompson, R-Lakeville, also chimed in saying the Legislature didn't need to quickly resolve the stadium issue. In fact, he added that the team and the NFL would be the ones deciding if the Vikings move, not him. "If they make that decision, I personally am going to live with that," he said.

Other legislators joining Hann and Thompson included Sens. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove, Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, and state Rep. Ann Lenczewski, DFL-Bloomington.

State Sen. David Thompson, R-Lakeville

The Vikings are seeking public funding for a new stadium site in Arden Hills, 10 miles north of Minneapolis. Funding for the $1.1 billion stadium would include $407 million from Vikings owner Zygi Wilf, $300 million from the state, and $350 million from Ramsey County.

The Vikings have been looking to move out from the Metrodome since the early 2000s. They claim the stadium is outdated and isn't allowing them to be financially competitive with the other 31 teams around the league. Their lease ends in Feb. 2012 and the Vikings have said they won't renew unless there's a plan in place for a new stadium.

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, a Democrat, has called a special session for Nov. 21-23 and is pushing to get a stadium bill passed by Thanksgiving. He's gone on record expressing his support for a new stadium and that the team is an important asset to the state.

Truth be told, I once opposed public tax dollars funding sports stadiums. Like any business, I believed team owners could foot the bill for these new venues while the state continued funding more important things like education, health, and transportation. And even today, I don't like the idea of funding new things that everyone won't benefit from.

But I had a change of heart after some game-day experiences inside the Metrodome that included thin concourses to get around in, a lack of bathrooms and concession stands, and obstructed viewing all along the upper deck.

Associated Press aerial photo of deflated Metrodome in 2010.

I also had a change of heart after seeing our state's reputation diminish following the collapses of the I-35W bridge on Aug. 1, 2007 and the Metrodome roof on Dec. 12, 2010. The world and especially the NFL were exposed to the notion that we do a poor job maintaining our facilities and infrastructure while our leaders continued to believe we could get by on the cheap. Although the roof was replaced through insurance money, the bridge, along with numerous lawsuits, cost the state millions.

The world and the NFL have also been exposed to our state's history of allowing teams to move onto other markets and win championships. The Lakers moved to Los Angeles in 1960 and have gone on to win 17 NBA championships. The North Stars moved to Dallas and won numerous divisional titles, along with two conference championships and one Stanley Cup. Even the Twins almost left town through a possible move to Charlotte and even threats of contraction despite winning two World Series titles.

But most importantly, our state was in the news once again in the news for a government shutdown. Unlike previous shutdowns in the state, this one cost taxpayers millions of dollars and was the longest in recent memory in the United States.

However, some legislators don't seem to be concerned about potentially losing millions in revenue and adding another black eye to the state's reputation. It's a dangerous game of political chicken and it's a game our state cannot afford.

This is a view of a crowded concourse during a Vikings game

Vikings fans need to let every legislator know how important the Vikings are to this state. More importantly, they need to know why there's a need for a new stadium.

Some like state Rep. John Kriesel, R-Cottage Grove, understand and support a new stadium. Others, however, either don't get it, or are staying as far away from this issue so they can pass the buck on either Dayton or voters, like Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, R-Buffalo.

As you may or may not have heard, Koch attended the Vikings most recent home game against the Green Bay Packers. Instead of talking about her game-day experience and conversation with Zygi Wilf and Vikings President Mark Wilf, she sent her spokesman, Michael Brodkorb, to pose for picture in Vikings gear and say it was her first home game and that she paid full price for her ticket. It should also be noted Koch has never supported funding for any stadiums in Minnesota - including stadiums for the Twins and Gophers football team.

I don't expect this debate to get easier, and I am sure the Vikings, Dayton, and other stadium supporters feel the same way. But I am hopeful that cooler heads will prevail and that a stadium deal can be reached.