Deadline Approaching for Vikings Stadium

Governor Mark Dayton is pushing lawmakers to vote on the proposed Vikings stadium bill. At this point the bill is behind schedule in several committees and must be moved forward by Friday in order to stay alive. If it doesn't pass at least one statehouse committee by then, lawmakers will have to waive the deadline, which GOP leaders have not committed to.

Under the plan, the Vikings would get a brand new stadium built on the current Metrodome site. The state would pay for $398 of the project, or 41 percent, through charitable electronic pulltabs. Minneapolis would pay $150 million, or 15 percent, through Convention Center sales and hospitality taxes. And the Vikings would pay $427 million, or 44 percent.

Critics like Representative Ryan Winkler (DFL-District 44B) say now is not the time to build a new stadium.

“Building shiny new projects simply distracts us from tackling obstacles to future prosperity,” he said.

"Part of the funds to pay for this stadium would be raised through pull tab gambling and if we are going to raise funds that way there are a lot of other places that money should go."

Others believe the pull tab revenue is not a stable way to pay for the stadium, but in a letter to the legislature Governor Dayton reinforced his support of the funding plan.

"I believe it is sound, reliable, and sufficient to finance the state's share of this project," he wrote. "Anyone who says otherwise is speaking without my authorization and is seriously misrepresenting my position. Furthermore, everyone trying to dismantle this proposal, without offering a better one, is clearly trying to defeat the bill.''

What do you think? Is now the right time to build a stadium? How do you feel about the proposed funding? Tell us your comments below.