The estimated cost of building separate sports stadiums for the Minnesota Vikings and the Minnesota Twins is $1.1 billion -- no small piece of change.
The discussions in the Legislature are starting to heat up as deadlines loom. Taxpayer financing is the big concern, of course, but where these stadiums will be located and what will become of the existing Metrodome are side issues yet to be determined. In addition, say Twin Cities newspaper accounts, the issue of Minneapolis vs. St. Paul constituencies vying for these choice locations could upset both apple carts.
Once again, the Minnesota Legislature has boxed itself into a corner as the deadline to pass needed bonding issues is near the deadline. With all the issues on the table, quick decisions too often replace logic. Responsible elements of state and local government will get it in the neck.
It seems that every year the important issues are handled at the very end of the session when legislators are exhausted and their patience is almost non-existent. This session will be exceedingly difficult as 2004 is a major election year and the posturing will dominate practically every decision on the table. It won't be pretty.
Why abandon the Metrodome at all? Proponents suggest the Dome is obsolete as sports stadium trends have changed and the main issue on the table is to provide a facility offering more entertainment options, more luxury suites, beau coup amenities such as club seats, restaurants, retail centers and other revenue generating concepts as an added bonus. The idea is to make the stadium exciting well beyond the game.
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Recently many new stadiums throughout the country have been built offering the above amenities. The Baltimore Ravens, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos, Washington Redskins, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals all have new stadiums. Other stadiums have been remodeled, like Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers, Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears, Beaver Stadium, home of the Penn State Nittany Lions, Ohio Stadium, home of the Buckeyes and Razorback Stadium, the pride of the University of Arkansas.
So now Minnesota fans will be asked to generate a new revenue base for both the Twins and the Vikings, plus the University of Minnesota Gopher football team that wants an uncovered football stadium.
The one issue that must be resolved is the ability of both the Vikings and the Twins to make their stadium desires "user-friendly" to all of Minnesota, not just the Twin Cities metro area. The very connotation that Minnesota is the name of both professional teams is reason enough to provide accessibility to greater Minnesota as well as the metro area.
The idea of paying in the neighborhood of $7 for a glass a beer and up to around $8 for a hot dog plus ballooning ticket prices is ludicrous and, obviously, keeps many working folks from going to games with their families. When a father, with his son or daughter, is forced to dump $100 on the table to watch the Twins or Vikings, it is unbelievable, but it is happening right now in the present Metrodome. Without caps on professional player payrolls, good players have absolutely no loyalty to the teams they represent.
Here is a thought. Perhaps these stadiums could be located strategically outside the metro area, but easily accessible to Twin Cities sports enthusiasts and still better suited to attract Greater Minnesota residents? Such an idea might be more appealing in the long run.
Dick Palmer is the former editor and publisher of the Budgeteer News. He may be reached by telephone at 729-6470 or by
e-mail at rpalmer@duluth.com .
