8/3/06
New Vikings stadium would be major benefit to Northern Region of metro area
Metropolitan cooperation and spirit is about to be tested over locating the new Minnesota Vikings stadium, headquarters and practice fields in the community of Blaine.
Blaine and Anoka County are in the lead for this major development, blessed by the Minnesota Vikings Owner Zygi Wilf.
When Blaine and Anoka County made a bid for the site, few metropolitan leaders thought it had a chance. Now, as another legislative session approaches, some opposition is coming out of the woodwork.
Itís no surprise that the City of Minneapolis wanted to meet with Wilf where they undoubtedly tried to persuade him to have the Minnesota Vikings football team play in the new University of Minnesota football stadium and eventually in a remodeled Metrodome.
Following his meeting with Minneapolis Mayor R. T. Rybak, Wilf held a press conference where he said, ìWe believe the Blaine site is second to none and our partnership with Blaine and Anoka County remains solid. We are committed to completing the stadium development here.î
During this past legislative session, legislation was passed directing Anoka County and the Vikings to prepare a stadium proposal for the 2007 season. That proposal is being prepared.
The Star Tribune in an editorial last week questions the wisdom of building a stadium with a retractable roof that it says would take away events from the Xcel Center in St. Paul and the Target Center, the Convention Center, the St. Paul River Center and major hotels?
Whoa! What happened to the notion that major developments should be done at the best site no matter where it is in the metro area as long as it enhances the total seven-county area?
No one questions the need to have strong downtowns in Minneapolis and St. Paul. In this case, however, Blaine offers a spacious site that will not only benefit Anoka County but the entire Northern Region.
Those with long memories recall how the core cities and Bloomington battled the effort to locate the Metropolitan airport in the Ham Lake area.
In the 1970s, Bloomington was unable to resist the pressure from Minneapolis that resulted in the loss of the Metropolitan Stadium and the Metropolitan Ice Center, thereby losing the Vikings, Twins and the North Stars.
Anoka County proposes a $1.5 billion mixed-use development on a 740-acre site. Wilf has a master plan to build a Minnesota Sports, Retail and Entertainment center surrounding the NFL stadium complex.
A $675 million stadium with a retractable roof would be financed with $280 million from Wilf, and $280 million from the county through a 0.75 percent sales tax. The project provides for $115 million in road improvements that benefit the region and the state. No property taxes would be used and no state general fund dollars are in the proposal.
The state will benefit from sales tax money and income taxes generated by the development and monies are to be used to upgrade interchanges and widen a portion of Interstate 35W. Anoka County and Blaine will get additional property taxes.
The major issue, however, is having a stadium that will keep the Minnesota Vikings in Minnesota. It is an issue that likely will be addressed often during the upcoming Anoka County commissioner races.
For years, thereís been major development in the southern region of the Metropolitan area, itís now the Northern regionís turn and in the spirit of metropolitan cooperation, it should not be denied. -- Don Heinzman
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