Could Duluth Be Site For New Vikings Stadium?
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The latest proposal for a new Minnesota Vikings stadium has the team playing home games more than two hours from the Twin Cities.
Senator Roger Reinert wants to put the stadium in Duluth. His plan to pay for it includes allowing liquor sales on Sundays.
In the shadow of the Vikings current home for the last 30 years, it's hard to imagine change.
"I still like being able to hop on a bus and be 15 minutes away," said Jake Frechette, a Vikings fan.
It's even more difficult to imagine the home field two hours north of the Twin Cities.
"I wouldn't want to drive up to Duluth to see a Vikings game," said Frechette.
Sen. Reinert knows his proposal to build a stadium near Duluth will be a tough sell.
"The thing I know for sure, if the idea isn't put on the table, it's not going to happen," said Reinert, who proposed building a Vikings stadium in Duluth.
Senator Reinert has come up with some selling points. In a letter to Gov. Mark Dayton, Sen. Reinert pointed out that Duluth is already a travel destination for many Minnesotans, a high speed rail line will connect Duluth to Minneapolis in 2015 and construction could begin on the proposed 500 acre site very soon.
He also included a funding option that would not raise taxes. He proposes using the revenue from the proposed Sunday liquor sale legislation to pay for the stadium.
"I'm happy it would be without additional taxes that would be a good thing," said Linda Peterson.
Still, it seems to be a trade-off many in the metro aren't willing to make.
"It's a port city more than a sport city 28."
Gov. Dayton has said the Metrodome site is the only viable option. The Vikings said Sunday liquor has been brought up in the past, but still wouldn't cover the state's portion of the stadium.
