Dayton To Meet With GOP About Vikings Future
ST. PAUL (WCCO) -- On Tuesday afternoon, Governor-elect Mark Dayton will sit down with Republican House Speaker-elect Kurt Zellers to discuss the future home of the Minnesota Vikings.
"Hopefully we can find common ground to work together from the very beginning of the session," said Dayton on the WCCO Morning News with Dave Lee.
The incoming DFL governor supports a publicly-funded facility as long as general fund money is not used.
"It's going to have to be a bi-partisan leadership to do this project," said Dayton. "From my standpoint, if it's going to be done it's going to have to be a people of Minnesota stadium."
Building a stadium or dome could bring thousands of jobs to Minnesota. Dayton said that would be a boost of energy to the state and its unemployed workers.
"Eight thousand construction jobs over three years; those people unemployed now will be working, paying taxes; then there's the project paying taxes. So with all the revenues generated by the project outweighing any cost to the public... then it's a good deal to the people of Minnesota and I'll support it," he said.
On Monday, Dayton met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Dayton called it a good meeting
"Obviously, the Metrodome is deflated and unplayable. These last two games having to be moved just underscores the imperative from the league standpoint," said Dayton.
Goodell toured the Dome and said the damage looked "startling."
"The NFL is working to support this community in is trying to find the right solution. The Vikings are willing to do that," said Goodell.
Dayton told Lee the Vikings must have some financial participation in the project.
"I suggested to them it would be helpful if they could identify one, two, or three preferred options, locations ... indoor and outdoor options. I think that would be useful to the legislature," said Dayton. "If we issue public bonds they're going to have to be paid off by the users of the stadium by a surcharged on the tickets, beverages, and souvenirs. But no general fund involved at all."
NewsRadio 830 WCCO's Edgar Linares Reports
