Stadium Plan Could Be Ready With Budget Deal Reached
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Ramsey County Commissioner Tony Bennett said he's confident a stadium deal could get done, now that the governor and GOP leaders came to an agreement on the state budget.
After the news broke that Gov. Mark Dayton was willing to take the republican budget offer, with conditions, to end a two-week-long government shutdown, officials who have been working on a possible Vikings stadium deal revisited the idea.
"I think the final details of a new stadium in Arden Hills could be worked out very quickly if all parties involved sat down together," Bennett said. "I believe we could be ready for a special session, whenever it's called."
Stadium backers previously met in June to hash out a final plan, including how to cover up to $131 million in unallocated road costs tied to building the $1 billion stadium in Arden Hills.
"The Vikings have been patient and respectful with the budget and state shutdown," said Lester Bagley, Vikings vice president for stadium development and public affairs. "We're ready to iron out final details and move the stadium issue forward. We can get this done."
