Dayton Meets With Casino Supporters, Wilf On Stadium
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Gov. Mark Dayton is continuing to meet with supporters of a new Vikings stadium Wednesday, including one group who says they have a plan to pay for it.
The group wants to turn Block E in downtown Minneapolis into a big casino complex and set aside some of the revenue for the stadium.
It is crunch time on the stadium issue.
On Wednesday, the Governor met with supporters of a Block E casino, the Vikings and Ramsey County Commissioners.
This is a day after NFL officials put on the pressure, saying if Minnesota doesn't figure this out -- the state could lose the team.
"If you lose one of these franchises, you don't often get an opportunity anytime soon to get it back," Dayton said. "So keeping the team we have, the Minnesota Vikings have been here for 50 years. They have had their good years and not so good years but they are a Minnesota institution."
Gov. Dayton also met with Ramsey County Commissioners, who have committed $350 million for the Arden Hills site. Dayton also met with developers who want to build a casino in downtown Minneapolis, whose revenue could be used for stadium construction.
Vikigns Owner Zygi Wilf, a key player in Wednesday's meetings, refused to comment to the media as he left the capitol.
Dayton set a 10-day deadline for all the necessary parts to agree on key parts of a stadium. He plans to unveil his own detailed stadium proposal for the legislature on Nov. 7.
Although, Minneapolis hasn't been ruled out as a site.
The Vikings' lease is up at the dome at the end of the season.
Dayton said he would call a special session to help get a stadium deal done, if there's support for it.
Right now it's unclear if he'd get that.
