Future Vikings fan? Photo: Kristi Johnson
This last week has been life changing for me. It has been extremely sobering, a slap in the face. Eight months ago, I embarked on a journey to save my football team. I recruited friends and new people along the way. I anticipated some resistance, some naysayers, some flak. What I didn’t expect, however, was to be thrust into a harsh, politically contentious environment. It’s like the shock you get when the lights go on at closing time: suddenly you realize things are not as they appear at all.
I have seen DFLers so afraid of losing casino-backed campaign money that they turn a blind eye to anything that might risk that, Sports Commissioners acting so independently their actions can only be seen as expedient. I have seen a governor renege on promises made to our team, a governor who now how has his sight set on national office, and whose attention seems everywhere but Minnesota. I have seen politicians so fearful of re-election, they’ve lost any sense of public servitude. I have had members of the media send me hate mail, hang up on me, respond belligerently—journalists who are anything but objective.
Somewhere you have to draw the line.
For the last 10 years I have sold IT and Technology solutions in one form or another. Over the last 2 years I have seen a diminishing market place due to off-shoring. I am watching friends in IT, skilled laborers and Minnesota citizens lose their employment to people in other countries, people who have never set foot in our state, people who are less competent and therefore willing to be less compensated. The cost of this is 10% unemployment, a financial disaster exacerbated by diminished income taxes. Corporations are eliminating jobs by the thousands during Christmas. And you think my timing is bad.
Somewhere you have to draw the line.
So now here we sit with a 1.2 billion dollar deficit as our politicians and business leaders do nothing to stop the hemorrhaging of jobs. One company that hasn’t: General Mills. General Mills is one of the highest ranked Minnesota employers and rated one of best places to work. During this recession, they have managed to grow quarter over quarter without off-shoring. What are they doing that other companies aren’t? They are attracting top talent TO Minnesota, NOT pushing it out. They are investing in their employees, instead of trying to profit by cutting them. I think there is a lesson to be learned here.
Somewhere you have to draw the line.
Representatives, Senators, and Governor Pawlenty: are you going to once again wave off yet another Minnesota employer, another Minnesota business? Are you going to “out source” the Minnesota Vikings? We have watched too many resources leave this state with seemingly little concern from you. Governor Pawlenty, you have said that Minnesota needs to be a business friendly and job friendly state. Will you take this opportunity to immediately create 18,000 jobs? Will you take this opportunity to put skilled laborers back to work? Will you take this opportunity, as hundreds of Minnesotans each week exhaust their unemployment benefits, to enable them to put food on their tables, clothes on their kids? Will you take this opportunity to generate larger tax revenue through a community partnership with a long standing Minnesota icon?
Representatives, Senators, and Governor Pawlenty: Minnesotans are drawing the line. Eighteen thousand of your constituents could be employed in the next few years.
I am getting more and more emails in support of the stadium. Find a way to fund the stadium and you find a way to jumpstart our local economy, while preserving our Minnesota heritage. I implore you to do what is right. 2.5 million people in Minnesota are Vikings fans–2.5 million people who vote.
Legislators: Draw the line and act now to help this state and keep the Vikings here!
Cory Merrifield
Founder/Fan Advocate
SavetheVikes.org
Founder, funder and superfan of the Minnesota Vikings and SavetheVikes.org. Born and raised in MN, Cory has been a lifelong Vikings fan. Season ticket holder, stop by and see him in section 218! cory.merrifield@savethevikes.org 
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Cory, that’s a pretty deep article. Do the people of Minnesota a favor…RUN FOR OFFICE!!! Get your foot in the door of that political wasteland and see if you can drill in deeper. Is there time to do that? 2.5 million votes would pretty much seal the deal for you, right? Then, when the rest of those politicians see what the people of Minnesota want, maybe things will change. I’m telling you, Cory, that you have what it takes. By the way, you performed flawlessly Thursday. I am proud to be behind you on this. We need a tight locker room right now. Support each other and be a team, and continue to add players to this Savethevikes team! That’s how we roll!!!! SKOL MINNESOTA VIKINGS!!!!!!!!!!
Keep up the good work, it’s extremely frustrating but Vikes fans owe you a debt of gratitude.
Nicely stated Cory, keep up the good work and know I am right behind you on this emailing our state leaders daily.
Thanks guys! Todd, I would make you my campaign manager if I ran for office!
Check this out…
http://wcco.com/politics/senator.racino.gambling.2.1357078.html
This is a great article. Really, Vikings fans everywhere would love to see this in the paper. Cory, great job and we’re right behind you! Save our heritage, our tradition, and our culture…..GO VIKES!
Cory:
Has the questioned been raised about the tax increase that went into affect when the dome was built almost 30 years ago? Was this tax amount removed when the dome was paid for or are these same politicians that do no want to fund a new stadium, spending these recurring dollars on other projects? I had heard the expansion and renovation of the convention center was paid for by this tax increase- is that right? I do not use the convention center, so why should I pay for these incredibly large corporations to come into our city and promote their products?
I’ve been a Viking season ticket holder for the past 14 years and have seen my ticket cost triple in price in those years. My investment in this entity has allowed the couch potato, don’t raise my taxes for a new stadium crowd, sit back and enjoy the games from the comfort of home because we’ve averted blackouts for 10 years now.
If we lose the Vikings, just don’t come back 5 years later trying to get a new team- it will cost double that of a new stadium today. Just ask the folks in Cleveland and Houston.
Responding to Duane K. Duane, I live 319 miles one way from the Dome. I live and breath Vikings football. This does not make you anymore of a fan than the rest of this state that cannot afford this luxury. Its obvious your lost in whats happening here. The state has been living off of the Major sports teams in this state for years. Not you. They have not once helped a franchise with a stadium. Counties yes, state no. If the Vikes leave it will hurt all of us. Its time we all speak up. Not blame a poorer area or a families way of spending there hard earned income. I like others can only enjoy them on TV. So we take our hats off to you for going to the games for us. And insulting us for your abilities.
Hey Cory,
I couldn’t agree more with Todd Glocke, RUN FOR OFFICE!!! Our state is not being served by the our representatives. They have forgotten that their job is to REPRESENT the people who put them in office. Poll after poll shows that Minnesotans support the racino idea to fund a new stadium, but our cowardly absentee Gov and the re-election based politicans seem to think that they know better than us minions. Through this site you have proven that you have your finger on the pulse of the people and you have the ability to get people together and you certainly aren’t afraid to make waves. Give it a thought…You’d have my vote.
Maybe you have said already and I missed it but, do you feel comfortable letting us know what members of the media have sent you the hate mail? Maybe we could let their employers know how we feel about them.
I have addressed it with their superiors. I am not the type to take a verbal slapping laying down