2 months ago there were stadium whispers. Now there is stadium talk which is leading to productive stadium discussions. Certainly, on the field performance is a huge factor, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. It’s hard to believe that once upon a time people were so set against Brett Favre coming to Minnesota. Now you would be hard pressed to find a Favre hater anywhere in the state. He has been a huge addition and a great asset.
Fans and Friends, in a few years the stadium issue will be no different. Sure there was initial opposition, but once its here, the haters won’t be anywhere in sight. As a matter of fact tides are turning. Proof of that is evident in St. Cloud State University’s (SCSU) study that shows 67% of people feel it’s important to keep the Vikings. That number is up 27% from last year! With that said let’s walk through the latest efforts being made to keep the Vikings here in Minnesota.
The most immediate news is Senator Dick Day resigning as Senate minority leader to lobby full time for the Racino bill which he has been a big supporter of since the Twins stadium drive. Andy Giefer, PR Director for SavetheVikes.org reached Sen. Day for comment “All my energy will be devoted to getting Racinos at Canterbury Park and Running Aces. How the legislature decides to spend the money is their business. They may want to fund a stadium or they may not.” You can reach Sen. Dick Day to ask his lobbying efforts include Racino revenues go towards a new stadium by emailing him at sen.dick.day@senate.mn or by phone 651.296.9457.
At the Capitol last week, state Representative Tom Hackbarth addressed the crowd at the Vikings Fan Rally and talked about the importance and the impact the Vikings has on the state “We’re going to lose a very important social and economic impact to the state of Minnesota if we lose them after the 2011 season.” Rep. Hackbarth is proposing a constitutional amendment that would generate hundreds of million dollars in tax revenue through taxing of slot machines at Canterbury and Running Aces. I think its best everybody email Rep. Hackbarth in support of using that tax revenue to help fund a stadium. If Day and Hackbarth get the Racino bill passed, there is no guarantee at this time that it would be used for a stadium. But there certainly would be enough left over to address some of the states other financial needs. You can email Rep. Hackbarth to show your support for the Racino bill as it relates to assisting the Vikings new stadium drive by emailing him at rep.tom.hackbarth@house.mn or by phone at 651.296.2439.
While this talk may upset the Native Americans, the truth of the matter is they are getting an exclusive deal on many levels. Of all the 19 states that allow Native American casinos, Minnesota is the only one which DOES NOT have a compact that collects taxes on the revenues. Simultaneously the Native Americans are giving extremely large amounts of money to the DFL to the tune of over 3 million dollars. By show of numbers, there are more supporters on the Republican side of the House and Senate. I am not suggesting anything here, so you be the judge…
Sadly, the Native Americans that profit from the casinos are only a small minority of the overall Native American population in the state and are not sharing the profits with other Native American’s in Minnesota. No where does it state that the Native Americans need to subsidize other tribes, but they may want to consider that along with an annual tax contribution instead of a DFL campaign contribution to head off the momentum the Racino bill is gaining during these tough economic times.
Speaking of lack of subsidizing, the NFL announced this week that it is no longer subsidizing the financially respective bottom 3rd of the leagues teams. This has an immediate impact on the Minnesota Vikings who are ranked 31 out of 32 teams in terms of profitability. Their financial picture just went from bad to worse. This builds an extreme sense of urgency to build a stadium and increase profitability. Anybody that thought calling a so called “bluff” by the Vikings just lost any little amount of perceived leverage they may have had. This is a reflection of the negotiations going on between the NFL and its players union.
Staying on the national front the current job situation took center stage for President Obama. He spoke this week in PA about his new job program and acknowledged that 8 million unemployed Americans has taken a steep toll on the economy:
“It’s typical that it takes a little more time to come out of a recession when it comes to hiring. But Americans who’ve been desperately looking for work for months — some of them maybe for a year or longer — they can’t wait. And we won’t wait. We need to do everything we can, right now, to get our businesses hiring again so that our friends and our neighbors can go back to work. That’s why we’re doing everything we can to spur new industries to create good, new jobs that won’t be sent offshore.”
Back to local news…
Pawlenty said Minnesota needs to be a job friendly and business friendly state. It bears repeating Governor, building this stadium will contribute 18,000 jobs and contract opportunities. Your senior leaders on Capitol Hill in Washington are reaching out to the State governments to partner on building new jobs and getting people off unemployment. Now is the time for action, not pre-campaign strategy.
Speaking of Pawlenty I had lunch last week with a living legend Wheelock Whitney. During lunch he mentioned he called his friend Pawlenty to ask that he reach out to Vikings ownership. It didn’t mean there was a commitment, but that he felt they should talk. As it always has been, when Wheelock speaks, people listen. Pawlenty had lunch with the Vikings and it’s the first time the Governor and team officials have talked in some time. Since then the Vikings have confirmed that there is some phone tag occurring between the Governor and the team’s ownership. You can reach the Governor and thank him for taking an interest in the issue at tim.pawlenty@state.mn.us or by phone at 651.296.3391.
Tossing his suggestion into the court of public opinion last week was Rick Olseen who proposed the idea of selling personal seat licenses. While the Vikings have been vocal about not favoring that, it is another step forward in the legislature. Paying attention Paul Thatcher?
For those of you not familiar with personal seat licenses, it essentially gives you the rights to buy the tickets. Problem is it drives up the cost of the fan experience, which is why the Vikings (and I agree) which makes it tough for Joe and Jill America to bring their kids to a game. The Twins have personal seat licenses, and as you will find out when you buy your tickets next year, it will substantially increase your ticket costs. You can contact Sen. Rick Olseen at sen.rick.olseen@senate.mn or by phone at 651.296.5419
Rounding out my legislative corner of this report, I want to follow up on Margaret Kelliher. Margaret talked about forming a purple ribbon panel which I view as her first campaign promise.
Margaret, my question for you is: Were you grabbing headlines or is there substance to your claim? Will you follow through on your first campaign promise made to Minnesotan’s?
You can reach Mrs. Speaker at rep.margaret.kelliher@house.mn or by phone at 651.296.0171 to ask her the question above directly.
And closing out the latest updates is what will end up being a story to be continued…
The relationship between the Vikings and the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission (MSFC) is still as ugly as Paul Thatcher’s new hair piece (While that is a joke, I am not joking, it looks horrible Paul!)
Recently, the MSFC has been holding the Vikings hostage with a few things. The MSFC contracted with a company to develop new plans in regards to what a stadium rebuild on the Metrodome site would look like. They have been withholding those plans, until now. On Tuesday, December 15th at 11am at the Metrodome they will be unveiling those plans.
And there won’t be a Viking player, coach or owner in sight.
That’s right; the MSFC who is STILL trying to hold the Vikings hostage with an 8 million dollar penalty payment is going to unveil the new stadium vision publicly in a ploy to try to once again throw mud at the Minnesota Vikings.
My team and I had a chance to sit down with Bill Lester and Roy Terwilliger to discuss the recent developments. It would appear that certain members on the committee are willing and desire to move this forward in the 2010 session. But then you have the useless waste of a seat, Paul Thatcher who still won’t repeal the resolution (which is in effect the 8 million dollar penalty to the Vikings) and still won’t come out publicly in support of trying to move this forward in the 2010 session. Several of the other members have expressed their interest in moving forward this year after seeing recent public and legislative interest in keeping the Vikings here in Minnesota.
I have been asked by the MSFC to try and open up discussions between the commission and the team, and the answer given to me by the Vikings is the same one they gave everybody else Roy and Bill asked to help: The Vikings will not re-engage the MSFC until they repeal the resolution and come out publicly in support of moving this forward in the 2010 legislative session. Punting on this issue for 2 years, threatening them with an 8 million dollar penalty and going to the media independently behind the Vikings back will not forge a good working relationship.
It is these kinds of tactics that the MSFC used on Norm Green and the North Stars. The result of this will be the same. The MSFC, Paul Thatcher particularly, will push the Minnesota Vikings out of town.
Additionally, I will add that trying to threaten the Vikings and playing this back and forth game in the media (Like the upcoming unveiling of the new plans) is counter productive. Quit playing games, REPEAL THE RESOLUTION and PUBLICLY SUPPORT MOVING THE STADIUM ISSUE FORWARD IN THE 2010 SESSION!
To email Paul Thatcher to let him know his rug looks horrible, that he is a stuck up ass who needs to take his medicine/apologize, and support the Minnesota Vikings publicly, you can reach him at his PERSONAL email address: paulrexford.thatcher@gmail.com
If you want to email other members of the commission to insist they kick Paul Thatcher’s arrogant, self serving, counter-productive, bad hair piece wearing lazy ass off the commission, they can be reached here:
Bill Lester: Lesterb@msfc.com
Bobbi Ellenbur: ellenbb@msfc.com
Dennis Alfton: alftond@msfc.com
Chris Kohlmer: kohlmec@msfc.com
Mary Fox-Stroman: foxstrm@msfc.com
Roy Terwilliger: roytwig@aol.com
Steve Maki: makis@msfc.com
Or you can call them all at 612.335.3310
Please take a moment and send your emails and make your calls which can help make an impact on keeping the Vikings here! I will have an update for you after next Tuesdays meeting at the Metrodome. Additionally, if you haven’t already, please register your email address on the home page at www.savethevikes.org so we can keep you updated on the latest developments!
In closing SavetheVikes.org will have a booth on the plaza before the Vikings-Bengal’s game. Please stop out and say hi to my team and me! We’d love to chat Vikings football and ways you can help keep the Minnesota Vikings here in Minnesota!
Cory Merrifield
Founder/Fan Advocate
SavetheVikes.org
Founder and author of 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 
Cory, I’m going to repost this in a note on my FB page tonight. Lots of great info here. Thanks!