As communicated to Vikings fans last week, the first vote on a Vikings stadium will occur on December 27th. Tomorrow, the Senate Majority will elect a new leader and that Senator will have a major impact on the Vikings chances of staying in Minnesota. As it stands right now, Senator David Hann (R-Eden Prairie) is the leading candidate. This does not bode well for Vikings fans. Historically, Hann has been publicly opposed against a Vikings stadium, and opposes using Racino to finance it.
We need you to communicate to Hann exactly what he should expect from Vikings fans.
Please take a moment and contact Senator Hann and stress these key message points:
- The Vikings operate out of Winter Park which is in Eden Prairie, MN. The Vikings are Hann’s constituents and it is customary for Republican Leaders to represent the businesses of their districts bills that would expand business and grow jobs.
- Hann would preside over a Minnesota Senate that is eager and ready to pass a Vikings stadium bill financed by Zygi Wilf and expanded gambling.
- The Vikings stadium issue cannot be ignored as they play their final game next week at the Metrodome-New Years Day, 2012.
- The Vikings stadium will create over 10,000 jobs and generate over $35 million a year for the state of Minnesota. The majority of those jobs will be in the construction trades which are at 20 percent unemployment.
- The majority of the Vikings season ticket holders in the metro reside in the southwest metro, including Eden Prairie which Hann Legislates over.
- Over 70 percent of Minnesotan’s want to keep the Vikings
- Over 70 percent of Minnesotan’s want Racino
- Over 60 percent of people think a Vikings stadium should be financed with Racino
*Sources: CSL reports to MSFC, Star Tribune and Survey USA
Fans can email Senator David Hann at his legislative tool:
http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/member_emailform.php?mem_id=1016&ls=
If you do not have access to a web browser you can also email him at his personal email address: mailto:davidhann@hann4senate.com
Fans can call Hann’s office at 651.296.1749.
Please be courteous when emailing and calling. We are extending the olive branch and it is up to Hann to accept. We can always be aggressive in January if Hann subscribes to the Kurt Zellers School of stadium stalling.
In closing, we would like to thank all of the Vikings fans and Racino supporters for their help over 2011. You assistance has been invaluable. From the emails you send, to the tweets and FB posts in addition to all of the other creative ways you help engage your network to help in the fight to keep the Vikings in Minnesota, we are sincerely grateful for your support.
Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah and a very Happy New Year to you and your family!
Cory Merrifield Founder/Fan Advocate SavetheVikes.org P.S. Please share this with a friend and ask them to contact Hann today!
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 
Senator Senjem was voted as the senate leader. How does this affect the stadium efforts?
Hann didn’t get elected- Senjum did and he is for the stadium and use of casino funds to pay for, it will get done soon. The Vikes are not going anywhere!!
Senjem is pro stadium and pro racino. This can be seen as nothing but good news for the Vikings and their fans.
Cory, your countdown clock on the right is wrong. The Vikings lease does not expire until February 1st, 2012 giving the team 33 more days, not 2. There are 2 days left in the season, yes, but not on the lease. I am surprised you haven’t corrected this, or at least acknowledged this fact.
Cory – Wonderful job at the Shakopee City Council meeting tonight.
Great presentation wit solid fact and figures. Also super effort combating Mr. Negative Lehman – Mr Anti business – you “handled” him well. Keep up the great work you do!!! Bill Mars