Vote, court go against proposal to fund Vikes stadium

ST. PAUL -- A Minnesota Vikings football stadium proposal Wednesday suffered what may have been two fatal blows.

The state Supreme Court issued a ruling creating state budget turmoil at the same time a key committee narrowly voted down the stadium plan.

The House state and local government committee voted 10-9 against the plan to build a $791 million stadium, although a couple of hours later it did advance in a Senate committee.

House committee members were concerned because while the bill was oriented to a Minneapolis stadium, officials there were, at best, cool to it.

There are ways to resurrect the bill after the negative vote, but the court ruling saying that Gov. Tim Pawlenty's 2009 budget cutting actions were illegal may have been a more serious setback. After the ruling, Pawlenty and legislative leaders said that balancing the budget has taken on new importance and that is a much higher priority than a new stadium.

Rep. Paul Marquart, DFL-Dilworth, was disappointed the House committee did not pass the bill. He said he understands the budget is the main priority but said now is the right time to discuss the issue.

A Senate state and local government committee changed the way a new stadium would be funded.

Sen. Rick Olseen, DFL-Harris, proposed using personal seat licenses, which gives the license holder a right to later buy tickets. That would cover two-thirds of the stadium cost, he said.

Licenses for prime locations at other stadiums have cost as much as $20,000 per seat, he said.

After passing the Olseen amendment, the Senate committee passed the bill 9-3.

The team will study demand for seat licenses in the Twin Cities, Vikings Vice President Lester Bagley said, but he doubted they would provide enough revenue.

The House bill, which was defeated by a single vote, also gained a new funding method from the original bill that was introduced Monday.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty said he would not accept tax increases to fund a new stadium, so the proposal's House author took out new taxes and decided to borrow money instead. Rep. Loren Solberg, DFL-Grand Rapids, also changed the bill so the new stadium was likely to be in Minneapolis, although other cities would be eligible.

The proposal is to provide part of the funding for a $791 million stadium at an undetermined location.

Davis and Tellijohn report for Forum Communications Co.