The Minnesota Vikings got some bad news Monday that state leaders do not foresee a new stadium on the Minnesota agenda in 2008.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty and leaders of all four legislative caucuses told a National Football League delegation that it's a no-go agenda for now on a football stadium.
There are three things riding against the political will to address the stadium issue in 2008.
- Minnesota is facing a $373 million deficit by 2009. Growing concerns about the overall economy range from housing challenges to other industry recessions.
- The Minneapolis bridge collapsed has highlighted the significant transportation infrastructure challenge in the state
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- The simple fact of 2008 being an election year is reality. No representative in the House wants to vote for stadium funding and run for election in the same year.
Vikings owner Zygi Wilf wants to build a new retractable-roof stadium in downtown Minneapolis. He also wants a major redevelopment of the downtown Metrodome area.
Wilf is putting his money behind the plan -- pledging about $250 million to the stadium development plan.
The biggest challenge facing Wilf and the Vikings is the growing animosity toward publicly financed stadiums for billionaire owners and millionaire players.
With Minnesota already building a new University of Minnesota football stadium and a new Twins baseball stadium, it is likely the Vikings are going to have to wait a bit more beyond 2008.
