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State Representative Tony Cornish
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4240
For more information contact: Jason Wenisch 651-296-2317
NEWS RELEASE
REP. CORNISH DISCUSSES VIKINGS STADIUM DEBATE
ST. PAUL – Some state lawmakers recently introduced two new proposals that would help construct a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings. State Representative Tony Cornish (R-Good Thunder) said the only way he’s support a plan is if rural Minnesotans aren’t asked to help foot the bill.
“I’d consider supporting a new Vikings stadium if the user fees impact the Metro Area only,” Cornish said. “Everyone loves Target Field, and so they think the time is right for a new Vikings stadium. But we forget that the Twins ballpark was built when a Metro Area county chose to raise taxes within its boundaries, and that’s how it should be with the Vikings stadium.”
As part of the “Purple Plan,” the Vikings would be locked into a 40 year lease, and would pay $264 million, while the remaining $527 million would be financed by a 1.5% surtax on hotels and 2.5% surtax on rental cars in the seven-county metro area; a 6.875% tax on jersey purchases for all sports, and a sports-themed scratch off lottery game. These four revenue sources would generate $35.9 million per year. Cornish said this plan is not site-specific.
The “White Plan” would finance the stadium over 40 years at a cost of $47.5 million per year. This new stadium would be constructed at the current Metrodome site in Minneapolis. According to this bill, from 2011-2020 the Vikings would pay debt service for the new stadium - $420 million over 10 years – while proceeds from a new sports themed scratch off lottery game would be applied to the cost of the fixed roof.
However, this deal is contingent on the City of Minneapolis allowing existing downtown entertainment taxes to be used from 2021–2050 to pay for the stadium. Currently, these taxes pay the debt on the Minneapolis Convention Center, but that is scheduled to end in the year 2020. The scratch off lottery ticket game would also continue to fund the stadium roof over that same time span. Along with a 40-year lease, the City of Minneapolis would own and operate the stadium.
Cornish does find it a bit ironic that the cities of Frost, Kiester, and Bricelyn barely have enough Local Government Aid to survive thanks to cuts that the legislature had to make to balance the budget, yet apparently there are ingenious ways to fund a stadium.
“Most people love the Vikings and would hate to see them leave, but nearly all of the direct and indirect benefits of a new stadium benefit the Metro Area, so they should deal with it,” Cornish said. “That would be great if we can figure out a way for the Metro Area to pay for another stadium, but my focus for the rest of this session will be to find ways to increase pay for our health care workers and improve funding for our rural nursing homes – not building a new stadium.”
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