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Vikings Stadium In Peril
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton is putting his foot down regarding the hard-fought deal to build a new stadium for the
The $975 million stadium was a historic accomplishment but Dayton has threatened to undo it if the owners insist on passing a portion of the team’s share onto fans, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune. The governor, in a “sternly worded letter,” does not want the team to charge seat-licensing fees for premier seating choices. The maneuver could apparently boot longtime season-ticket holding fans for big-money fans.
Fans of average means supported the stadium, “not just rich Minnesotans, because they believed the Vikings are also their team,” Dayton wrote, according to the paper. “If a new stadium were to betray that trust, it would be better that it not be built.”
He said he could get lawmakers to remove the option from the contract. Team owners said the language was in the contract when it was submitted, and there it should stay.
“Stadium builder’s licenses were vetted by the Legislature, testified to by Vikings and state of Minnesota negotiators, and most importantly, specifically reflected in the stadium legislation that was passed and signed by the governor,” the team said.