It was destined to fail, and it looks like opponents of the latest [intlink id=”35″ type=”category”]Minnesota Vikings[/intlink] stadium proposal have found a way to fuck things up again.
A new group, NoVikingsTax.com, says it’s discovered a loophole that would let voters decide whether a new stadium should be built with public money — no matter what the Legislature or Ramsey County do.
Group members say the “charter” nature of Minneapolis and Ramsey County governments allow them to collect voter signatures and place a referendum on the next election ballot.
That would essentially override any state measure banning a public referendum on the stadium.
“We could usurp their usurpation,” said Chris David, head of the small group, which wants the Vikings and their owners to pay the entire cost of a new stadium.
Last week, Ramsey County and the Vikings announced public-private financing of a 65,000-seat stadium in the Ramsey County suburb of Arden Hills at a cost of more than $1 billion. Minneapolis has a competing stadium proposal.
Key to both plans is a provision that prevents the project from being put to a public vote, just like Hennepin County did with the new Twins stadium.
As someone who lives in Minnesota, and who despises the Vikings, I don’t want to pay for their new effing stadium. They should pay for it themselves, and I agree with opponents that the project is being steamrolled through the Legislature and Ramsey County.
“I think it’s great that they want to build a Vikings stadium,” Gayle Bonneville of Minneapolis told the Star-Tribune. “I just don’t want to have to pay for it. It seems like this is being rushed through.”
The proposed sales tax increase to fund the Ramsey County project is ridiculous, and the mayor of St. Paul — the county’s largest city — is not a fan. Many have said it would, essentially, make St. Paul the most expensive place to shop in Minnesota.
A recent Star Tribune poll found I’m not alone. Seventy-four percent of respondents said they don’t want a new stadium funded with public money, and 62 percent even think the team should stay in the Metrdome.
Public and personal opinion aside, this latest twist makes the project seem even more destined for litigation, if not all-out failure. Again.
Sounds like the Vikings better start polishing that turd of a stadium known as the Metrodome for another season. Or, better yet, look into homes in the L.A. area.