vikings/nfl

I just have one thing to say to anybody that thinks a football team doesn't help the city. If they're so bad, how come St. Louis, Cleveland, Baltimore, Houston and Indianapolis all fought tooth and nail to get teams back? Why is LA fighting for a team? If this was a private development you'd be asking them to fund a lot of stuff because of the revenue they would make. States put up a lot of money to keep businesses. Not necessarily because they make money on them, but because the state is better off with them. How much money do you think is made from museums and parks? My bet would be nothing. A football team that will actually bring in revenue? I'd kick them out too.

Its not about hometown favorites, its about getting the project right. Ask the Twins how the hometown favorite is working out for them. AKA - Mauer = 25% of player spending.

I bought into a condo development in NE Minneapolis for which K/A was the general contractor. I rue the day I did that. Worst experience ever! Give it to Mortenson.

Did any of you naysayers read the article in Sunday's Metro section about the churches neighboring the statdium site and how they are being courted by developers looking to do multi-use projects using their property? The stadium project is driving development in the area.

(JoeMac): "rshackleford - I am going out on a limb here and assuming you fully embraced the North Star Rail Line?" No. I fought against it because only going halfway to St. Cloud was stupid. "But for a city/state to prosper you need to generate revenue, build roads and shared resources like parks and stadiums." Roads, parks, yes. I even used to be a DNR plate holder for many years until Landwehr started making ridiculous choices (he can buy his fish bubbler without my $30). An unaffordable eight to ten day use private access only stadium is not to be included in a list of such public use items. "It's our culture, not everything in life has an ROI or has value." The culture is untruthful then. Vikings never wore horns on their helmets but the marketing geniuses use the statement "Show Your Horns"? Stupid. The players look like purple helmeted cattle out there. Even Jared gets into the act by roping them! "But many of these places produce experiences that turn into memories. It's the experience of Minneapolis that we are investing in." The experience and memories of giving away money to the ultra wealthy and in return, a mediocre at best team. The experience also includes subzero temps during an upcoming super bowl? Let's see here...which to choose...a warm sunny climate to hold a great game or a perpetually gray and cold city where NO ONE is going to do anything other than watch the SB game (if they come at all) and then leave. You know it, the NFL knows it, and everyone else does too.

Should've let them move to California!

rshackleford - I am going out on a limb here and assuming you fully embraced the North Star Rail Line? Listen - not everything in this state is for you and it will not be liked by you. But for a city/state to prosper you need to generate revenue, build roads and shared resources like parks and stadiums. It's our culture, not everything in life has an ROI or has value . But many of these places produce experiences that turn into memories. It's the experience of Minneapolis that we are investing in.

This stadium should last 10-12 years and then we should build another one. Minnesota needs to keep up with times. Always behind...

billybilly - I never commented on the vikings leaving town, to me this is not a vikings stadium. It's a multi purpose facility. I also never made comments on this process and use of tax money. I think that is a weak argument, decisions are made daily with my tax dollars and I don't get to vote on every penny. At this point I have accepted that a stadium will be built with my tax dollars and it will generate revenue for the city. May I assume that your sons restaurant will benefit from increased neighborhood traffic from the 900 or so workers during construction? How about the fact that the new venue will attract different clientel to occupy the stadium? I'm not sure how long you have lived downtown but our back broke a long time ago, we need to reinvent this city and embrace progress.

(JoeMacFeb quote): "The stadium will likely be used on a daily basis for concerts, highschool sporting events, NFL games and conventions that require large space." ---- I hear there is a huge RV show in town. Where is that at? RV's are quite large and must require a lot of space to display. Where have the latest concerts been? What's that? The Peoples' Hockey Arena and the Peoples' Basketball Arena? Can't be! And, how much do high school sporting events bring in revenue to pay off the unnecessary metrodump version 2.0?