Minneapolis Mayor Pitches Plan to Keep Vikings in Town

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - City officials in Minneapolis say a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings could be built more cheaply there than in the eastern suburbs.

Mayor R.T. Rybak emerged from a private meeting with Gov. Mark Dayton on Monday to say he thinks the most realistic way to pay for a new stadium is with a citywide sales tax increase.

Rybak says the increase would also pay for renovations to Target Center, where the NBA Timberwolves play, and for property tax relief.

Rybak says he'll spend the coming week putting together a more specific plan for the governor.

Dayton says he's neutral on the site of a new stadium. The Vikings' preferred plan would put a $1.1 billion stadium in Arden Hills.