Vikings Stadium Cost, Site on Tap at Minnesota Capitol

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - The push by the Minnesota Vikings for state money for a new stadium is back on the agenda this week at the Capitol.

The Vikings debuted a full-page newspaper ad over the weekend suggesting that income tax collections from Vikings and visiting players, team employees, and sales tax proceeds in the stadium could make up the state share. That could raise enough to pay a $650 million state share.

Lawmakers would then have to cover the ensuing hole in the state general fund. But at the relatively small cost of about $20 million a year to pay off construction bonds, it would let lawmakers avoid raising new taxes or authorizing expanded gambling.

Two state Senate committees hold a hearing Tuesday to discuss potential locations for the stadium.

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