Proposed Tax Bill Cuts Costs on Suites, Not Standard Seats

ST. PAUL -- Minnesota sports fans who watch games from the best seats in the house could get a cushy deal from the Legislature.

A tax bill in the works at the Capitol includes an exemption from sales taxes on suites at stadiums. Tickets for other, standard seats would see no such tax cut.

That's part of a $260 million package of tax cuts and credits unveiled Friday evening as top lawmakers hammered out plans for a $900 million budget surplus. The Legislature has until midnight Sunday to pass its budget plans.

The exemption would cost the state more than $3 million a year. Lawmakers are still working out the finer details of their proposals so it's unclear exactly how the exemption would apply and whether it would extend to suites at concerts.