Trio Of Major Events Brings Sports Debate Back To Capitol

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A trifecta of major sporting events are headed to Minnesota in coming years, all of them certain to shower the state with global attention and pull in tens of thousands of visitors.

Golf's Ryder Cup is here in 2016, football's Super Bowl arrives in 2018 and college basketball's Final Four the year after that.

Organizers of each have begun exploring public help for their events, ranging from expanded tax exemptions to free logistical support.

They argue that the benefits will be more than worth it and are shaping prospective deals more as partnerships than the public handouts.

Lawmakers aren't far removed from stadium subsidy fights for the Vikings and Twins, and could be approached soon for money to build an outdoor stadium for a not-yet-certain pro soccer franchise.