PLYMOUTH, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Mark Dayton said Thursday that Minnesota Vikings officials weren't forthright during negotiations about the possibility that season ticket holders could be charged hefty new fees to help fund the new stadium.
While expressing optimism the dispute could be worked out, Dayton did not retreat from an earlier vow to fight the teams' owners over the extra charges.
The stadium legislation passed last May authorizing the $975 million construction project says the team can issue "stadium builder's licenses," typically a one-time fee on top of normal season ticket charges. Other NFL teams have charged from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars in such fees, and the Vikings raised the issue recently in a survey to season ticket holders as one possible way to pay for some of their $477 million share. The state and the city of Minneapolis are covering the rest of the tab.
On Tuesday, Dayton sent Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf a letter, condemning the seat fee idea, saying it would make the new downtown Minneapolis venue a "Rich People's Stadium."
After a speech to educators in Plymouth on Thursday, Dayton said team officials didn't bring up the high-dollar fee proposal during stadium negotiations.
"Not every card was face up on the table," he said.
Dayton said he believed state and local officials involved in the negotiations assumed any such fee proposal would resemble a more modest seat-license plan such as the one employed by the Minnesota Twins, who charged $1,000 to $2,000 on a small number of premium seats in club areas. Dayton said he hopes the Vikings ultimately take that approach.
Vikings spokesman Lester Bagley took issue with the idea that team officials were less than open about the possibility of seat licenses.
"We went through 14 committee hearings, had discussions about stadium builder's licenses with the governor's negotiators," Bagley said. "We were very forthright and very above-board and very clear."
More than half of NFL teams charge seat license fees.
Bagley said the team is still in the early stages of analyzing seat license fees, and that any plan would be based on what the local market can support.
"This is not New York or San Francisco," he said.
If the Vikings decide to proceed with a seat-license fee, the final decision on whether to allow it to proceed would likely rest with the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, a five-member panel created to oversee stadium construction and operations. Its members were appointed by Dayton and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, who also opposes seat licenses. The governor said he was confident the panel would rein in excessive fees.
And while Dayton was optimistic that the authority and the team could reach a compromise, he again suggested that the issue could be revisited at the Capitol.
"If the authority doesn't act in a way that I think is within the boundaries of propriety, then I have an option to go to the Legislature," Dayton said. "Obviously I'd have to persuade the Legislature, and I'd rather not do that, get involved in all that tangle again."
Dayton said he hoped the Wilfs would realize steep fees might attract ill will.
"They've obviously been very successful developers in New Jersey and that area," Dayton said. "Maybe there's one style of doing business there that's effective. I think there's a different style here that's more straightforward and more mindful of the sensitivities of the community, and the need for good relations with the community."
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
Comments (34)
Add commentDayton, you were all for the
Dayton, you were all for the stadium, now quit crying about the fact you didn't investigate it properly.
What a fool. If you didn't
What a fool. If you didn't want the Vikings to be able to do that you shouldn't have signed legislation allowing the Vikings to do that. How thick can one heir be?
It's their money...
If the majority of the capital needed to build the stadium is the owners, as Dayton demanded, then they should have the right to price the tickets anyway they choose. Look on the bright side...good paying (Union) jobs created in a time when there are few.
Note to Gov Dayton , Dont embark on any of those trade missions
To Israel for a while.
The last time the shooting started , Tim Pawlenty ( acting on behalf of all Minnesotans) was there to get things started.
Good thing we learned something from all TPAWs mistakes..
I ask you once again, Where's Little Johnny
Dayton knew of this scam from day one. He knowingly allowed it to happen on the basis that it wouldn't be released until after the election. Now he tries to act like he's upset. All preplanned. There's nothing he can do about it now except make noise and all his Little Johnny's have been elected so tough crap to the citizens. If you don't believe me then where are the rest of his legislators on this issue and why aren't we hearing from them. They have been told by Dayton to stay away from this issue and it will go away with time. Hey Little Johnny Ward, You wanted to be my legislator, now get off your derrier now and let's hear some stink on this issue. This is the second day in a row I've asked for your intervention on behalf of the citizens in this house district. C-mon little abuser, get it in gear. We all know how hard it is for you to oppose a tax.
Boy Charlie,
All that sweet talk and I bet Rep. Ward will just hop to whatever you want. You are about as effective in communicating as Michele Bachmann.
Don't forget who controlled the Legislature when the Stadium bill was passed and how THE GOP should have deleted the provision if they were against it. So obviously, they liked it.
Sweet Southie
Nobody talks sweet to a lib. They don't understand it. To get results from a lib, you have to shove it down their throats. Besides, the last thing I will ever do is kiss up to a lib, especially Little Johnny. Remember, I'm a Veteran and he ABUSES Veterans. The little scum-bum.
Michele is misguided.
Period.
I don't hate her, though. She is ignorant about science and lacks the intelligence to be on the intelligence committee. She puts secrets out there which endanger our country.
She is a grandstander and loves to be on any channel esp. fox showing off her ignorance for all to see. And after her run for President, the entire country has seen her for what she is.
Yes, she won. Why?
Purposed
Southie doesn't like Michelle Bachmann because she got a kiss and hug from Bush on national television and Southie didn't. Southie only works like a proctologist, below the belt. Ask her about her friends Karen and Ellain from Milaca. She won't tell you the truth about that because it was below the belt also. Hey Southie, what kind of unearned government subsidy do you live on? Welfare, AFDC,Food Stamps, School Teacher, Government employee. Let us know so we know who we are talking with on this site. Maybe it will help some of the other posters when they realize who they are dealing with. BLAST
Southie ...
... in your last post you were talking about Obama, right ??
Who controlled the Legislature when Stadium bil was passed.
Hey southie, Dayton held the VETO pen. He canned $29 million plus 17 million federal matching funds from the Veterans Bonding bill on the last evening of session this year and gave it to MNSCU and the Zoo so don't tell me he didn't control the Vikes bill. He was right in the front seat of that bus. By the way, why doesn't Little Johnny squack about the money Dayton took from the Vets. After all, isn't Johnny the neatest thing since tapered [filtered word] when it comes to helping vets or should I say abusing Vets. That money was for phase III of the vets home in Mpls. You know, a place for homeless, disabled, physically and mentally handicapped Veterans. WHERE WAS LITTLE JOHNNY??????
Hey Southie
You're learning a lot of things you didn't know today, right. Does that tell you something. Little Johnny isn't telling you lip-slappers everything. Only what he wants his puppets to lip-slap about. Maybe you should ask him to tell you everything so you don't look so stupid when you slap your lips on this site. Moral of the story: Shut up unless you know all of what you're talking about.
The Governor is the leader
I didn't know about the funds taken from the vets.
All we heard about from Taylor, Ward, and Joe was the
funding from the schools. Of course, the school districts
have a way to increase our taxes for the pensions
without a vote.
I just know that Mark Dayton is not the brightest bulb
in the state, but he finally was able to purchase this postion.
If he were a Republican, we would never hear the end of
his money. Here is a guy who took his inherited money and
spent it to get elected so, that he can spend taxpayers
money and tax the so-called rich people. He and his ex-wife
Alida Rockefeller have their accounts set up to avoid taxes.
John Ward looks out for teachers and school retirees.
Conflict of interest apparently doesn't apply.
P.S.
When someone inherits money, they have a choice to
use it to start at business, buy a business to hire employees.
That is how you care for the "community". Not spending
much of your money to get elected to office so you can
spend our tax money.
Charles
Tapered [filtered word] and lip slappers. ROFLMAO!!
Can't compare
I think southie must be jealous because Bachman earned more degrees and once was a lawyer for the IRS. I would bet she would be more than happy to release her transcripts.
Sorry Denny
I didn'trealize the word "[filtered word]" was filtered.
HOT--ALERT--HOT OFF THE PRESS AT 3:05pm today.
The Mn house laid out it's new leadership positions for the many committees. It might be noted that Little Johnny was not picked to head any committee by his own party. Not bad for a third termer. Of course neither was Joe R. NOW THE SCARY PART: The house ethics committee chair was not yet appointed. Either they couldn't find anyone qualified to fill it or (help) "little johnny". Please Lord.
For complete list of committee assignments
For a complete list of the new House committee assignments go to: www.houseinfo@house.leg.state.mn.us
The Latest Toy For Christmas
I think I'll buy one of these for Southie. The newest toy to hit the shelves for Christmas this year is: A TALKING MUSLIM DOLL. Nobody knows what it says because no one has the guts to pull the cord. LOL joke joke
BTW
You do know why ward is so popular around here right?? Just look at what he did when he was a teacher here. Me thinks alot of the people on here were his students (emotional behavior disorder's)
Doctor Old Farm Boy...
Why Ward is popular.?.
Voters...
Scribs
What's up?? I don't deserve a picture with that or what?? Ya have to find me a JD 4020 with a 4 bottom plow. I spent just a little time in that! LOL
OFB...You ask, and Receive...
Why Old Farm Boy Matters...
Because he cares...
That's worthy...
Where's the
4020, scribs? If he's worthy you let him down.
Com'On scribs
I did say 4020!! God you make me laugh!!! I can't remember for sure but I want to say that is 30+ Hp less.
3020...Still gets the crops plowed, ya.?.
Groovy...
Diggin Deere 4020...
Groovy...
_______
Back on subject
The state should put a matching tax on seats to pay our share of the stadium