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Vikings no fan of Ramsey County's latest stadium plan

"Ramsey County re-entered the Vikings stadium fray with a plan to raise $300 million for its share of construction costs with user fees. The team, though, is not a fan.

Parking revenue, naming rights, hospitality taxes targeted to the stadium area and an admissions surcharge could generate about $20.6 million a year for a $1.1 billion stadium in Arden Hills, according to a fresh plan unveiled Friday by two Ramsey County commissioners.

"Our new plan's a game-changer. It's totally different than the first two proposals we put forward," Ramsey County Commissioner Tony Bennett said Friday after briefing Gov. Mark Dayton on the new financing proposal.

Vikings spokesman Lester Bagley, though, took a dim view of the proposal. Nearly half of the projected revenue under the new plan was slated to go to the team under previous agreements.

"We think their earlier proposals were more viable. Right now, it's not something we could support," Bagley said.

The proposal could generate up to $618 million over 30 years, enough to pay off Ramsey County's share of the state bonds on a new football stadium, plus interest. Bennett and fellow Commissioner Rafael Ortega spoke to reporters after briefing Dayton.

"When we met with him, he was very thankful and he was very congenial," Bennett said. "Whether he'll support us, I don't know."

The commissioners also briefed state Rep. Morrie Lanning, R-Moorhead, by phone and state Sen. Julie Rosen, R-Fairmont, in a sit-down. The

commissioners hope to be invited to the next gathering of a stadium legislative working committee. "


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