Viking Bailout?

   Not everyone may be a sports fan, and especially not a Minnesota Vikings fan--I know I'm not--but fan or not, the issue of paying for the new stadium should and probably does make people angry.

   What I will say to start things off is that I'm glad North Dakota doesn't have it's own NFL team, because then we'd have to worry about taking state tax payers money to help pay for a new stadium that, let's face it, isn't necessary. In September of 2012, an electronic pull tab game was created to use through iPad's to help pay for a new stadium that will be built in Minneapolis. The new stadium, expected to be up and running by the 2016 season is estimated at $975 million. Now, six months later, it seems the game "Give It A Pull" isn't doing what was expected and profits aren't looking promising to Jim Schowalter who is the Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner. Lawmakers, amongst others, are looking to find answers pertaining to where the money will come from to pay off the debt of $30 million per year that has ensued the upcoming building project. 

   Many people who opposed the bill are becoming ever more nervous. In order to get the money needed to pay off the debts for the stadium, money will have to come out of tax dollars which most think should be going to the schools. Representative Mary Liz Holberg states that, "more than $13 million shortfall in the stadium reserve account was covered by money that otherwise would have gone to repay state IOUs to schools." If this doesn't outrage Minnesota residents, I don't know what will.

   Much discussion has been and will continue to be made over the issue. Schowalter says that he will wait until this summer to make the decision on whether to put into action the so-called blink-on revenue actions for the new stadium. In the mean time, officials are trying to expand the e-tabs game in hopes that it will start bringing in more money. With no start date for the project we can only hope for the greater good of the people that officials come to their senses and call the whole thing off. But who am I kidding, this is football, and that's worth spending money for...right?