Hennepin Co. says “no thanks” to Vikes
Hennepin County board chairman Mike Opat sent a letter to Gov. Mark Dayton saying that his board won't be pursuing a Vikings stadium bid -- for now.
He cites a lack of time to come up with a viable bid, potential cuts to state aid to the county and the Hennepin County Medical Center, and complaints he's been making for weeks that he thinks the state contribution isn't for real -- that the revenue sources are funny money.
It's hard to say what this means. With talk already rising of a special session at the Capitol, some of these problems could be ironed out in time.
But the Vikings ownership has been in town kicking the tires over in Ramsey County -- including a rumored tour of the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant site in Arden Hills last weekend. Fox9 also reported the Wilf family visited today with House transportation committee chair Mike Beard about potential infrastructure costs out there.
Here's the letter from Mike Opat:
Hennepin County stadium letter
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