Dayton sets deadline for stadium proposals
Gov. Mark Dayton wants to see final Vikings stadium proposals from Ramsey County and the city of Minneapolis.
Dayton sent letters today to county and city officials setting a deadline of 5:00 p.m., Jan. 12. The letters said the two proposals will then be compared side by side.
"It is now time to finalize the proposals of Arden Hills/Ramsey County and the City of Minneapolis, so that the Legislature can compare them, decide between them and act to make one of them a reality," Dayton wrote.
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Dayton asked local officials to include as much detailed information as possible, including the proposed means to financing a local share of the project.
UPDATE
Dayton discussed the deadline during an afternoon news conference. He predicted that the comparison of proposals would advance the stadium process.
"I think the facts will speak for themselves in large part," Dayton said. "Some people have already made up there mind, they want this site or they want that site. But I think for general purposes among the Legislature and probably among the general public is what's the off? What the proposal? How good a deal is it? And I think one of them will show probably to be a better option than the other or the others, and that will facilitate everyone's decision."
Dayton said he expects the proposals to also include details about the Vikings' proposed share of the stadium financing. He said he was working in collaboration with the two key stadium bill architects, Rep. Morrie Lanning, R-Moorhead, and Sen. Julie Rosen, R-Fairmont.