Stadium opponents hold the line in St. Paul

Opponents of an Arden Hills stadium aren't giving up -- even though the Vikings and just about everybody else has.

The guy with the cap on is petition organizer Dave Brudevold taking advantage of the warm weather today to stand beside Mississippi River Boulevard in St. Paul, wangling signatures from passersby for the effort to put a stadium referendum on the ballot in Ramsey County. That's despite the fact that state officials have all but ruled out the deal the Vikings originally struck to put a stadium in Arden Hills.

Several previous efforts at the Ramsey County charter commission have failed. But Ady Wickstrom, a Shoreview city council member and opponent of the county's plans to host the Vikings, says they're still trying to get the 14,900 signatures they need. If they get enough valid signatures, Ramsey County voters will be asked if they want to ban spending on a professional sports venue without a referendum.

"Our petition drive is going strong," says Wickstrom. "We're at 41 percent of our goal, and things are picking up with the warm weather."

Photo: Erika Nelson

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