 MINNESOTA -- Officials in Minneapolis reacted coolly to a state bill on the financing for a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings.Mayor R.T. Rybak and Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin said the long-awaited proposal was based on financing that would be difficult to pull off. "It is unlikely that Minneapolis could lead a bid, especially when we're facing massive state cuts," Rybak said. "There will be some ways we can be a partner, and we've already been a massive investor in infrastructure that makes the (Metrodome) site cheaper to build." McLaughlin said the bill was "badly timed, badly designed and I hope it comes to a bad end." The inflatable roof of the Metrodome collapsed under heavy snow this winter, and the Vikings' lease on the aging downtown stadium is running out. The Minneapolis Star Tribune said Saturday the measure gives local governments the authority to levy a half-cent sales tax to help pay for a stadium. The bill will be formally introduced this week. |
