Vikings owner Zgyi Wilf Thursday had chats with lawmakers -- and Gov. Mark Dayton.
"It wasn't planned," Dayton said of his meeting with Wilf.
The governor had an unrelated meeting at the University Club Thursday night, the same day Wilf made a 'surprise' visit to the Minnesota Capitol. Dayton said Wilf was also in the University Club that evening and Lester Bagley, Vikings' lobbyist, realized it would be an opportunity to bring the two together.
"it was an informal conversation," Dayton said. He said Wilf seemed "hopeful and I said I was hopeful (a new Vikings stadium) would be passed through the legislative process this session."
Dayton said his hopes rest, in part on the fact that: "We have some very good authors in both the House and the Senate and bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate."
Dayton said since the 10 minute chat wasn't planned, it didn't delve into details.
"I wasn't planning on meeting with him so I didn't have anything specific to discuss," the governor said. Their chat ranged from the fact that Wilf's 26-year-old son just got married (and Dayton's slightly older sons are still single) to Dayton's belief that a statewide car rental tax and a metro hotel tax should be part of the package.
