Stadium bill not expected Monday

Legislation to build a $975 million Vikings stadium in downtown Minneapolis probably won't be ready for introduction Monday, the chief Senate stadium sponsor said Friday. Sen. Julie Rosen, R-Fairmont, said a group of legislators and other stadium backers worked for 3 1/2 hours Friday on finalizing details in the bill, which will incorporate terms of the agreement reached Wednesday night between the state, the Vikings and Minneapolis.The parties want to be sure all details are ironed out before the bill goes to committee. At Thursday's news conference at the State Capitol announcing the agreement, Rosen said that the bill will be worked on "in a very bipartisan way." It has the support of DFL Gov. Mark Dayton and legislative sponsors Rosen and Rep. Morrie Lanning of Moorhead, both of whom are Republican. However, opposition to the bill is also bipartisan. Officials said at the announcement that they expected to introduce the bill Monday. The stadium deal would build a fixed-roof stadium on the east side of the Metrodome, fronting a large plaza for game days and civic events. The Vikings would contribute $427 million to construction, the state $398 million (with revenue from electronic pull-tabs) and Minneapolis $150 million (from extended sales and hospitality taxes). The Vikings and the city also would pay $516 million in operating and capital expenses over the course of the team's 30-year lease. No general fund tax dollars would be used for the stadium. The deal faces opposition from a majority of Minneapolis City Council members, who want it put to a vote of the people, and many legislators who take a dim view of using public funding for such a large private enterprise.