Sen. Lillie: Residents Don't Want Public Funds Used For New Vikings Stadium

At a recent forum, Sen. Ted Lillie asked the crowd if they would support public funding for a new Vikings stadium.

“Not one hand went up,” said Lillie, a Republican who represents Woodbury in the state Senate.

Those folks seem to be in agreement with Gov. Mark Dayton who, along with legislative leaders, said the Vikings and their supporters should find a way to pay for a new stadium that doesn't include local or state tax increases.

Dayton is expected to present his own plan for the $1.1 billion stadium in the coming days, and without public funding there’s a renewed interest in possibly funding the facility with funds from expanded gambling.

Lillie, who last session was stanchly opposed to tax increases, said Tuesday that if public funds were to be used for a new stadium, he would prefer the measure be put to voters in a referendum.

“That makes a lot of sense,” Lillie said.

With so many proposals out there right now, Lillie said it’s too soon to say whether he’d support a new stadium for the 2-6 Vikings.

“We need to see a bill,” he said.

Still, Lillie pointed to a question in his own unscientific survey, which asked responders if the state should use tax money to fund a new stadium. About two-thirds said they were opposed to it, he said. (Lillie noted that about half of survey-takers identified themselves as Republicans.)

The governor has been pushing for a stadium deal in recent weeks and has said he hopes to call a special legislative session to deal with the subject before the end of the year.

The latest proposals for a new stadium include sites in Arden Hills and Minneapolis.

Lillie said he is a fan of the Vikings and went to a game earlier this year.

“We all love the Vikings and would like them to stay here,” he said. “They’ve been here 50 years and it would be a shame to see them leave.”