Minnesota Senate approves new stadium for Vikings

The Minnesota state Senate on Thursday approved a plan that relies heavily on public financing to build a $975-million stadium for the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings.

Gov. Mark Dayton has said he’ll sign the measure, meaning the Senate’s 36-30 vote was effectively the final barrier for the stadium. The deal guarantees the Vikings’ future in Minnesota for three decades and removes the possibility of them moving to Los Angeles to become the NFL team here.

The Vikings will pay $477 million of the stadium costs, the public $348 million and the city of Minneapolis $150 million.

“This stadium is the best interest for the state,” said Sen. Julie Rosen, a Republican from Fairmont who was lead sponsor of the bill. “This investment from three partners is the best for this state.”

Sen. Scott Newman, a Republican from Hutchinson who opposed the bill, predicted it would pass. He said the state should be spending its money on things like healthcare and education.

“I know it happens across the nation, but it saddens me to think that our citizens believe that this is a wise expenditure of tax money,” Newman said.

Under the bill, the Vikings would sign a 30-year lease on a stadium to be built on the site of the Metrodome in Minneapolis. The team would pay about $13 million annually in operating fees, though a public authority gets the power to rent out the building on non-game days for concerts, conventions and special events.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Minnesota senate approves new stadium for Vikings