MINNESOTANS OPPOSE PUBLICLY FUNDED VIKINGS STADIUM

October 17, 2011 JBanking & Financial Services

ST. PAUL – Despite Governor Dayton’s unrelenting push for a $650 million taxpayer-funded Minnesota Vikings football stadium, two-thirds of registered Minnesota voters are against a Vikings’ stadium funded by taxpayer dollars, according to a poll released today by Americans for Prosperity-Minnesota.

“Just three months after balancing the state budget with his proposal to delay aid to school districts while also borrowing against tobacco company settlements, Governor Dayton is proposing a $650 million contribution from state and local government to pay for the Vikings new football stadium. Today, it is clear that Minnesotans oppose this reckless spending of their hard-earned taxpayer dollars,” said John Cooney, Minnesota State Director of Americans for Prosperity.

In a telephone interview of 500 registered voters who are likely to participate in the 2012 general election, The Tarrance Group found that two-thirds (66%) of state voters are opposed to the plan now under consideration and, more importantly, a majority (53%) are strongly opposed. A majority of every sub-group of the electorate is opposed to the idea, including younger men.

Included in the survey was a single question about a potential stadium deal for the Vikings football team. At present, voters strongly reject the idea of public funds to help build a stadium for the Minnesota Vikings football team, at least as the funding package is presently described. Public officials and the Vikings have a long way to go before the public would be supportive of such a deal in these tough economic times.

“Minnesotans are hurting, jobs are scarce, home values are extremely low, the state is struggling to pay its bills, and despite this, Governor Dayton continues to propose new ways to spend money,” added Cooney. “Taxpayers, including devoted Vikings fans like myself, cannot continue to support the reckless and carefree spending addiction of our Governor.”

The survey of 500 registered voters was conducted by The Tarrance Group, a national polling firm located in Alexandria, VA, and has a margin of error of +4.5%. Responses to the survey were gathered October 12-13, 2011.

To interview AFP-Minnesota State Director John Cooney, contact him at 612-578-1976 or jcooney@afphq.org.

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