Gophers stadium gets lift in talks

10/07/2005

Dane Smith,
Star Tribune
October 7, 2005

If and when Gov. Tim Pawlenty calls a special legislative session this fall, the consensus top priority will be financing a new football stadium on the University of Minnesota campus, Pawlenty and bipartisan caucus leaders said after a suprisingly harmonious summit meeting Thursday.

“The one issue there seems to be consensus on is the Gophers stadium,” Pawlenty said. “We will move forward with that as a possible basis for a special session.”

Although other initiatives weren’t completely ruled out by the leaders, the current direction of the long-running negotiations toward a fall session seemed to be moving away from proposals for new Twins and Vikings stadiums.

Thursday’s developments, however, sent clear signals that the prospect of a session had improved. The four caucus leaders said they would have to get reaction from their members, not only to measure appetite for a session but also to get assurances that it doesn’t widen into a divisive and embarrassing free-for-all on other controversial issues.

Then they will meet again with Pawlenty, who said he intends to make a quick decision, perhaps in about a week, about whether to call a session.

All agreed that any bills would have to be negotiated in advance and that the session must not last more than a day or two.

“We need to build back the trust of Minnesotans,” said Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson, DFL-Willmar, referring to the bitter and lengthy summer special session that was marked by a partial government shutdown. “We need to gain our credibility back from the public.”

‘Best chance’

Johnson—echoing comments by Pawlenty and House Speaker Steve Sviggum, R-Kenyon—said there was general agreement that “when all was said and done, the Gopher stadium has the best chance.”

The leaders also agreed that emerging as a strong second consensus item is authorization of a new hospital in Maple Grove to serve the fast-growing area northwest of Minneapolis.

But other stadium proposals—a $478 million Hennepin County project for the Twins and a $790 million Anoka County plan for the Vikings—did not get as far in Thursday’s 90-minute summit meeting.

Johnson and Sviggum said that although the Twins proposal may have enough bipartisan support to pass, opposition is still substantial and intense, and taking it up could result in what House Minority Leader Matt Entenza, DFL-St. Paul, called “a three-ring circus.”

Among the other possible special-session tasks that Pawlenty listed in a letter to legislators last week were a rescue of the Minneapolis teachers’ pension fund, repeal of a law that sets a minimum price for gasoline, dedication of a percentage of the sales tax to conservation programs, a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage and several versions of Twins and Vikings stadium proposals.

The caucus leaders said almost none of them could be ruled out.

“Nothing is off the table and nothing is off the map,” said Johnson, who personally supports the Twins stadium. He said the pro sports proposals will not go away and will probably be approved in coming years.

Least supportive of a special session among the five summit participants was Senate Minority Leader Dick Day, R-Owatonna. He left the meeting early and did not join the other four at an impromptu news conference. “We’re going to continue to talk ... but our caucus is pretty much opposed to a special session,” Day told reporters separately.

Joy in Gopherville

Reaction from leaders of the university’s aggressive lobbying effort, which mobilized thousands of alumni, ranged from cautious optimism to elation.

“We’re pleased to see continued dialogue and progress on our stadium plan,” university President Robert Bruininks said in a news release. “It’s clearer than ever that there is bipartisan support for a new Gophers stadium. ...We need this bill passed as soon as possible.”

Margaret Sughrue Carlson, chief executive officer for the university Alumni Association, was more effusive. “Hallelujah!” she exclaimed. “May I put the phone down for a moment and jump up and down?”

She said the Gopher stadium’s fate hinges on a special session because a major donor, TCF Bank, has put a Dec. 31 expiration date on its $25 million commitment for stadium naming rights. Another donor, Best Buy, has said its promise of $2.5 million would expire before March 1, when the Legislature is set to reconvene in regular session.

“We really needed this to happen,” Carlson said. “I guess grass-roots advocacy really works. This is something so close to our hearts, bringing Gopher football back to campus. We need our legislative partners to help us.”

During this year’s regular legislative session, committees in the both the House and the Senate approved the university’s request for annual state contributions of $7 million over 25 years to pay off stadium bonds. But no floor votes were taken.

Meanwhile, the university has not said whether a recent increase in the estimated cost of the 50,000-seat open-air stadium, from $235 million to $248 million, would require more state money.

Proponents of the Twins stadium offered an unsurprising reaction to the leaders’ comments.

“We could not possibly be more disappointed,” said Twins President Dave St. Peter. “But there’s a saying in baseball that it’s never over ‘til it’s over, and we will stay engaged with the governor and legislative leadership so that they will see fit to include the Twins-Hennepin County ballpark proposal in a special session.”