Quincy, Tuthill Supportive of City Stadium Funding

As the Minnesota Vikings' preferred Arden Hills site looks increasingly unlikely, the debate has turned to which Minneapolis site might offer a suitable substitute. According to a report in the Star-Tribune, Elizabeth Glidden (Ward 8) and Betsy Hodges (Ward 13) and four other councilmembers remain . However, Mayor RT Rybak and Council President Barb Johnson are beginning to sway the council towards their proposals.

Rybak and Johnson need six votes, plus Johnson's, to pass the city's portion of . Because of a voter-approved $10 million cap on city contributions to any sports stadium, the plan would also either need voter approval or a legislative override. 

According to the Star-Tribune:

Council Member Meg Tuthill said she is "not supportive of the Linden Avenue site," though she is "still asking some questions" about the mayor's financing plan.

"The renovation of the Dome is not going to infringe upon much," Tuthill said. "Whereas we've got all kinds of things that are in that Linden Avenue [site] that would need to be moved."

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Council Member John Quincy said he supports the mayor's financing plan as a stand-alone idea but won't endorse it fully until the state explains its funding method.

"I haven't found a reason why I couldn't support the mayor's proposal, at this point," Quincy said. "Because it meets all of [the] thresholds that I set up for myself: Does it keep the Vikings in Minneapolis? Does it improve our business relationships? And does it improve the Minneapolis taxpayers?"