Minnesota politicians turn off money faucet on MLS group
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Apr 21, 2015
The Minnesota Senate voted 61-4 Monday to bar the state from helping fund "a new major league soccer stadium."
"I'm kind of tired of billionaire hucksters walking in the Capitol," Republican Senator Branden Petersen told the St. Paul Pioneer-Press.
Five Minnesota sports facility projects -- Xcel Energy Center, Target Field, CHS Field,
Target Center and New Minnesota Stadium -- have received more than $1 billion in government
support in terms of interest-free loans, increased sales taxes, moneys from city sales and hospitality taxes and direct state and city funding.
Bill McGuire, who heads
Minnesota United FC, met with state officials last week to measure support for $3 million in tax breaks on state sales and Minneapolis property taxes. Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges said there was no reason to give the MLS team any city subsidy.
The Minneapolis
Star Tribune reported that McGuire's group has until July 1 to submit a stadium plan to MLS.
The proposed outdoor stadium near the Minneapolis Farmers Market costs $250 million.
Hmmm, totally the sound of "soccer" getting the unwelcomed treatment by taking a different "proper" position not done against traditional American "sports".
I guess Minnesota ran out of other people's money to give away ... or they just don't like all them $Billionaire hucksters hanging about the State Capitol.