NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney are headed to Minnesota to do some lobbying. Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton revealed that Goodell and Rooney will travel to the state to meet face-to-face with the state's political leaders on Friday in an effort to salvage a stadium bill before the end of the current legislative session, according to the Associated Press.
Goodell's trip underscores comments made Wednesday about the league's concern with the Vikings stadium situation. The commissioner warned of "serious consequences" if the issue were postponed a year. A league spokesman spoke directly to issue on the team's long-term viability in the state if the issue was not resolved, even holding out the possibility of the Wilfs selling the team or relocating.
"If it isn't passed this session, the league itself -- beyond the Vikings -- the league itself has serious concerns about the viability of the franchise here and the future of it here," Dayton said following a phone call with Goodell.
The Minnesota House voted down Dayton's compromise stadium plan on Monday night by a 9-6 vote. That plan called for state gaming taxes to kick in nearly $400 million and another $150 million coming from Minneapolis sales tax revenue, along with $427 million from the Vikings and the NFL. The bill bypassed a requirement for public approval for public expenditures on sports facilities in excess of $10 million.
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