This is an archived version of a Field of Schemes article. Comments on this page are closed. To find the current version of the article with updated comments, click here.
November 15, 2011
Vikings launch ad blitz to reanimate stadium effort
The Minnesota Vikings stadium campaign may be headed straight for a brick wall with nobody behind the wheel, but don't tell that to the Vikings: Team execs just launched a "six-figure" ad campaign to tell Minnesotans that a new $1.1 billion stadium would be "owned by the great state of Minnesota" and bring "over 7,000 jobs and $300 million in wages." No clue where those numbers are from, but, of course, campaign ads aren't subject to truth-in-advertising laws, so who cares?
In related news, the Ramsey County Board voted unanimously today to buy land in Arden Hills for a new Vikings stadium, so long as somebody else comes up with the $28.5 million price. As MinnPost blogger Brian Lambert quips: "In other news, I agreed to purchase a new Bentley. I get the keys when my neighbors pitch in to pay for it."
"Six-figure ad campaign" what pikers!
In Santa Clara we were treated to a $4-5 million orgy of deception prior to our stadium election (in a city of 120K) and it really worked!
Tonight the city council will be authorizing $10 million in construction loans (from the 49ers) to being prepping the stadium site--even though we have no final agreement with the team!
Also, job-hunters, the city is creating a $136K position (with generous benefits) to administer to stadium issues (I don't know if this is being charged to the authority).
Meanwhile the library remains closed on all holiday weekends...budget shortfalls...
Posted by santa clara jay on November 15, 2011 08:08 PM
Meanwhile, in Santa Clara...
www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/16/MNT41LVLPG.DTL
Posted by MikeM on November 16, 2011 11:51 AM