Get the stadium deal done, big time cities and states do big things in order to stay on top.

I'm a huge Minnesota Vikings Fan and don't want them to leave our state. They have been a part of our culture here in Minnesota for over 50 years and would be a shame and embarrassing if we lost them. It would cost more to the tax payers later down the road if we had to bring in another NFL franchise. In addition, there are numerous fans that live in N. Dakota, S. Dakota, Iowa, and Wisconsin that attend home games each season. I personally would rather get rid of the Timberwolves, Twins, and Wild, before I would get rid of the Vikings. Mall of America Field is also very old, outdated, and below par compared to other stadiums around the NFL. I vote “YES” on a new stadium. Thank you. Greg in Fridley, MN

Watch Sen. Goodwin and her colleagues in action on livestream video here, starting at 9 a.m. Wednesday: http://patch.com/A-sH7Z Thanks for the comments John, Greg and Wayne. If you could change one thing about the bill (besides the outcome), what would it be?

I hate to see a big business like the Vikings or any other professional sports team hold a city hostage for the cost of an elaborate stadium. At the same time, it would be a shame to see the Vikings move to L.A........and they very well could. Those who don't think they would are living in denial. Seriously, the owners don't care where they play as long as they can sell tickets! The Cleveland Browns did it. So did the Baltimore Colts. It was devastating to their fans, and it would be devastating to the Vikings fans and the city, too. I lived in Cleveland when the Browns left. It was awful to see. They fought so hard to retain the name and the colors, and they had to wait a few years to get another team, and all the Browns statistics stayed with the Ravens.....which sucked! And Cleveland STILL had to build a new stadium to get another team anyway. So suck it up, Twin Cities!

this deal makes economic and social sense, no one is really paying anything all monies are returned and we get to help charities and add to our general fund. Arguments against are stupid, uneducated, and have to do with personal agendas. I saw a poll from 2 years ago and 80% favored a new stadium, it is the will of the people.

This needs to pass. If the Vikings leave this will be a disaster for the area. Please do whatever you can to get this bill passed.

Please keep the comments coming—but please keep them civil. You can make your points without attacking others. Check our Terms of Use (http://fridley.patch.com/terms); comments that clearly cross the line will get deleted along with the point you took the trouble to make. Thank you.

I haven't heard Sen. Goodwin make comments or ask a question yet (did I miss it?), but she did just cast a "Yes" vote with the losing side in an amendment to follow rather than override the Minneapolis City Charter's requirement for a referendum.

The vote was 11-3 to add racino to the stadium bill. Didn't hear how Goodwin voted.

I think the racino is an excellent idea. I would use it before I would go to an American Indian based casino. Indian based casino's don't pay out because there is no competition. They have the bucks to block one though. So sad. There is a lot of money to be made for the stadium if they included racino's. People who gamble will gamble no matter what so it is not contributing to someone's addiction.

I believe the vikings should stay.
Some of the finacial suport should come from racinos, slots allowed in race tracks.
The monoply the indian tribes have is a very bad thing. Why should one group of people be given such an advantage? If we have gambling in the state the benefits should be for the state as a whole. Their money is too dominate in the legislature
and is preventing the use of gambling money from being used for a new vikings statium.