Business Community Support of New MN Stadium

With a stadium bill apparently imminent at the legislature as the 2011 session winds down, one thing puzzles me and that is the absence of business community support for the Vikings. Espescially those businesses that benefit directly like restaurants and bars. The hospitality industry as a whole gets a huge boost during the football season and absent a local NFL team would stand to lose a substantial amount of business and jobs. People can argue that the money will still be spent but that is an assumption and even if true there would be no guarantee it would be spent in Minnesota. People spend there discretionary money on things they enjoy and having fun, not going out just for the sake of going out (generally). With a team there is a sense of community pride, people bond, they interact and enjoy each other. There is a sense of oneness & a shared sense of purpose.

Will people go out on Sundays on a cold Minnesota November afternoon with nothing to look foward to, nothing to talk about or will Sundays become empty eventless days to stay home and do nothing? Of course there is always the possibility of catering your business to Packer fans? The Vikings have provided many good memories for our community and many of these establishments have a theme that revolves around the Vikings. Why? Because you know it appeals to people, it will draw them in to watch a game, to talk with like minded people and spend money. The Vikings are our team, they are part of our community and our identity. They belong here and we need to find a solution to ensure that they stay here, a solution that works for all of us. People and businesses need to rally, have events drawing support, to get the word out and educate people. We need business to stand up and show their support, letting their legislators know how important the Vikings are to local business with regards to both revenue and jobs. Get their customers to follow suit.

We need to have Save The Vikings Rallies with sign ups to show support, let people know how to contact legislators, have rally specials, wear Vikings colors and do what it takes to build some momentum. Let our legislators know that while the Wilf family may own the Vikings that they are our team, the Minnesota Vikings. I have yet to see anyone doing this, if you got the word out and had specials promoting the event espescially with all the negative football news lately, I bet it would be good for business, the Vikings always are.

There are now only 67 days remaining in this legislative session, one that will in all likelihood be our last chance to keep the Vikings in Minnesota. Once they are gone, what do we do hope to get someone elses team or get an expansion team? Either way we end up paying an exponentially higher amount than we would if we do it the right way now. If we don' t how many businesses will be negatively impacted or even forced to close their doors and lay off their employees? We would truly be returning to our roots and become a northern plain state.

Maybe the rally idea is over the top (anyone crazy enough or determined enough to try can contact me) but I would love to see people with Vikings rally caps getting behind this and have some fun doing it! If not you can still sign up to show support, get more information on the issue & help contacting your legislators and urge them to support a solution that works for Minny and keeps the Vikings here. Just visit and/or contact the organizations listed below:

www.savethevikes.org & on Twitter: @savethevikesorg
www.minnesotamomentum.com & on Twitter: @mnmomentum
www.vikings.com & on Twitter: @vikingsfootball