At least one person with influence isn't impressed by Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton's "special session" regarding a potential Vikings stadium. House Majority Leader Matt Dean said on Wednesday that sessions of this type are usually only called to respond to emergencies within the state, and that the Minnesotans aren't all-that worried about the Vikings, what with issues in the job market and the economy.
Which, at least to this writer, seems like an odd choice of words, considering what having an NFL team does for the economy. Sure, a new stadium is calling for somewhere around $300 million from the public and the economy, but if a deal isn't reached before the end of the lease that expires this season on the Metrodome, the team could be on its way out - most likely to Los Angeles. Would the people of Minnesota really like to see the Vikings go to Los Angeles instead of getting a new stadium built? Probably not.
It's also worth noting that, due to the nature of the lease and its expiration, this situation could probably be considered an "emergency." No, it's not on the scale of natural disasters or some kind of murderer on the loose, but an NFL team means an awful lot to the people, provides a ton of jobs and, of course, is a good source of money for the city. So would this not be considered a financial emergency? Dean expresses his frustration about a plan not being in place for the session, which is set for right around Nov. 21, but inactivity will only worsen the situation.