Thread: Vikings Stadium E-Mail to local Rep

This is the email I sent to my Rep regarding the stadium issue...

Representative Sviggum,
I am a life-long Minnesota Vikings fan as well as a student at Winona
State University. I am sure you will pleased to know I am a member of
the College Republicans here at WInona State. It is clear the the
Metrodome provides ample economic enhancement for the downtown economy
of Minneapolis, however it does not provide advancement economically for
the Vikings organization. It is clear that the new ownership group,
headed by Mr. Zygi Wilf wants to build a world class organization, and
this is shown by the one billion dollar commitment by the Minnesota
Vikings organization. I dont have exact numbers, but i believe it is
clear that the economy of Minnesota would be hurt should the Vikings be
forced to relocate, something very possible with Los Angelas seeking a
team. I believe that Northern Lights is the best way to solve the
stadium dilemma for the Vikings, as well as the Twins and Gophers. I ask
that you will support this plan.

Thanks For Your Time,
Jackson Burgau


And his reply....

Dear Jackson:

Thank you for your recent letter concerning stadium funding. I
appreciate hearing from you and allowing me the opportunity to respond.


As you know, the stadium situation for Minnesota's sports teams has
been a topic of discussion by the legislature for many years. I am
excited by the University of Minnesota efforts to begin raising a
significant share of the on-campus stadium costs from private,
non-government sources for the Gopher football stadium. I remain very
hopeful that we'll take votes on the Gophers and Twin proposals this
session.

Thank you again for contacting me and for your friendship.

Sincerely,




Steve Sviggum
Speaker of the House

As you can see he totally beat around the bush regarding the VIKINGS stadium issue, hopefully this isnt the feeling of all our representatives.

Well, I'm guessing it was just an automated email.

Meaning, any email they receive regaurding any type of stadium, they just send out the reply you got.

He actually sent me a reply before this one saying he would take the time to address this concern specifaclly, so im not sure, i guess we will just have to see how it plays outs.

what a bunch of BS...... how can they just ignore the Vikings when the plan they have is going to boost the economy more than the others.... how much cash is Pohlad putting into a new twins stadium? Probably like $10. Wilf is going to make money off this deal, but the state and its residents will be served quite well in the process. Sounds like Chief wiggum, I mean Sviggum should listen to the people, like he is paid to do, and push the Vikings deal. When is the last time you were at a Twins game or a gophers game and it was sold out.... very rare and usually only because of the team they are playing... complete BS.

He (or actually one of his staff) just sent you a prepared stadium letter. It probably hasn't been changed since the beginning of last year's session.

I would send the below response back:

Representative Sviggum,

Thank you for the response. Unfortunately you did not address any of my concerns in my email, and in fact didn't really address the email at all. So I am writing to you again in hope that I can better understand you position on the subject of a future Vikings stadium in Minnesota.

Please let me know your opinion on the economic advantages of building a University of Minnesota football stadium instead of a Vikings stadium. Would Minnesota be better served economically by the addition of all three stadiums, or the addition of just one or two?

Also please let me know what your voting record has been in the past for government funding of private/public enterprises similar to the Northern Lights development plan. In particular I am interested in your stance on the public funding of the Gutherie and the Minneapolis Convention Center. Could you also let me know your stance on tax incentive and public subsidiary plans for private corporations that offer economic enhancements to the state of Minnesota. For instance, 3M.

I appreciate the time you will take to answer this email. Please be assured that I will share your detailed response not only with my peers in the College Republicans, but also among my fellow Vikings fans throughout the state of Minnesota and beyond.

Ridiculous. He didn't even address your concern, typical political hogwash.

Thanks NoDak Paul I will use that, would you like mt include your name in the signature, or i could just include and members of purplepride.org, if thats ok with the mods...let me know. I just figured everyone would be interested in reading something like this regarding the stadium issue.

Give the Gophers a stadium 1st then the Vikings.

"WinonaVike" wrote:

Thanks NoDak Paul I will use that, would you like mt include your name in the signature, or i could just include and members of purplepride.org, if thats ok with the mods...let me know. I just figured everyone would be interested in reading something like this regarding the stadium issue.

No need to include my name (although it really doesn't matter to me if you do). Even though I live less than 3 miles from the Minnesota border, I have always been a little handicapped when writing to the Minnesota Legislature because I am a North Dakota resident. So I am happy to offer up my 2 cents. :grin:

"purpleFavreEaters" wrote:

Give the Gophers a stadium 1st then the Vikings.

According to my friend who is a member of the University of Minnesota Student senate...gophers stadium plans are almost set, a stadium closer to campus anyway... he was pumped because he doesnt have to go all the way to the dome to watch the games after its completed...although i hope he is graduated by then.