The Vote

Today and hopefully tomorrow may very well be the most important days in the life of the Minnesota Vikings. Today the stadium bill goes before the State House of Representatives for a floor vote. If it passes, it moves on to the Senate. If it fails, the 2012 season could be the team's last in Minnesota.

This is just what the Minnesota Vikings and all their fans have wanted for the past decade. A vote by the legislature on a long needed new home. It's just shocking that there's so much uncertainty with the outcome. My belief is that it'll pass but it won't be the slam dunk that it really should be. The Vikings belong in Minnesota. Even those that don't follow football should understand that. The Vikings are as important to the culture of the state as any of the arts. Just as those that love the Vikings should respect those that love opera the opposite should also be true. The existence of one shouldn't be at the exclusion of the other. Both make the city of Minneapolis and the state of Minnesota a better place. Many of the legislators that oppose the financing of a new stadium claim that the public shouldn't be helping a wealthy owner. They completely miss the importance of the Vikings to the state of Minnesota. Despite what documents might say the Vikings are owned by the fans. An ownership far more important than anything that money says. Besides the Vikings will only be leasing the stadium. The team will only use the stadium at most, and hopefully, 12 days out of the year. It will be a people's stadium and the state can expect the windfall from the many local and national events that will be held there. Including, and certainly not limited to, Super Bowls, Final Fours, National Conventions, concerts, high school events, etc. It's all in the hands of the legislators and perhaps that's what frightens people the most. These elected officials have barley shown the ability to clap their hands let alone do any work with them.

Today, all Vikings fans hope for the best.