Search found 408 matches

by Rich
April 1st, 2015, 10:27 am
Forum: Transportation
Topic: Green Line Extension - Southwest LRT
Replies: 5265
Views: 1247362

Re: Southwest LRT (Green Line Extension)

I wonder if the “residents” are really just the owner, Jerry Kavan, and a few folks he recruited so that he could say the suit was brought by “residents” and not he alone. The guy bought the property 10 years ago and poured millions into it, assuming the wooded backyard would remain a selling point....
by Rich
March 27th, 2015, 7:55 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: U.S. Bank Stadium
Replies: 2080
Views: 189231

Re: Minnesota Multi Purpose Stadium

What's your point, Rich? Regardless of the size of his personal contribution, I'd wager that he's coming out ahead in this deal. Are you arguing otherwise? Nope. I’m sure Wilf will make lots of money. There was a question as to whether the Wilfs have contributed ANY of their own money, and then a c...
by Rich
March 27th, 2015, 1:13 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: U.S. Bank Stadium
Replies: 2080
Views: 189231

Re: Minnesota Multi Purpose Stadium

2005 - Vikings purchased for $600 million 2012 - Vikings worth $831 million before stadium deal 2014 - Vikings worth $1,150 million. $600 million purchase price + $551 million stadium contribution = $1,151 million. Add to that the Wilfs $13 million annual contribution to stadium operating costs. If...
by Rich
March 27th, 2015, 12:14 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: U.S. Bank Stadium
Replies: 2080
Views: 189231

Re: Minnesota Multi Purpose Stadium

My understanding is that the Wilfs have thus far agreed to contribute $551 million. $351 million of which are their own funds. $200 million of which will come from an NFL Stadium Loan, which the Wilfs will repay using their own funds.
by Rich
March 27th, 2015, 11:08 am
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: U.S. Bank Stadium
Replies: 2080
Views: 189231

Re: Minnesota Multi Purpose Stadium

Another case of the public paying for the private portion of the stadium.
Voluntarily.
by Rich
March 27th, 2015, 10:57 am
Forum: Nostalgia
Topic: Soccer Stadium in Minneapolis (cancelled)
Replies: 1001
Views: 167548

Re: Major League Soccer Stadium in Minneapolis

No reason they can't use one or the other depending on weather, right? Hmmm. I don’t know about that. Each stadium has it’s own staff of concession, custodial and ticket office folks, right? You’d have to make work schedule decisions hours before game time. Would either stadium operator want that s...
by Rich
March 27th, 2015, 9:23 am
Forum: Nostalgia
Topic: Soccer Stadium in Minneapolis (cancelled)
Replies: 1001
Views: 167548

Re: Major League Soccer Stadium in Minneapolis

Possibly. But MSHSL would likely still prefer an all-weather facility with artificial turf. My local high school’s soccer teams conduct all their practices and play virtually all their games on turf. That’s increasingly typical, and it’s what high school athletes are used to.
by Rich
March 27th, 2015, 9:01 am
Forum: Nostalgia
Topic: Soccer Stadium in Minneapolis (cancelled)
Replies: 1001
Views: 167548

Re: Major League Soccer Stadium in Minneapolis

stadium space rental earn anything substantive? For what it’s worth. The Minnesota Multipurpose Stadium is owned by the public. And the Minnesota State High School League gets to use it for free. So all high school playoff games - including soccer - will always be played there, and not at the new M...
by Rich
March 26th, 2015, 9:17 pm
Forum: Nostalgia
Topic: Soccer Stadium in Minneapolis (cancelled)
Replies: 1001
Views: 167548

Re: Major League Soccer Stadium in Minneapolis

Speaking of the stadium, billionaire co-owner Taylor says “a lot of it would be paid for by private funds.” Goodness. I hope he and billionaire co-owner McGuire can eke out a down payment.
by Rich
March 20th, 2015, 5:45 pm
Forum: Suburbs
Topic: Suburbs - General Topics
Replies: 1138
Views: 348245

Re: Suburbs - General Topics

Congrats to those Minnetonka residents for putting a stop to Gassen Company’s crap.
by Rich
March 18th, 2015, 7:10 am
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: The Commons - Downtown East Park
Replies: 687
Views: 128771

Re: The Commons - Downtown East Park

But is the elimination of a few hundred thousand potential park customers an entirely positive development? MLS fans will want places to gather on game days. The Commons, and the retail establishments within and around it, would’ve served them well.
by Rich
March 13th, 2015, 10:06 am
Forum: Nostalgia
Topic: Soccer Stadium in Minneapolis (cancelled)
Replies: 1001
Views: 167548

Re: Major League Soccer in Minnesota

Info has been added to this Strib article. Some of which may not have been known. Apparently McGuire’s first preference was to get the MSFA’s permission to use the Vikings stadium. He had to be reminded that the stadium law prohibited that. Also McGuire’s attorney is on record as saying that Farmers...
by Rich
March 11th, 2015, 10:53 am
Forum: Nostalgia
Topic: Soccer Stadium in Minneapolis (cancelled)
Replies: 1001
Views: 167548

Re: Major League Soccer in Minnesota

I wasn’t implying anything. I was just replying to mister shoes.
by Rich
March 11th, 2015, 7:50 am
Forum: Nostalgia
Topic: Soccer Stadium in Minneapolis (cancelled)
Replies: 1001
Views: 167548

Re: Major League Soccer in Minnesota

Maybe. But aren’t ratings somewhat connected with quality of play? When you tune into an NFL, MLB, NHL or NBA game, you’ll see those sports played at the highest possible level with the best athletes on earth at their respective crafts. Not so with MLS.
by Rich
March 10th, 2015, 2:48 pm
Forum: Nostalgia
Topic: Soccer Stadium in Minneapolis (cancelled)
Replies: 1001
Views: 167548

Re: Major League Soccer in Minnesota

Sound like they’ve decided to survive by treading water rather than drown while attempting to swim. But I guess if that keeps them relevant I’m for it. I do hope you guys are right and MLS does continue to grow. We’ve been on the cusp of a soccer revolution for 40 years. The cusp is getting old.
by Rich
March 10th, 2015, 1:18 pm
Forum: Nostalgia
Topic: Soccer Stadium in Minneapolis (cancelled)
Replies: 1001
Views: 167548

Re: Major League Soccer in Minnesota

I’m not sure if I’d say “literally no chance.” I’m old enough to have attended Kicks games at Met Stadium. At that time we were convinced that major league level soccer had finally arrived. In 1980 the original NASL drew over 5.5 million fans. That’s close to what MLS drew in 2014. But by 1982 the K...
by Rich
March 6th, 2015, 3:17 pm
Forum: Nostalgia
Topic: Soccer Stadium in Minneapolis (cancelled)
Replies: 1001
Views: 167548

Re: Major League Soccer in Minnesota

there hasn't been any rumors of state funding Not that we know of. But we also don’t know anything about any inquiries McGuire may be making. Some bit of info may have surfaced which prompted Bakk to reach out to Garber. My guess is that he just reminded Garber that the legislature was through prov...
by Rich
March 6th, 2015, 8:08 am
Forum: Nostalgia
Topic: Soccer Stadium in Minneapolis (cancelled)
Replies: 1001
Views: 167548

Re: Major League Soccer in Minnesota

Should we be shocked if legislators feel like we’re already building a soccer stadium? After having funneled an overly-generous amount of tax dollars into said stadium, most of them rightfully want it to be used to the fullest extent possible. I doubt Bakk will be the last government official to con...
by Rich
March 3rd, 2015, 3:51 pm
Forum: Minneapolis - Downtown
Topic: Downtown Minneapolis Office Market
Replies: 1291
Views: 813718

Re: Downtown Office Market

According to MPR “Target Corp. plans to eliminate several thousand positions, primarily at its Minneapolis headquarters”

http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/03/03/target-layoffs
by Rich
February 23rd, 2015, 10:46 am
Forum: Transportation
Topic: Minnesota Transportation Funding (General)
Replies: 731
Views: 91395

Re: Condition of Minnesota Roads and what to do...

We can compensate through that with plenty of mechanisms in the short term, from a progressive consumption tax to a direct subsidy. Could you identify the progressive consumption tax you have in mind? Also, who would you directly subsidize and how? Not trying to be glib. These are the kinds of ques...