Gov to push Arden Hills stadium site for Vikings

[October 20, 2011]  ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Gov. Mark Dayton says within two weeks he will unveil a detailed proposal for a publicly subsidized Minnesota Vikings stadium in suburban Ramsey County, including a plan for how to raise the state's $300 million share.

Dayton says Wednesday that he'll then call a special legislative session by the end of November for lawmakers to vote on the plan. The announcement came after three days of meetings between the Democratic governor and numerous stadium stakeholders, including Vikings owner Zygi Wilf.

It was Dayton's strongest commitment to date that he'd push the Vikings' preferred stadium site in Arden Hills over one of several possibilities in Minneapolis.

Stadium backers are facing a skeptical audience in Republican legislative leaders. House Majority Leader Matt Dean said Wednesday he doesn't want a stadium special session.

[Associated Press; By PATRICK CONDON]

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