Horner says Vikings should pay for 40 percent of new stadium

Independence Party gubenatorial candidate Tom Horner says the Minnesota Vikings should pay 40 percent of the cost of a new multi-use facility and sign a 40-year lease.

Horner laid out a plan Sunday for how he would pay for the new stadium. He would add a specific tax onto the cost of each ticket.

Horner said under his plan the public would collect all revenue from non-Vikings events.

"Then as a back up I would add gaming machines to Canterbury, to running aces -- not an expansion of gambling, but take a share of existing gambling revenue," Horner said. "And so for those taxpayers who don't want to pay for a Vikings stadium, don't go to any event at the stadium and don't gamble, and you won't pay a penny for it."

Horner founded a Twin Cities public relations firm that's had the Vikings as a client. He left the firm and said the relationship doesn't pose a conflict.

"Yes, on issues like the Vikings stadium, economic development, creating jobs, my business background does inform my policies," he said.

Horner affirmed that he's divorced himself completely from the firm, and he said that it is a standard that says to the public that they can trust his proposals.

Republican candidate for governor Tom Emmer and DFLer Mark Dayton also support a new Vikings stadium.