Dayton and Vikings meet, but no stadium deal reached

The Minnesota Vikings owners and state and local officials spent nearly two hours behind closed doors with Gov. Mark Dayton Tuesday. But there was no breakthrough on a deal to build a new stadium for the team in Arden Hills.

Dayton reiterated his $300 million limit on state spending on the project.

"I think we agree now on the specifics of the numbers, its more the question of the transportation solution," he said.

Dayton said his administration may consider a change to road work planned around the stadium. Costs of that work have been a major sticking point for the deal, and he said the price tag might drop to $80 million. The previous estimate was $131 million.

Vikings owner Zygi Wilf said the team doesn't have any more money to put into the deal.

"The Minnesota Vikings have a significant investment here," Wilf said. "We feel like we want to work hard to making sure that this can be solved with the investments that we're all making right now."

Local officials said road costs can be reduced by eliminating or delaying long-planned lanes, like the existing MnPASS lanes, that MnDOT has been considering for nearby Interstate 35W. Dayton said that the team and the state will have to come to terms on the transportation financing by the end of this week.

Dayton and stadium supporters say lawmakers have to reach a deal on the state budget before they'll try to pass any kind of stadium bill.

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