City Council Narrowly Passes Resolution of Support for Vikings Proposal

Although the proposal to build a Vikings stadium in Shakopee is already on the Governor’s desk, a resolution supporting the concept only narrowly passed at Tuesday’s Shakopee City Council meeting.

Mayor Brad Tabke and councilors Jay Whiting and Pamela Punt voted for the measure while councilors Steve Clay and Matt Lehman voted against.

“This could be one of the best things that happens to the city or it could be one of the worst, and so far I have no way to judge which it might be,” Clay said.

Both Clay and Lehman expressed concerns about traffic impacts with Lehman pointing out that some of the touted current road improvements are being done only to address current growth. Clay also said he didn’t think the city council needed to pass a resolution in order to keep researching the idea.

While some 20 people showed up for the meeting, only two residents spoke, one for and one against the idea.

Bruce Smith, a long-time Shakopee resident, said he is against the stadium idea due to what he called the riffraff element that would come along with it.

“If so much as a shovel of dirt is lifted (on this project), we’re out of here,” he told councilors.

Meanwhile councilor Pamela Punt said she was excited to hear about the proposal because she wants the Vikings to stay in Minnesota due to their economic impact, and this gives them another option to make that happen.

Supporting the resolution does not commit the city financially in any way, according to Jim Thomson, city attorney. It just gives the Vikings and the Governor a signal that Shakopee backs the concept, Whiting said.