Harrington backs a Vikings stadium in Arden Hills

Another DFL state senator says he's signed on to a yet-to-be introduced Vikings stadium bill.

Freshman Sen. John Harrington, formerly St. Paul's chief of police, says he thinks it's a good proposition for his district. He'd like to see the stadium built in Arden Hills.

"Especially if we can get this in the east metro. It means anywhere from 600 to 900 million dollars in jobs, and that's what the east side of St. Paul desperately is in need of right now," Harrington said. "And these are good paying jobs. I look at the number of both good paying jobs for the construction project, and then the number of jobs around that area if it were fully developed. Those would be jobs that would fill the houses that are vacant on the east side of St. Paul."

Harrington is the second DFL senator to publicly back the stadium idea. Brooklyn Park DFLer Linda Scheid also signed onto a prospective plan to built the Vikings a new home.

Republican lawmakers have said they hope to introduce a bill this week.

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