Gov. speaks on likelihood of stadium in Arden Hills

Proposed Vikings stadium site
The Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant in Arden Hills, Minn. Sept. 28, 2011.
MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson

The Minnesota Vikings have a right to locate a stadium in Arden Hills, despite calls for the team to build on the site of the downtown Minneapolis Farmers Market, Gov. Mark Dayton said.

A Minneapolis developer says nine of 15 property owners in the area are interested in selling to help create a site for the new stadium, according to The Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Dayton spoke about the proposal Saturday morning at the governor's mansion in St. Paul, Minn.

"The position of the Vikings is that they're not interested in anything other than Arden Hills," Dayton said. "Somebody who's putting $4-to-500 million has a legitimate say in where they put their money."

Dayton is having several meetings with legislative leaders to discuss ways to fund the stadium. He expects to release his plan for a new Vikings stadium by the second week of November, and will call a special session to pass the stadium financing plan into law.

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