Friday’s visit from Commissioner Roger Goodell and Steelers owner Art Rooney II served as a wake-up call for legislators who likely believed that the Vikings were merely huffing and puffing about a possible move in the near future. Given the content of Senator Scott Dibble’s email to a constituent regarding the stadium situation, opponents of the current proposal presumably believed that the Vikings can’t make a quick exit from Minnesota, which would buy more time to get something done.
The opponents now presumably realize that an exit can be made sooner than they realized.
With the bill revived on Friday night by the Senate Local Government Committee, the push toward an up-or-down vote will continue. Vikings director of corporate communications Jeff Anderson tells PFT the team anticipates that a pair of Senate hearings will be held in the next 48 hours. The first will be a procedural matter in the Senate Rules Committee. If it passes, the bill will move to the Senate Jobs and Economic Growth Committee. The team hopes that hearing will be held by Tuesday.
In the House, Republican leadership is working to advance the bill, which died last week in the House Government Operations and Elections Committee. The Vikings hope to have a better understanding of the process later on Monday.
The team’s goal at this point is to secure a full vote of the Legislature, regardless of the outcome. If it gets there, expect a series of close votes and other political maneuverings aimed at nudging the measure along but likewise advancing any other political agendas and strategies that are an inherent part of the process.