Minneapolis mayor offers 3 Vikings stadium options

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak has offered a menu of financing and site options in a bid to keep the Minnesota Vikings from moving to the suburbs — or out of state.

Rybak is proposing increases in city sales and lodging taxes as one way to help pay for a stadium that could cost more than $1 billion depending on which of three sites is chosen. The other financing option relies on money and fees generated from a proposed downtown casino.

The Vikings favor building a new stadium in suburban Arden Hills, and reiterated that point after Rybak’s news conference.

Any stadium plan would require legislative approval and additional money from the state. Gov. Mark Dayton and GOP legislative leaders are still grappling with how to round up votes or money.