The Minnesota Vikings are requesting that state lawmakers allocate up to $20 million annually from electronic pulltab gambling tax revenue to fund future maintenance of U.S. Bank Stadium. According to the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA), which manages the state-owned facility, the nine-year-old stadium will require nearly $300 million in maintenance over the next decade.
According to The Minnesota Star Tribune, the proposal is being primarily sponsored by Senator Nick Frentz of North Mankato, who presented the bill to the Senate Taxes Committee on Tuesday. Frentz argued that establishing a continuous revenue stream for capital improvements is essential for maintaining the stadium's condition. He referenced other NFL cities that delayed maintenance projects and subsequently required significant public funding for renovations, stating, "Do we want to have to come back to the Legislature every time there is a capital need? This is a better way for Minnesota."
While the proposal has garnered bipartisan support in both legislative chambers, its future remains uncertain. Tuesday marked the first committee consideration of the proposal, with less than two weeks remaining in the five-month legislative session.
A key concern is the reliability of e-pulltab tax revenue. These electronic versions of paper gambling ticket games underwent changes in 2023 to differentiate them from slot machines operated by Minnesota's American Indian tribes. This modification resulted in decreased revenue, yet Frentz's bill depends on growing tax proceeds from these games. The legislature is currently contemplating additional changes to e-pulltabs at the request of charities that depend on this revenue source.
Despite these challenges, Minnesota collected over $100 million in e-pulltab taxes in 2024, according to the state Department of Revenue.
The proposal represents an effort to proactively address stadium maintenance needs rather than waiting for larger, more costly renovations down the line. However, the timing and funding source uncertainties pose significant challenges to its passage in the current legislative session.
