Mark Dayton Threatens To Torpedo Stadium Over PSLs, Gets Lit Up By Effete Scribes

Tom Pelissero and Kevin Seifert are calling BS on Mark Dayton after his threat to sink the stadium deal over PSLs. In case you missed it, this morning Dayton sent a sternly-worded letter to the Wilfs lecturing them about their stated desire to employ seat licensing fees as a means of covering their stadium costs. Such a plan would make buying season tickets even more expensive for fans and Dayton thinks this is a rotten move. Dayton says he’ll use his power to block the public stadium authority from using such fees.

Only problem according to keen-eyed scribes Pelissero and Seifert: the Vikings were already given express permission to use PSLs per the terms of the original stadium deal. So Dayton’s sudden objection is disingenuous at best and idiotic at worst. Either he’s trying to float some political bullcrap or he just didn’t read the deal.

Seifert takes Dayton to task over his apparent flip-flop – or worse – on the PSL issue. “On Monday, I suggested that anyone who thought the Minnesota Vikings wouldn’t pursue some form of personal seat licenses (PSLs) for their new stadium was at least naïve and worst delusional,” Seifert writes. “Apparently that group includes the governor of Minnesota.”

Seifert calls Dayton’s 180 “a sloppy political maneuver” that’s full of holes. Pelissero uses more gentle language but basically accuses Dayton of the same absurd waffling. “If Dayton truly didn’t know the Vikings intended to pursue seat licenses as a funding mechanism, though, he has no one to blame but himself,” Pelissero says. He also suggests a possible motive for the maneuver. “The timing of Dayton’s letter likely is related to the survey the Vikings sent out to season-ticket holders last week, much of it focused on PSLs, which was met unfavorably by some fans.”

Patrick Reusse has also gotten into the act on Twitter, accusing the Vikings of greed for considering PSLs for non-suites. Judd Zulgad has taken Reusse to task for this, pointing out that the Vikings have not yet said how many seats would be subject to the PSL policy. Class warfare much Reusse?

Nothing like a good old tussle to liven up a boring bye-week Tuesday. My guess – and this is just based on my personal observations about politics over the years – is that this will all be cleared up by greasing a few palms. And then we’ll be on our way.

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