The fight for a new stadium in Minnesota has passed the first step in the legislature, when the House passed a modified stadium financing proposal, 73-58, on Monday night. The House proposal includes a requirement that the Vikings contribute $105 million more than the previous $427 million private contribution pledged by the team, as part of a $975 million total package.

Lester Bagley, the Vikings spokesman, has already called the House Bill requiring further team contribution “problematic”, according to KSTP in Minneapolis/St. Paul.

The Senate is voting today on their own version, and you guessed it, this one is in a liquid state of fluidity. According to Tom Hauser, political reporter for KSTP-TV, the Senate modification calls for $25 million more in contribution from the Vikings, far less than the House proposal. The Senate Bill also seeks to have part of the public contribution paid through “user fees”, which could include fees on the sale or rental of suites, parking, and additional taxes on the sale of merchandise on the stadium. [UPDATE: The amendment with the user fees has now been withdrawn]

These two versions will have to be resolved, and a final bill will eventually be put forth. They show that the legislature is willing to compromise, but is not willing to just accept the terms lobbied by the Vikings and the NFL.

It could raise an interesting public relations battle between the NFL and the legislature. If the Minnesota legislature passes a final version that approves a stadium financing plan but requires more from the league and team, or imposes user fees to make up some of the difference is the NFL going to say no? If so, they will then be in a position where Minnesota has approved a stadium with significant public money pledged, and they will still opt to claim that they could get no stadium.

[photo via US Presswire]