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Minnesota Residents Want Casino To Pay For New Stadium

Other Options Include Renovating Existing Metrodome Stadium

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The 2010 Metrodome CollapseA new poll conducted by SurveyUSA showed that Minnesota residents are in favor of expanding legalized gambling in the state in order to finance a new or renovated stadium for the Minnesota Vikings football team.

The Vikings currently play in the Metrodome, which was built in 1982 and is the ninth oldest stadium in the NFL. In 2010, a severe winter storm deflated the roof and caused a collapse, forcing the Vikings to move a home game to Detroit while repairs were made.

Now, state residents are pushing for other options. A total of 64 percent of those polled want either a new stadium or a renovation to the Metrodome. About half of those polled want to use tax revenue from expanded gambling to pay for the upgrades.

More than a third of those polled are in favor of a downtown casino in Minneapolis, while others prefer Racinos or Electronic Pulltabs. Minnesota currently has Racetracks, a state lottery and both pari-mutuel and Indian casinos, but does not allow for commercial casinos.

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak has been heavily pushing for either casino revenue or a sales tax increase in an effort to keep the stadium within city limits.