The Minnesota State Legislative House Commerce Committee was the first to hear discussion on the proposed stadium on Wednesday. The hearing was exclusively about the liquor license portion of the legislation.
As reported previously, the measure would allow the team to own their own license which could include sales in a restaurant, bar, or banquet facility at the venue. Minnesota United FC will pay for the cost and upkeep of the stadium and then give the venue to the City of St. Paul in hopes of a property tax exemption and sales tax exemption on construction materials. The stadium is estimated to cost near $150 million.
The bill which has bipartisan support and is sponsored by Rep. Tim Sanders, R-Blaine, and Rep. Rena Moran, DFL-St. Paul was given a “positive reception” according to a Minnesota Public Radio report. It was questioned as to why the team was requesting the license before the stadium is even built.
“I just want to understand this: We’re looking at a bill to authorize a liquor license for something that doesn’t exist?” asked Rep. Greg Davids, R-Preston.
“That’s the beauty of it, Representative Davids,” Committee Chairman Joe Hoppe, R-Chaska, deadpanned.
The measure was eventually held over to be included in a larger omnibus local government licensing bill that will be decided at a later date.
The Senate version of the bill will be discussed at their Tax Committee on Thursday at 9 a.m. It’s believed that portion of the bill which also has bipartisan support in the Senate will be included in a larger omnibus tax measure.
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