Gov. Mark Dayton and state leaders met privately Wednesday about potential tax breaks associated with Minnesota’s bid to lure the 2018 Super Bowl to the new Vikings stadium in Minneapolis, The Associated Press reports.
According to the AP, Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk has previously said the NFL expects Super Bowl host cities to exempt player salaries from income tax, and wants taxes lifted on game tickets.
Minnesota reportedly has a Super Bowl ticket tax exemption from when Minneapolis hosted the championship game at the Metrodome in 1991.
However, House Speaker Paul Thissen needs to be convinced of “the economic benefits of bringing the Super Bowl versus the cost of doing these tax breaks,” the AP says.
Dayton was expected to attend Super Bowl XLVIII in the New York area to pitch the state as a potential host of the 2018 game, but canceled to stay at home to deal with the state’s propane shortage, the Star Tribune said.
Dayton officially announced in January the state’s campaign for the 2018 Super Bowl.
“The Super Bowl is the most watched annual event in the world. In addition to game attendees, it brings over 100,000 people to the host community for a weeklong celebration,” Dayton said in a statement. “Hosting the Super Bowl would bring enormous economic benefits to many Minnesota businesses, as well as provide a terrific opportunity to again showcase Minnesota to the world.”
