Legislators came up with idea for "Twins Tax" for Vikes stadium

On Saturday, Bluestem noted that the Minnesota Republicans planning to tax some clothing, raise income tax on some rich people.

But those added taxes aren't for things like higher education, roads, or corrections. They're for a Vikings Stadium.

Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Nelson looked more closely at 10 percent tax on sports memorabilia--including clothing--in Vikings stadium funding counts on Twins merchandise sales:

The stadium bill introduced recently at the Capitol offers a whole list of potential taxes, ranging from ticket fees to sales taxes in the community that hosts the team.

Details on that revenue are vague so far. But a new analysis by the state's revenue department is clear on one thing. About 60 cents of every $1 the state pays for a stadium would come from one source: a 10 percent tax on sports memorabilia.

That includes hats, shirts, jackets, balls, and all sorts of other licensed merchandise that sports fans buy.

But the tax wouldn't just be on Vikings merchandise. It would also be collected on Minnesota Twins items -- like Joe Mauer jerseys and autographed baseballs. And anything with Timberwolves and Wild logos, too.

But the vast majority of memorabilia money would come from the sale of Minnesota Twins merchandise -- because that's what most sports fans are buying. Elwin Fraley, who has a sports apparel wholesale business called the Scorboard Sportswear company, says that's been his experience.

And Nelson leaves out NASCAR and WWE stuff. The Twins' fans share, the Department of Revenue estimates, would pay for 12 cents of every dollar of state revenue.

The Twins organization has its doubts:

Team officials declined an interview on the subject, but spokesman Kevin Smith released a statement which said the Twins support the Vikings' effort to get a new home. But the baseball team is concerned about the memorabilia tax.

"It all boils down to affordability," the statement said. "The concern is that particularly suggested funding mechanism would negatively affect the affordability of our product to our fans."

And it wasn't the Vikes' idea:

The Vikings say the idea wasn't theirs.

"We have only ever advocated for an NFL memorabilia tax," said Vikings vice president Lester Bagley. "The legislators came up with the idea to tax all sports memorabilia. And that's what's in the bill."

Who knows if this will catch on for other areas. Will we see Tony Cornish floating a crime show memorabilia tax to fund community corrections out of sales of Law and Order "dum-dum" ringtones and "America's Most Wanted" pot holders?

Comments

[Phoenix Woman]

Amazing.