Shakopee Mayor Goes Grassroots to Garner Support for Vikings Stadium

"We campaigned on thinking big," Shakopee Mayor Brad Tabke told Eric Eskola on the Friday evening edition of Almanac on TPT. Tabke has been working the media circuit since formally announcing Jan. 11 a proposal to build a stadium for the Vikings and other events in Shakopee. He also told Eskola the Shakopee site is the only one with five legislators who have publically declared their support.

Tabke and a team of local residents are pulling out the stops to make sure those who support a stadium in Shakopee are letting the Vikings and Gov. Mark Dayton know about it.

In emails Friday, Tabke urged supporters to act by calling, faxing or emailing the Governor because, "We don't have high-powered lobbyists, we don't have the muscle of Minneapolis."

According to Tabke, Gov. Dayton has said he will be reading the proposals this weekend and announcing his preferred plan next week.

"Together, we need to make sure the Governor gives our plan a shot," Tabke wrote.

By Friday afternoon, Tabke said in an email that hundreds from Shakopee, across the metro and the midwest had contacted Dayton's office in support of the "People's Stadium – Shakopee."

He also encouraged people to contact the Vikings although the email he gave early in the day was incorrect. He later said the correct email is minnesotamomentum@vikings.nfl.net.

Tips from Tabke on contacting the Gov. or the Vikings:

Do as many of the following as you can. Keep it short, talk about why you think the People's Stadium should be built in Shakopee and that Shakopee must be considered as a serious solution for the People's Stadium.

• Email the Governor
• Call the Governor at 651.201.3400
• Tweet the Governor at @GovMarkDayton with #ShakoStadium hashtag
• Write a hand-written note and fax it to the Governor at 651.797.1850
• Email the Vikings also showing your support at minnesotamomentum@vikings.nfl.net

The People's Stadium in Shakopee Facebook page has also been set up, as well as a Twitter account – @PSShakopee.