The Star Tribune confirms Guhvenar Schwarzenegger signed a bill into legislation that would “fast-track” a stadium in the Los Angeles area.  Uh-oh, does this mean the Los Angeles Vikings could be a reality? The interwebs doubts it will happen, I mean who would want such a goofy Scandinavian name for their team.  But the news throws some mud on the faces on our own Minnesota state legislators who haven’t been able to come up with a public financing scheme to build a new stadium.

There is criticism about California officials falling head over heels a new sports team while continually cutting its basic services and laying off employees in a high-growth state.  As far as the proposal goes, the stadium is going to be privately funded and built.  Real estate billionaire Ed Roski, Jr. has the means and in L.A. such ventures are normal.  Interesting point, the stadium will actually be built in the city of Industry which is as far away from downtown Los Angeles proper as is Saint Paul to Minneapolis. Industry only has about 700 actual residents because the majority of it is catered to business and industry (ding!) employing over 70,000 people. Oh the love of urban sprawl.

The real ugly about this, is that the fast-track bill is mainly to exempt the stadium from environmental laws.  A look on their website reveals the stadium will be built into hilly topography, surrounded by highways, and pretty much decorated with faux-landscaping.  The bill also killed a lawsuit by residents in a nearby city called Walnut.  Apparently Industry doesn’t play very nice with its neighbors (who actually have significant residential populations) and settled in court with them.  Similarly, the state legislature doesn’t seem to care about neighborhood opposition.

Perhaps the one lesson learned from California is that they’re willing to do anything, even subvert their own laws, to help the private sector. At the same time, why isn’t Zygi Wilf fronting the cost of a new stadium, nor is anyone else trying to broker a deal?  Forbes notes Minnesota has a handful of billionaires who could drop a few dimes.  Unfortunately, most of them are in their 60s and sports is hardly in the realm of royal families such as the Carlsons.