Ventura accepts an invitation to sit with Red McCombs in the Vikings owner's skybox. Ventura is a big fan of pro football and basketball. Spring 1999 Governor Ventura establishes a fund whereby state residents are invited to send in their forthcoming tax rebates to be used toward a new stadium. This is a nifty move by Ventura since it establishes a de facto poll of state residents to determine who, if anyone, is really interested in pro sports. Citizens may send in all or part of their rebate or any other amount.
Boosters are furious and mock the plan.
St Paul Mayor Norm Coleman announces his intention to push for a referendum on a new Twins ballpark in downtown St Paul. The state would pick up most of the tab. Minneapolis responds with its own plan, to be funded by a metro-wide sales tax increase. Quite a bit of this timeline derives from work done by Trib reporters, most commonly Jay Weiner and Rochelle Olson but also a number of others. Some entries come from broadcast news or my personal researches.