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House votes to reform MSFA following US Bank Stadium controversy

The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA), which oversees the running of US Bank Stadium, is set for an overhaul after lawmakers voted in favour of abolishing the current five-member structure.

A recent report found that the MSFA was guilty of ethical violations when using luxury suites at US Bank Stadium, home of NFL American football team the Minnesota Vikings. The report revealed that the MSFA provided 158 luxury suite tickets to family and friends.

Legislative auditor James Nobles, who released the report, found the use of an additional 35 tickets “questionable” and called for tighter oversight of the MSFA.

The controversy led to MSFA chair Michele Kelm-Helgen and executive director Ted Mondale resigning from their roles.

Now, as the MPRNews website reports, the Minnesota House has voted 122-7 in favour of reforming the current MSFA and replacing it with a mostly legislator-appointed seven-member body.

“This legislation seeks to make sure that the people can have faith that their stadium, the people’s stadium, is truly that and it’s not meant to be a gift for folks that are friends and family of certain individuals,” bill author Rep. Sarah Anderson said, according to MPRNews.