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Saint Paul Council approves police agreement to staff law-enforcement at Vikings games
Summary
The City Council approved an agreement authorizing Saint Paul Police Department officers to provide law-enforcement services at Minnesota Vikings games at U.S. Bank Stadium; the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority will pay officers $150 per hour and the city will not incur direct costs.
The Saint Paul City Council on a 7-0 vote adopted a resolution authorizing the Saint Paul Police Department to enter into an agreement with the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA) to provide law-enforcement security services meeting NFL standards at U.S. Bank Stadium for games through the contract period.
Deputy Chief Flynn told the council that MSFA has requested help because the Minneapolis Police Department is “far below strength” and neighboring jurisdictions have been asked to assist. Flynn said, “The stadium commission will be paying each officer a rate of a $150 an hour,” and that rate is higher than the city’s customary contractual overtime to cover fringe, vehicle wear and tear, and equipment costs.
Council members pressed for clarity about whether the cost would fall to Saint Paul. Councilmember Bowie asked whether the city would pay; a council leader confirmed “there will be no cost to the city of Saint Paul for the service.” Flynn said the contract period before the council covered Aug. 8, 2025, through Aug. 7, 2026, and that future requests may come earlier next year.
The council voted to adopt the resolution after Deputy Chief Flynn’s presentation and brief Q&A. Councilmember Yang made the motion to approve, and the resolution passed by unanimous voice vote.
The agreement authorizes the police department to staff approximately 10–11 Vikings games per season, per Flynn’s description; it follows outreach from MSFA after Minneapolis declined to staff games at previous levels. The resolution as approved directs execution of the contract documents; the law-enforcement staffing will be provided under the terms and dates in the contract.
No additional city budget appropriation for officer pay was approved during the meeting; Flynn and council members said the stadium commission’s payments will cover the overtime-rate costs specified in the contract.
