The Minnesota Retailers Association is not fond of the sports memorabilia tax.
Retailers blast sports memorabilia tax proposal at Capitol
The state's retail association set up a display at the Capitol to criticize a proposed solution to the Vikings stadium funding deficit
By jimrags
May 7, 2013 at 4:50PM
The group set up a display in the Capitol of jerseys, autographed photos and sports wear licensed by major league teams to argue against the tax. Both the House and Senate have included a wholesale tax on sports memorabilia as a way of fixing the Vikings' stadium deficit.
According to the retailers, children aged 7-17 would be hit the hardest, and youth sports would be affected if players use equipment with a licensed team logo.
The group said the tax would make Minnesota "a distinctly unfavorable location for the presentation of sporting events ... that rely on the associated sales of licensed sports merchandise." These include Olympics, all-star games NASCAR races, PGA tour events, Super Bowls and NCAA tournaments.
The slow rollout of e-pulltabs has led Gov. Mark Dayton to search for other ways to pay the state's share of the new stadium. Dayton has said his revenue department is looking at the revenue gains from the memorabilia proposals.
The Senate bill includes a 13 percent wholesale tax on professional and division-one college memorabilia. The House version calls for a 10 percent tax on pro sports memorabilia only. Those versions are being squared in a House-Senate conference committee.
Sports Memorabilia display in state capitol
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