What needs to happen for a Minnesota Vikings stadium to pass in 2013:

• The Vikings need to stop overreaching. The Arden Hills project was a pie-in-the-sky choice from the start. That only delayed getting around to better choices and, ultimately, the right choice.

• The right choice is tearing down the Metrodome and building a new stadium there. Period. Stop dilly-dallying in other options. The location has transportation issues covered and is the best in terms of cost.

• Don’t make people from Greater Minnesota pay for a stadium that benefits the metro area. In fact, leaders in several areas were doing a good job avoiding the general fund. However, gambling revenue to fund football is a rather seedy solution.

• Minneapolis leaders need to set aside personal feelings over who likes or dislikes whom in stadium politics and realize that, goodness, the world-class city their forefathers worked so hard to bring pro sports to is about to lose its top sports franchise. Drop that citywide vote. That’s a deal killer and a means to pass off responsibility. Minneapolis benefits most from a stadium and ought to find the local funding stream, and Minneapolis leaders need to lead by coming up with it. If not Minneapolis, then Hennepin County. They’ve all got six months.

• The Vikings need to play ball. Want a stadium? Share financial information with the Legislature. Gee, does it seem like sometimes the Vikings want the various stadium plans to fail so they just can move and have lawmakers to blame? No wonder the bills failed in committee. Without disclosure, who can blame House and Senate members for voting against the stadium measures? Lawmakers need to make sure we, the Minnesotans, are getting a good deal. Ryan Winkler, D-Golden Valley, said it best to Vikings officials: “Right now, we’re kind of negotiating in the dark with you.”

In sports, fans like to say, “There’s always next year.” Well, in terms of a pro football stadium in metropolitan Minnesota, there is only next year.