Ramsey County Commissioner Tony Bennett went on a Vikings stadium sales call Monday.

The deal-making former legislator briefed about 25 mayors, city administrators and other government officials from Ramsey County about his effort to bring a Vikings stadium to the massive former munitions plant land in Arden Hills.

A few questions were asked – most pointedly about how a Ramsey County stadium would be funded – but Bennett remained somewhat vague; no property taxes, he said, but a sales tax, entertainment tax, hotel tax or other fees were possibilities.

“We’re not going to come in with an open checkbook,” Bennett said.

Bennett told MinnPost before the meeting, “We’re not being used” by the Vikings in negotiations for a stadium site -- a concern of some Ramsey County city officials. A site in Minneapolis on or near the current Metrodome site seems to be the most likely location for a new stadium, if and when legislation is introduced.

But Bennett is coming on strong. “We feel optimistic,” Bennett told the city officials. Even though the Vikings haven’t committed to Bennett, the land in Arden Hills still needs to be environmentally evaluated, and local road expansion remains a question mark.

Plus, Bennett said, some amount of state funding will be necessary. “Without the state, there’s probably no deal,” he said.

The General Services Administration — which is the real estate agency for the U.S. Army, which owns parts of the land — had plans to auction the property. But Ramsey County Parks Director Greg Mack told the officials that he has secured a delay in any land sale until after the stadium situation is resolved at the Legislature.

Lester Bagley, Vikings vice president for public affairs, was on hand for the gathering at the county’s public works headquarters, which is adjacent to the potential stadium site. He said a stadium bill at the Capitol is “imminent.” It is likely to be site-neutral.