The Vikings' loss Sunday may have run out the clock on any dim hopes that the team would get stadium funding this session, so now the question is: Are legislators willing to pop for $25 million for a new minor league baseball stadium in St. Paul, even if the team's name is the Saints?

The Pioneer Press looks at the St. Paul team's dissatisfaction with its home at aging Midway Stadium and its hopes for a new 7,500 seat stadium in St. Paul's Lowertown — across from the Farmers' Market — where they can send out the pig and sell $3 beer and have enough bathrooms.

The story — with a byline, Jason Hoppin — notes:

The Saints have committed to keeping concession prices unchanged, as well as assuming long-term capital maintenance of the park and using suite, naming-rights and parking revenue to help pay for it.

The Saints would kick in $10 million. The city would cover the rest, including cleanup of the site — the old Diamond Products building across from the St. Paul Farmer's Market. The total price tag could fall around $45 million.

The $25 million bonding request is a fraction of what the Vikings are likely to ask for, and [team owner Mike] Veeck jokes that he can't threaten to move the team. "Hey, we're going to Roseville!" he cracked.

There's a hearing today on a Saints stadium bill sponsored by Sen. Ellen Anderson, DFL-St. Paul, and there's a companion bill in the House sponsored by Rep. Tim Mahoney, DFL-St. Paul.

Chances? Probably not great. The paper says:

Whether the request makes the final cut remains to be seen. It wasn't on Gov. Tim Pawlenty's $685 million bonding proposal, but Democrats are putting together a $1 billion proposal that will be released within days. However, there are pending requests for more than double that amount.