Twins Ballpark

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Twins Ballpark refers to the proposed new stadium for the Minnesota Twins in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It will be the Twins' sixth ballpark and third in Minnesota, replacing their current ballpark, the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. It is believed but not certain that the park's name will somehow memorialize Twins great Kirby Puckett, who died the year that the park was approved.

The proposed stadium would be a 42,000 seat ballpark on the north edge of downtown Minneapolis between 6th and 7th streets near the Target Center; it is planned to have an unobstructed view of the downtown skyline. The field is designed to be broadly similar to that of Seattle's Safeco Field, deemed by the Twins to be a "neutral" park which favors neither hitters nor pitchers (the current Metrodome with its white teflon ceiling is often said to be a "hitter's park"). Fan amenities are anticipated to be designed after those of the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, widely considered one of the finest sports venues in the world#redirect . In 2005, the team and Hennepin County reach an agreement that called for a county wide sales tax of 15 cents on each $100 of sales in Hennepin County along with a $125 million contribution from the Twins owners. Naming rights belong to the Minnesota Twins. Although earlier proposals called for the park to be built with a retractable roof, the current version of the park has neither a roof nor provisions to install one.

A state law passed in 1997 requires anytime a county seeks to raise its sale tax, the question needs to be put before the voters. The law also allows a county to seek permission from the state to enact the tax without a voter’s referendum. The Minnesota Legislature did not act on the bill during the 2005 session.

In the 2006 session, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed the bill that would allow the team and county to go around the referendum. The Minnesota Senate also passed a version of the bill, but their version would also build a stadium for the Minnesota Vikings and fund transit projects. The two bills spent most of the legislative session in conference committee. The ballpark is scheduled to be open for the 2010 baseball season, the Twins' 50th season in Minnesota. The final bill was approved on May 21 and was signed by governor Tim Pawlenty before the Twins' May 26 home game against the Seattle Mariners. The final version is substantially identical to the House version, with language relating to both the transit tax and the Vikings stadium stripped.

The County Board approved the ballpark plan 5-2 on June 20, 2006 (Commissioner Gail Dorfman, previously an opponent of the park, switched sides, stating that the park was a done deal and the focus now was on implementing it in the most responsible way possible). The area also still faces an environmental impact study, though is expected to pass.

Criticism

Controversy over a publicly funded stadium has plagued the Twins for over a decade. Critics argue this is corporate welfare and the citizens aren't being allowed to vote even though state law calls for a referendum. The recent (2006) developments were met with much opposition to exempt Hennepin County from a mandatory referendum. Currently both the Senate (71-61) and House (34-32) have passed the exemption by slim margins on the final day of regular session. It was signed by Governor Pawlenty despite his incoherent "No new taxes" policy. Pawlenty has expressed concern that the Twins are in danger of leaving town if he doesn't allow for the stadium even though they have been claiming to do this for over a decade. Backing up the governor's position was the fact that baseball's current collective bargaining agreement allows Major League Baseball to fold up to two clubs following the 2006 season.

A majority in polls have found that the voters want a referendum, but the Twins and some of the commissioners have opposed it saying that it places the plan in jeopardy. The Twins have spent upwards of $750,000 for lobbying over the past decade. Less opposition may have been due to the fact that only Hennepin County will have an increased sales tax and that has allowed for past opposition to agree to the proposal.

Notes

	Opening Day	Capacity	Lower Deck Seats	Upper Deck Seats	Outfield Seats	Luxury Suites	Group Party Suites	Disabled Seating	Seats w/ Obstructed View	# Bathrooms	Left Field	Center Field	Right Field
Metrodome	1982	56,000 (curtain up); 45,423 (curtain down)	21,621	32,442	18,594	115 (controlled by Vikings)	2	190	1,392	16	343 ft.	408 ft.	327 ft.
New Twins Ballpark	2010	42,000 (approx.)	23,450	+/- 12,000	+/- 6,748	60	12	820	0	34	328 ft.	402 ft.	331 ft.

Preceded by:
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
1982–present (2009 planned) Future home of the
Minnesota Twins
Planned opening 2010 Followed by:
None

References

[Official Developer website]
[Twins, Gophers score stadium victories] from Star-Tribune
[Twins Ballpark page] on Ballparks.com
[GOP Opposition]
[The Taxpayers League of Minnesota]
[The Twins Stadium Bill] MN State Legislature HF2480, SF2297
[Governor signs ballpark bill]
[Metrodome/New Ballpark Comparison]

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