Twins Ballpark

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This article or section is about a planned or proposed stadium.
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Twins Ballpark

Location	3rd Ave. N, between 5th St. N and 7th St. N, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Opened	Opening Day 2010
Closed	-
Demolished	-
Owner	Hennepin County
Surface	Grass
Construction cost	$522 million
Architect	HOK Sport
Tenants
Minnesota Twins (2010-)
Seats
42,000
Dimensions
Left Field - 328 ft Left-Center - 371 ft Center Field - 402 ft Right-Center - 371 ft. Right Field - 331 ft.

Twins Ballpark refers to the future 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.

The proposed stadium would be a 42,000 seat ballpark on the north edge of downtown Minneapolis between 6th and 7th streets near the Warehouse District and 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, the last major sports venue built in the area. 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.

Current estimates put the stadium cost at $390 million, infrastructure and financing costs would bring the total to $522 million.

1 Legislation and funding
- 1.1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
2 Criticism
3 Notes
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Legislation and funding

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 2005, the team and Hennepin County reached 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.

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.

[edit] Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome

The Metrodome is the current home of the Minnesota Twins. The number one reason why the team is moving, is actually because the Dome is aging and slowly becoming not a proper tenant for both the Minnesota Twins and the Minnesota Vikings.

[edit] 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 and was signed by Governor Pawlenty. Pawlenty has expressed concern that the Twins were in danger of leaving town if a new stadium was not funded. 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. Overall opposition was lessened by the fact that only Hennepin County will see an increased sales tax, There also was some speculation that once Carl Pohlad no longer owned the team they might have moved without a new stadium. The new stadium seemingly ensures the team will play in the Twin Cities free of contraction or threats to relocate.

[edit] 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	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.