[Mpls] stadium

[Leurquin, Ronald]

Dean wrote
What do we gain?  How about a modern ball park that has seats that face 
home plate, a place where you can go watch Major League Baseball on a 
gorgeous July evening and not feel bad because you are indoors.  A 
place that isn't sterile and plastic -- where you can invite your out-
of-town friends to come watch a game, instead of always going to their 
City.  A ballpark that allows the Twins to be more economically stable 
so that payroll increases don't have to fall entirely on the back of 
increased ticket prices or force them to relocate to Las Vegas or 
Portland.  A ballpark that is integrated into the City's downtown 
fabric and is complementary to and supports local restaurants, bars, 
shops, housing instead of being isolated by roads, parking lots, and 
industrial buildings.  Is that gain equal or greater than our 
investment?  I can't quantify it, but I know that it will exceed my 
0.0015 increase in taxes investment many, many times over.

Ron responds
We already have a once modern ballpark downtown where you can watch baseball.

Why should the taxpayers have to put money into a private entity to make it economically viable.  Baseball in general only stands as it does because of the large public subsidies its received over the years.  Maybe the owners and players could settle for a little less.  I do on a regular basis.

Carl has played the 'build it or lose it' card and failed, the Twins are still here.
Carl has played toe 'contraction' card and the Twins are still here.
Enough with the idle threats already.

How does the presence of the Twins in a new stadium support the businesses in the area of the existing stadium?  What about all of us that do not go near the stadium area during a game?

If this is such a great deal then why are so many against it?
I happen to think the Twins are a wonderful asset to the area, but its also a business that should pay its own way.  I would much rather the Twins be here than somewhere else, but why should I pay for that?  Maybe Carl could share the naming rights and advertising revenue with the taxpayers on an equal basis based upon investment.  That would go a long way to making this thing a better sell.

I just wonder how much a Twins funded stadium would cost compared to a taxpayer funded stadium?  Anyone have any ideas on that?
Ron Leurquin
Nokomis East



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