House passes financing plan for new Twins ballpark

[KitchenWitch]

http://www.startribune.com/509/story/394847.html (use bugmenot.com if you can't get this article)

With an eye toward the Senate and support from the governor, the Twins stadium proposal clears the House

Mike Kaszuba, Star Tribune

Last update: April 26, 2006 – 10:03 PM

The Minnesota Twins swatted their biggest political hit in decades Wednesday when the Minnesota House endorsed a proposal to build a new $522 million stadium for the team in downtown Minneapolis.

The final 76 to 55 vote capped a marathon House session that, by the end of the day, gave the Twins a wider margin of support than many had anticipated. Wednesday's vote sent the project to the Senate where it faces new challenges but where Twins spokesman Jerry Bell said he had been assured there was ample overall support.

As the vote was announced after more than seven hours of debate, Bell smiled and reached over to shake hands with Twins president David St. Peter in the House gallery. "More votes than we thought," Bell said afterward. With an eye toward the Senate, Bell said the Twins would resist attempts to significantly alter the proposal.

House Speaker Steve Sviggum, who had personally pledged there would be enough House votes for the plan, also cautioned the Senate about changing the stadium proposal. "If the Democrats in the Senate want to goof it up," he said, ".... . .that will be their choice, and their consequences."

[SaveElmer]

1. Yahoooo...it is about time eh?

I believe they have to commit to a 30 year lease as well...it will be nice, as a Twins fan, not to have the contraction "sword of Damocles" over our heads all the time!

Lets hope the Senate doesn't try to mess with it!

[KitchenWitch]

2. Agreed

I am a little ambivalent about public funding, but since the precedent has been set in other markets, I know our market would lose the team without funding a new stadium.

I am happy that in a few years I may get to go see an outdoor game in Minnesota, other than the Golden Gophers, or high school/legion ball.