Stadium plan is ‘reasonable,’ Pawlenty says
04/25/2005
Conrad deFiebre, Star Tribune Staff Writer
April 26, 2005
Gov. Tim Pawlenty today called the latest proposal for a Minnesota Twins stadium a reasonable one, as team owner Carl Pohlad defended his $125 million proposed contribution under the plan.
While Pawlenty said he’d prefer to see a proposed sales tax increase approved by Hennepin County voters, he said the absence of a referendum in the plan “is not a deal breaker.” That’s critical because the team and Hennepin County leaders say a referendum would cause delays, add to the cost and kill the deal.
Like House and Senate leaders, Pawlenty said the state’s budget and projected shortfall must be considered before consideration of a ballpark. “First things first,” he said, but added, “We want to keep our Twins and Vikings in Minnesota.” Pawlenty has previously supported the search for solutions to pro teams’ stadium needs.
The Twins and Hennepin County struck a deal to increase the general sales tax by 0.15 percentage points to help pay for a $478 million ballpark complex, which would be in the Warehouse District of Minneapolis. Pohlad is expected to contribute $40 million of his $125 million portion up front and the remainder before the stadium would open in 2009.
While some would have Pohlad contribute more, the governor said the amount is “within a national pattern of owners paying one-third” the cost of new sports facilities.
To those who say Pohlad should pay more, the steely businessman said they might see it differently if they were in his shoes. “Looking at it as I look at it, it’s a fair percentage to pay,” he said.
Pohlad pushed his walker to the team news conference on the plaza near the light-rail side of the Metrodome in Minneapolis. Amid dozens of business and civic leaders supporting the ballpark and nary a protester in sight, the team discussed the proposal in a celebratory manner with thanks all around.
“I’ll go home tonight and have a nice good sleep and not worry about stadiums,” Pohlad said.
He joked about the chilly weather. “Maybe we can vote for a roof now,” Pohlad said.
The county board votes Tuesday, likely deciding to go to the Legislature and ask for the authority to increase the general sales tax.