Field of Schemes: Won't somebody think of the profits?

June 02, 2005

Won't somebody think of the profits?

Call it "revenue-increment financing": Minnesota Twins stadium critics Sen. John Marty and Rep. Phil Krinkie (you'll remember him as chair of the house taxes committee that's the next stop for the Twins stadium bill if it ever gets moving again) have introduced an amendment to give the county a share of new stadium revenues in proportion to its share of stadium costs. With the Twins anticipating about a $40 million a year increase over proceeds at their current home, the Metrodome, and Hennepin County putting up about three-quarters of the $478 million estimated construction cost, that would leave county taxpayers getting about $30 million a year, Twins owner Carl Pohlad the rest.

Hennepin County commissioner Mike Opat, the architect of the Twins plan, immediately declared that the Marty-Krinkie bill would leave the stadium "more dead than dead," and then added a pretty remarkable addendum:

"In a perfect world, their scheme might work," Opat said of the Krinkie-Marty bill. "But baseball doesn't operate in a perfect world, and it never will. The purpose of a new ballpark is to generate revenue so the team can be competitive. We have an agreement with the team. If they want to change it, they're nullifying the agreement." [Emphasis added]

There you have it, sports fans: The purpose of spending $353 million on a new Twins stadium isn't revitalizing downtown Minneapolis, or giving fans a chance to watch baseball outdoors, or any of the other rationales that are put forth - it's giving Carl Pohlad more money. I guess the honesty is refreshing, at least.

COMMENTS

No, I don't think he was really being 100% honest. I think what Opat meant was that the stadium will generate income to pay players and make the Twins a consistent winner on the field, raining glory down upon the Twin Cities and making it a beacon unto many Nations while also preventing the team from moving to Las Vegas or wherever. That's what they always say.
Posted by: Reed at June 2, 2005 04:22 PM

Ah yes, Las Vegas, the new DC.
Posted by: Mack Brown at June 2, 2005 07:15 PM

I think of it as the new Tampa Bay, but I'm old-school.
Posted by: Neil at June 2, 2005 09:04 PM

So they can be competitive? Is that competitive like those teams with new stadiums in Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Detroit and Pittsburgh? As opposed to the team that's struggled to a woeful three straight division titles while playing in the Metrodome?
Posted by: Jeff Hildebrand at June 3, 2005 12:40 AM

Exactly. As I recall, Hamilton County considered suing the Bengals for breaching that bit of the deal for Paul Brown Stadium. The gist of their gripe was "you said you needed a new stadium to build a good team. There's your new stadium. Where's the good team?" I don't recall where that issue went. Perhaps two 8-8 seasons were good enough.
Posted by: Reed at June 3, 2005 03:20 PM

The Bengals case is in mediation.
Posted by: George at June 3, 2005 11:59 PM

Yes this will help them be more competitive!! How could it not, with the money they arent getting from parking, ticket and all the income they have to share with the vikings we wouldnt have to think about trading torii or we could afford to get more offense. tell me how they can not become more competitive.
Posted by: Nicole at November 14, 2005 05:38 PM