Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission Chair Henry
Savelkoul said yesterday he sees a "very long time line" in the
completion of any new ballpark for the Twins, according to Jay
Weiner of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. Savelkoul said he is
only in the early stages of devising a finance plan with Gov.
Arne Carlson's Chief of Staff Morrie Anderson, and he sees
legislative leaders asking the MSFC to formulate a package and
begin talks with the Twins soon after the November 5 election.
By the time the legislature convenes in January, Savelkoul said
"several proposals" could be submitted and hearings will ensue.
A stadium-related bill likely won't be decided until the end of
the session in May. Even if a bill passes, Savelkoul says the
stadium's location will "be a controversial matter" likely
decided by a new agency that would oversee the project. The
legislature is likely to require the Twins to meet contingencies
such as selling a certain number of tickets. Savelkoul predicts
all post-legislative matters won't be done until early '98
(Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 9/19).
