The Twins and MN state officials are "engaged in
brainstorming sessions" for plans to finance a new outdoor
ballpark, according to Jay Weiner of the Minneapolis STAR-
TRIBUNE. Formal negotiations have yet to begin but Morrie
Anderson, Chief of Staff for Gov. Arne Carlson, and the
Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission's Henry Savelkoul "want
to eliminate taxes from the deal and minimize long-term bonding."
Carlson has "ruled out" a metro-area sales tax, believing a
stadium bill with a tax attached would be "very difficult to
pass." Other preliminary ideas: Anderson and Savelkoul want
make a new ballpark part of a larger entertainment district, with
a "baseball district" that would include restaurants and theaters
and could be subject to special taxes. Development rights could
be sold for the area around the stadium and Anderson spoke of
selling "franchise rights" to concessionaires in nearby
restaurants. Carlson said the ballpark deal "will almost
certainly" be a "hybrid." Carlson: "We're not going to do
anything that puts our Triple-A bond rating in jeopardy. I don't
want to go to Wall Street next spring and explain some kind of
zany plan" (Minneapolis STAR-TRIBUNE, 10/10).
