Twins Owner Carl Pohlad is considering hiring an
investment banking firm to handle potential offers for the
team, according to Sid Hartman of the Minneapolis STAR
TRIBUNE. Hartman wrote "it would not be a surprise" if the
Twins announce this week that "while the club isn't
officially for sale, the Pohlads are willing to listen to
bids" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 7/12).
LOBBYING STRATEGY: With a legislative stadium task
force to convene next week and a special legislative session
two months away, "proponents of a publicly funded Twins
ballpark are changing their strategy," according to Jay
Weiner of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. Stadium booster
organization Minnesota Wins Chair Robert Dayton: "We're
going to take on more responsibility; we're going to be more
aggressive." Previous pro-stadium lobbying efforts, "mostly
led by the Twins and not Wins -- got poor grades from
Capitol observers." Minnesota Wins has since hired Larry
Redmond, a noted state lobbyist. Minnesota Wins execs are
"considering" a TV ad "blitz" before September's special
session, "while keeping an eye on potential backlash against
spending $1 million to promote a $350 million to $500
million publicly funded facility" (STAR TRIBUNE, 7/14).
