The Twins can formally declare their intent to break
their Metrodome lease "as early as this week," and the
announcement "could be linked to a tentative sale of the
team" by Owner Carl Pohlad to NC businessman Don Beaver,
according to Jay Weiner of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE.
The sale "probably would hinge on whether the Legislature
approves a new stadium for the Twins at a planned special
session next month" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 9/28). Twins
President Jerry Bell, on the team's escape clause: "We will
do it before the first of December -- probably sooner,
probably quite a bit sooner." Bell said that the team will
lose an estimated $11M this year (St. Paul PIONEER PRESS,
9/28). In MN, Sid Hartman wrote that the "word in St. Paul
is that the votes are available in the Senate to work out
the funding for a new stadium but not in the House" (STAR
TRIBUNE, 9/28). Acting MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, on a new
owner keeping the Twins in the Metrodome: "If Carl Pohlad
can't make it playing in the Metrodome, how can you expect
any other owner to do it? ... No, a change in ownership
isn't what we are looking for" (STAR TRIBUNE, 9/27).
NOTES: In MN, Don Beaver and NationsBank CEO Hugh
McColl are profiled in separate pieces (STAR TRIBUNE, 9/29).
In St. Paul, David Hanners examined the viablity of the NC
Triad area for MLB. Hanners: "Chief among the concerns is
whether the area is populated enough to provide a big fan
base ... [Experts] also question whether the Triad has a big
enough corporate base" (St. Paul PIONEER PRESS, 9/28).
