The Twins' "dormant stadium debate showed signs of
rousing from a long slumber" yesterday when St. Paul Mayor
Norm Coleman addressed the situation in his annual State of
the City address, according to Curt Brown of the Minneapolis
STAR TRIBUNE. While legislative leaders "downplayed the
significance" of Coleman's "new push" for a Twins ballpark,
team President Jerry Bell said that he was "encouraged" by
Coleman's position: "It's nice to know the mayor is thinking
of us" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 3/24). Coleman added that
he intends "to see what St. Paul can do to bring the ...
Twins to our city." Coleman: "I don't believe that we need
to continue to cower from public opinion polls that say
Minnesotans don't want a new Minnesota Twins stadium" (Kevin
Duchschere, Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 3/24).
VIKINGS IN THE MIX: In St. Paul, Jim Caple writes that
Vikings GM Tim Connolly "continued his team's push for
public support for a stadium" with visits yesterday to MN
Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe, House Speaker Steve
Sviggum and House Majority Leader Tim Pawlenty. Some talk
has the Vikings sharing a stadium with the Univ. of MN, but
Moe said "there is no appetite to get anything done this
session." Moe: "Is the stadium situation of the Twins,
Vikings and Gophers football something that has to be looked
at in the future? Yes" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 3/24).
