Nearly two-thirds of St. Paul residents surveyed on a
new Twins ballpark in St. Paul are "initially against the
idea," according to a poll to be released today by DC-based
Moore Information and cited by Virginia Rybin of the ST.
PAUL PIONEER PRESS. But many respondents "changed their
minds" when they were asked if the new ballpark "would be an
economic engine stimulating other new development in and
near downtown St. Paul." Of the 400 citizens polled, 69%
said they favored the ballpark "under those conditions,"
while 31% were opposed. In replies to a "more general
question" of a new ballpark, 62% were opposed. St. Paul
Chamber of Commerce President Larry Dowell: "An uphill
public information campaign will be needed. But what's
heartening is that these numbers are better than elsewhere
in the country." The St. Paul Chamber of Commerce is
"paying for the poll," though it "has not taken a position
on a Twins ballpark in St. Paul" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS,
6/15). In Minneapolis, Weiner, Duchschere & Brunswick
report that "sounds of dissent" about public funding for a
new ballpark "were heard Monday," as two Minneapolis leaders
"whacked their first verbal line drives and pledged to
revive opposition to public funding" for a new $330M
ballpark. State Senator John Marty, on St. Paul Mayor Norm
Coleman's talks with Twins Owner Carl Pohlad: "Norm's just
the new shill for the Pohlad efforts to get a new stadium"
(Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 6/15). In St. Paul, Charley
Walters writes, "The Twins say they're unaware of a rumor
about a renewed interest by a Portland civic group trying to
lure the club to Oregon" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 6/15).
