St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman "argued" last night in
front of 350 people that if city voters approve a sales tax
increase next month to help build a $325M ballpark for the
Twins, "the city will be stronger and better-looking and can
elevate its stature," according to Jay Weiner of the
Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, who writes that Coleman "responded
forcefully to critics and a few catcalls" from the audience.
Coleman: "If we don't say yes on Nov. 2, then the
opportunity for St. Paul is gone. Voting yes keeps St. Paul
at the table" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 10/12). In
Minneapolis, Weiner, Brown, Duchschere & McAuliffe wrote
that ballpark "proponents are revving up a voter campaign
that may have a better chance of succeeding if turnout Nov.
2 [for the referendum] is low." While ballpark supporters
"have been hard at work identifying sympathetic voters" with
phone calls and mail, "they don't appear eager to run glitzy
TV ads that might motivate wild-card voters" (STAR TRIBUNE,
10/10). Yes! St. Paul, the Chamber of Commerce-affiliated
group heading the ballpark effort, will mail out brochures
featuring T'Wolves Owner Glen Taylor and Wild majority Owner
Robert Naegele, who announced a deal last week to buy the
Twins. About 45,000 literature pieces "have been or will be
mailed to targeted audiences" (PIONEER PRESS, 10/9).
IF A VOTE FAILS: In St. Paul, Charley Walters wrote
that if the ballpark referendum doesn't pass, "don't be
surprised" if Taylor "negotiates a new sale price to buy the
Twins from Carl Pohlad." Walters: "The intent would be to
operate the team in the Metrodome while awaiting the 2001
state legislative session in hopes of landing a new ballpark
in downtown Minneapolis" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 10/10).
Twins execs confirmed that the team's sale price was $120M
to the prospective ownership group (PIONEER PRESS, 10/9).
MN ODDS & ENDS: MLB Commissioner Bud Selig said last
week that MN is in "danger" of losing the Twins to
Charlotte. Selig: "I keep reading ... that people don't
think Charlotte is a major league city. They're kidding
themselves" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 10/9)....In St. Paul,
Jim Caple wrote that even with controversial Owner Carl
Pohlad out of the referendum, "I'm not sure if a mere change
in ownership is going to convince voters they should raise
their taxes to help another pair of rich owners" (ST. PAUL
PIONEER PRESS, 10/9). Pohlad, at a conference announcing
the deal: "I hope our legacy is favorable, but who's to say.
We've done our best" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 10/9).
