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LET'S TAKE THIS THING OUTSIDE: TWINS PROPOSE OPEN-AIR GAMES

          The Twins have asked MLB and the MN Metropolitan Sports
     Facilities Commission (MSFC) for permission to play three
     games against the Rangers in September in a 25,000-seat
     temporary outdoor ballpark in Bloomington, "near the old"
     Metropolitan Stadium site, according to Rochelle Olson of
     the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE.  On Friday, MSFC members
     "delayed action" on the request until they hear from their
     attorneys, "but they were far from enthusiastic about it." 
     The proposal is "designed to generate fan enthusiasm" for
     construction of a new open-air facility for the team as
     three separate groups "study that possibility" (Minneapolis
     STAR TRIBUNE, 8/12).  Also in Minneapolis, Doug Grow wrote
     that the Twins want to play the outdoor games "simply to
     remind us how much fun baseball can be."  Grow: "This idea
     of the Twins playing three outdoor games in a portable park
     in September is refreshing.  Why, the idea's so good that it
     has Minnesotans at least briefly talking about baseball." 
     Twins CEO Chris Clouser, on fan and corporate interest for
     the proposal: "The enthusiasm has been tremendous.  We've
     even got a sponsor who wants to name the field for his
     company" (STAR TRIBUNE, 8/13).  Clouser said the "whole"
     project will be privately financed, though he did not name
     the two private sponsors that "he has lined up or the cost
     of the project."  In St. Paul, Johnson, Sansevere & Kahn
     wrote that in addition to MLB and MSFC, the umpires union
     and players from the Twins and Rangers must approve the
     deal.  Clouser: "We need a yes or no [from MLB this] week. 
     If it doesn't happen next week, then we'll consider looking
     at it next season" (PIONEER PRESS, 8/12).  In Ft. Worth,
     Simon Gonzalez wrote that Twins President Jerry Bell
     contacted the Rangers about the series, but Rangers GM Doug
     Melvin said that it's "too early to make a decision." 
     Melvin: "We'd have to sit down and discuss it.  You'd have
     to see the field and everything, if the lights are good
     enough for night games.  I'd have a problem on the last day
     if there's not a clubhouse there, if it's a getaway day and
     you had to go back to the Metrodome to change before going
     to the airport."  Gonzalez added that the Twins player-rep
     Denny Hocking "already said he thought his team would
     approve it" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 8/12).  

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