Poll Shows Minnesota Residents Not On Board For New Stadiums

Poll Shows Twins Ballpark Has Most Support Of Three Proposed Stadiums

A poll of 725 residents throughout the state of Minnesota conducted last Thursday and Friday found about one-third believe the Twins need a new ballpark, while only a quarter think the Vikings need a new stadium, according to Mike Kaszuba of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. The majority said that the Twins, Vikings and Univ. of Minnesota (UM) football team “should continue playing in the Metrodome.” The Twins garnered the most support when respondents were asked which team most needed a new facility, with 23%, followed by UM with 21%. Just 13% said the Vikings needed a new stadium the most. The largest portion, 29%, said none of the teams needed a new stadium. Kaszuba wrote the poll “brought a sobering message” to the Vikings, as over 60% said that the team “should continue using the Metrodome,” and 60% “strongly oppose public money for a new stadium” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 5/14). Twins President Dave St. Peter said, “We have had hundreds of hours of debate at the Capitol, and we have great faith in the legislative leadership. We put our stock in that rather than three-minute phone calls in a poll” (STAR TRIBUNE, 5/15).

DIFFERENT QUESTION, DIFFERENT RESULT: In Minneapolis, Sid Hartman wrote of the poll, “The question that I wish had been added is this one, and I believe the answer would have been favorable: ‘If it looked like [MLB] and the Twins were going to leave this area unless a new stadium bill was passed, would you be in favor of limited public support from taxpayers?” Hartman: “I’m convinced the Pohlad family will sell the team after this year to outsiders who will care less about keeping the team in the Twin Cities” (STAR TRIBUNE, 5/14). Minnesota state House Speaker Steve Sviggum said, “If you change a question in such [a way] that says, ‘The consequence would be baseball would [no] longer be in Minnesota, would you support this proposal that is before us?’ I think you would get a much different answer.” Sviggum added that he is “confident the Twins stadium bill will become a reality” (STAR TRIBUNE, 5/15).