Groundbreaking On Twins’ Ballpark Project Could Be Delayed

Twins Do Not Expect To Break Ground On New Ballpark Before August

The Hennepin County (MN) Board of Commissioners on Thursday by a vote of 4-3 approved the development agreement for the Twins’ $522M ballpark project, but Twins Sports President Jerry Bell “cautioned not to expect a groundbreaking before August,” according to Paul Levy of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. Bell said that “preparing the stadium site’s foundation — in downtown Minneapolis near Target Center — likely will delay the groundbreaking until August,” instead of June as expected. The 400-page agreement “binds the Twins to the proposed 40,000-seat open-air ballpark for 30 years.” Also on Thursday, Hennepin County attorney Mike Freeman requested a delay of 4-6 weeks in the first land condemnation on the site, “allowing the county more time to prepare and giving the Twins a chance to take a greater role in condemnation discussions.” The BOC also approved $350M in sales tax revenue bonds for the project (STAR TRIBUNE, 4/27). Meanwhile, Bell said that “everything is signed and sealed to start construction except for an agreement with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway,” which owns land next to the site. Bell: “We thought everything was all set, but they came back with some other things” (STAR TRIBUNE, 4/27).