Target Field Generated Far More Tax Revenue In First Season Than Metrodome In '09

The Minnesota Ballpark Authority Friday reported that Target Field in its inaugural season last year "generated more than three times the sales and use-tax revenue than what the Metrodome returned" during the '09 season, according to Kevin Duchschere of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. Target Field "brought in $18.6 million in sales and use taxes" in '10, and the "biggest winners were Minnesota and Minneapolis." The state took in $11.6M from Target Field, $6.6M more than it got from the Metrodome in '09, while the city took $6.3M from Target Field, up from $900,000 in '09. The Twins reported that the team "contributed $632,000 in 2010 for youth activities," which is $175,000 "more than called for under the terms of the Twins' ballpark lease." Meanwhile, Duchschere reported the Twins for the upcoming season are "replacing the distracting black spruce trees beyond center field with a honeycombed aluminum panel that's punctuated with small holes" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 2/19).

HOME AWAY FROM HOME: The Univ. of Minnesota baseball team "will play all of its Big Ten home games in the 2011 season at Target Field." The team was "originally supposed to play 31 home games in the Metrodome this season before the roof collapsed" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 2/19).