The Twins lost about $11M in '94 and "fell out of
compliance" with AL financial stability guidelines, according to
an independent audit of the team obtained by the Minneapolis
STAR-TRIBUNE. Jay Weiner reports the team was "devastated" by
the strike, which dropped operating revenues 44% -- from $52M to
$29.8M. Expenses fell only 18%. Twins VP/Finance Kevin Mather
estimated the Twins were one of a dozen MLB teams in the
financial non-compliance zone (Minneapolis STAR-TRIBUNE, 9/23).
Meanwhile, today in the Twin Cities, NFL Commissioner Paul
Tagliabue joins Vikings President Roger Headrick before the
Advisory Task Force on Professional Sports to suggest that the
Metrodome should be managed by an arena management firm.
Headrick will add that the dome is not suitable for two
franchises, and the facility without the Twins "might even be
preferable." A new taxpayer-funded ballpark, however, doesn't
appear to have public support. A poll released Sunday by the St.
Paul PIONEER-PRESS and KARE-TV showed 69% of Minnesotans opposed
funding a new baseball stadium, with only 21% in favor
(Minneapolis STAR-TRIBUNE, 9/25).
NOT STRAIGHT A'S: As reported in Friday's S.F. CHRONICLE,
the A's are on track to lose $20M-$25M this season. That makes
the team "among the teams most hard-hit" by the strike (Steve
Kettmann, S.F. CHRONICLE, 9/23).
