The Twins played the Expos yesterday in an exhibition
game in Winston-Salem, NC, and in Minneapolis, Jay Weiner
reports that "nearly 9,000 fans jammed" the minor league
ballpark, some wearing "Vote Yes!" stickers showing "their
support for a proposal to fund" a $210M stadium in the Triad
region. Ballpark proponents collected names and handed out
bumper stickers in their get-out-the-vote effort before the
May 5 referendum. After the game, "Vote Yes!" lawn signs
were distributed (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 4/1).
WHAT'S THE DEAL? Weiner adds that before the game, the
Twins' "possible sale" to NC business exec Don Beaver
"seemed as unsettled as ever." Beaver's letter of intent to
acquire the team from Twins Owner Carl Pohlad expired
yesterday, meaning that Pohlad's "restriction from
negotiating with other potential buyers has lifted." Twins
President Jerry Bell, who spoke with Pohlad on Tuesday, said
he had no details on what the passage of the deadline meant
to the team's status (STAR TRIBUNE, 4/1). In Charlotte,
Foon Rhee reports that Beaver said the deal "is close enough
that the deadline doesn't need to be extended." Beaver: "If
you've got a buyer and a seller that's going toward a
contract ... a letter of intent or a deadline really is not
of any consequence." Beaver said "he hopes the deal is
signed before" the May 5 vote (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 4/1).
But in Montreal, Jack Todd reports that writers who cover
the Twins "say that Beaver's negotiations with the club
broke off two weeks ago." Beaver said he has no interest in
the Expos: "The Expos are making their own effort to build a
new stadium in Montreal and I wish them success. The Expos
are not for sale. We're negotiating to buy the Twins, and
like I said, the deal is 95% done" (Montreal GAZETTE, 4/1).
