Author: David Shama

Colleagues and mentors, a willingness to learn and take on new challenges and capitalize on the organization’s policy to promote from within has fueled St. Peter’s rise to becoming one of only 30 individuals who are presidents of major league baseball teams, but so, too, is an extraordinary work ethic.  His enthusiasm to work virtually every day of the year, either at the dome, his home or while traveling is not something he boasts about or even says is unique among people in the baseball workforce.  Baseball begins on the field in spring training in February and the season and playoffs last into October.  People on the business side of the game often log even longer hours in the off-season when there is even more work to do than during the season. 

“If you work in baseball, you better bring work ethic,” St. Peter said. “Because if you don’t, you won’t last long. This (baseball) is a monster.  It’s not the country club of the NFL, or even the world of the NBA or the NHL.  That’s not to knock those (organizations); it’s just that this is a much bigger commitment time wise. I always tell young people if you are going to get into baseball, you need to make sacrifices, and they kind of look at me funny. And I have to describe to them what it means, but you do have to spend time away from family, friends and things that you want to do. …” 

On request he speaks about his career to individuals and to groups every year and has a frustration with the sense of entitlement many young people have, a feeling they are owed a rewarding and enjoyable job.  “I don’t know if people are willing to go out and run the Hub Pro Shop to get where they want to be, and that’s what I preach to people,” St. Peter said.  “You get to where you want to be (but) you’re not going to come through the front door, or a side door.  It’s probably going to be the back door.  You’re going to have to keep your head down, keep working hard and have faith in your skills.”

St. Peter and wife Joanie have three young children.  He struggles with balancing his life with the Twins and family life.  “That is my biggest challenge, is trying to maintain any level of family balance. …We try to preach that around here but I am not very good at practicing it.” 

St. Peter approaches his work with humility and a commitment that he represents Twins fans.  According to St. Peter’s view, the Twins aren’t his team, or owner Carl Pohlad’s.  “Millions of people consider the Twins their team,” he said.  “I view it (the franchise) as a public trust.”

Being president of the Twins is seen as a privilege.  “There are only 30 jobs as presidents of major league teams,” St. Peter said.  “There are millions of people who would trade what they are doing to have a chance to do what I do and I never forget that.”

A design for the new Twins’ baseball stadium will likely be presented to the public in March or April of next year, according to club president Dave St. Peter. During an interview with Sports Headliners he spoke about various aspects of the stadium project including whether there will be a retractable roof. 

St. Peter expects ground to be broken for the stadium in May or June and the facility will open in 2010.  Although Hennepin County and the Twins made a commitment to build a $522 million (includes financing and infrastructure) open-air stadium earlier this year, there has been ongoing speculation about adding a retractable roof but St. Peter said “there is no secret plan” to do so. 

The expense of a roof would add considerably to the stadium’s cost and has never been part of the current plan.  The Twins, St. Peter said, were given a choice of remaining in the Metrodome or playing in an open-air stadium. 

Based on his research, St. Peter concluded there isn’t a significant inclement weather difference between Minneapolis and other northern major league cities such as Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland.  St. Peter said the Twins and stadium planners are looking at options for providing protective cover and heat to “as many seats as possible.” 

St. Peter’s enthusiasm about the stadium is evident.  “The ballpark preserves the future of the franchise,” he said.  He expects the 42,000 seat facility to allow the Twins to move from near the bottom in revenues among major league teams to a league average.  While those revenues are important to making the Twins competitive on the field, St. Peter also talked about the consumer benefit of the new stadium.  With seats angled toward the pitcher’s mound, views of the downtown skyline, 21^st century fan enhancements and a superb location with proximity to transportation and hospitality, the Twins expect to play in the new ballpark for 50 to 100 years.  “We’re building a landmark,” St. Peter said. 

St. Peter said the expected increase in revenues from the new ballpark will not figure into the franchise’s budgeting for “at least two years.”  The team’s budget philosophy has been and remains to spend what it earns.  Because revenues increased in 2006, St. Peter expects the player payroll to increase for next season.  Although he didn’t offer any figures, there has been speculation the payroll may increase from an estimated $63 million to perhaps $70 million.    

What will the ballpark be named?  St. Peter said the Twins aren’t rushing to make a decision and want to thoroughly consider the name.  A corporate name is a possibility but not a given, he said, although already “there is no shortage of interest from companies.”