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, 21st 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.”