Twins president Dave St. Peter told Sports Headliners this week he feels optimistic about the franchise hosting the all-star game in the new Minneapolis ballpark in 2014 or 2016. The game is played during alternate years in American and National league cities, and St. Peter said sites have been determined through 2010.
Major league baseball senior management and event staff decide on host cities. “We have a ways to go to get that word,” St. Peter said. “Our interest is well known. …”
In the Twins’ favor is the new ballpark opens in 2010, and Minneapolis-St. Paul hasn’t hosted the game since 1985. Because of its weather and beauty, the area is known as a summer time favorite for national events, too.
St. Peter said he doesn’t know what the timetable will be for a decision on the game coming here. He hears from fans including season ticket holders who are excited about an all-star game in the new stadium.
Sports Headliners believes Kansas City, with its ballpark now being renovated, might be chosen as the all-star game host city for 2012. A later date like 2014 for the all-star game would provide the Twins with another marketing tool after the stadium has been open for awhile.
St. Peter said no decision has been made regarding naming rights for the Twins’ stadium. That includes the possibility the stadium won’t have a corporate name such as Wheaties Field.
He said the Twins have expressed preliminary interest to the Minnesota Wild in hosting an outdoor NHL game. “We’re very interested in that,” he said.
Such a game would be played in the winter and there’s concern about how a natural grass field will be impacted. The Chicago Cubs’ Wrigley Field will host a game in January between the Blackhawks and Detroit. That game will provide more perspective about hockey being played on natural grass in a baseball stadium.