On Apr 29, 2005, at 6:52 AM, Bruce Gaarder wrote:
2) Haven't I read that teams seem to think that 15 years is about as long as they want to stay in new stadiums? That teams with facilities that aren't that old are already making noises about new ones?
The only major bleating is coming from the Chicago White Sox, who built "new" Comiskey Park in a wretchedly bad, old-style design just before Camden Yards. The talk there is of a new second deck, which is heart-attack-inducing (steeper than the Dome), but it won't happen.
Camden Yards is 14 years old, and is much beloved. Jacobs Field is 10 years old, ditto. I don't think any other new stadiums are in danger, so I think the "15-year" expiration date is wrong. However, with the exception of Dodger Stadium, most parks built in the '60s and '70s - in your 30-year window - have crumbled.
3) The editors of the Strib wrote on Tuesday that the Twins would be putting up 36% of the cost. Other articles have stated the cost as $478 million with the team putting up $125 Million. The editorial is either deliberately misleading (the public share is $478M - $125M = $353M, $125M is 35.4% of $125M) or sloppy editing ($125M is 26% of $478). I'm not inclined to cut them slack on an editorial about what they consider so vital to their well-being.
As one who's attempting to distill this for readers, it's complicated.
The ballpark's estimated construction cost is $360 million - $125M from Carl and $235M from us. Carl pays construction cost overruns.
Add on $84 million for site improvements. 100% publicly funded. So if you want to add that up, the total cost is now $444 million, with $319 million, or 72 percent, coming from the public.
Then there's $34 million for public borrowing costs on the 30-year bonds. That makes the total cost $478 million, with $353 million, or 74 percent, coming from the public.
Hope that helps.
David Brauer Kingfield Editor, Skyway News and Southwest Journal
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