Rep. Kahn is correct to pursue the ownership model she has proposed. The stumbling block remains the stadium. First, Mr. Pohlad knows that the team has more value with a stadium than without. By holding out for a new field he could potentially double the money that Minnesota, or any buyer, would pay in the absence of a stadium. Furthermore, Major League Baseball has a financial interest in pushing a new stadium because lagging stadium revenues for the Twins, Marlins and others are proving to be impediments to revenue sharing in Major League Baseball. Nevertheless, putting an offer on the table is entirely appropriate.
One question that I have for both the pro- and anti-stadium crowd is why we can't hang the public obligation for a new stadium on ticket prices? The Twins average about 1.9 million fans a year. Maybe 2 million with a new ball park. (Everyone involved with building the dome need not apply.) 2 million folks, over ten years taxed an average of $10 per head rounds out to $200 million. Set a progressive ticket tax rate, a $9 ticket becomes a $12 ticket and a $44 ticket goes to $75, something like that. I recognize that a bond would have to be floated and the ticket taxes used to repay the debt. I also have not figured in the financing. Nevertheless, what are the challenges to having the 2 million people who would most appreciate a new stadium pay for it? A second question I have is what can we do, if a stadium were to be built, to ensure that the same short-sighted thinking behind the dome isn't duplicated? Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Baltimore and Houston essentially duplicated the look and feel of older stadiums like Wrigley, Fenway and Yankee. Clearly such visionary thinking was absent when we ordered up the dome. Given the opportunity we'll have to do a better job in the future. Jeremy Wieland Circulation Director Utne magazine 1624 Harmon Place Minneapolis, MN 55403 612.338.5040 x326 www.utne.com SUBSCRIBE NOW. CLICK HERE: http://www.utne.com/subscribe/ Utne is an independent media company. We believe that personal evolution is the key to social change. Our mission is to seek out and illuminate the essential information, people and trends that inspire our audience to take action to make the world kinder and greener. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Phyllis Kahn Sent: Friday, December 02, 2005 3:40 PM To: mpls@mnforum.org Subject: [Mpls] Twins I wish the people who are so critical of the community ownership proposal would take the time to read it. ( Re: Minnesota Twins in Mpls. ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) 7. Re: Minnesota Twins in Mpls.- Take the wheels off ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) 8. Re: Minnesota Twins in Mpls ([EMAIL PROTECTED])) Without totally knowing who they are, I would venture a guess that I have been studying the subject since before they were born (or at least out of school). The bill was designed with legal consultation and with discussions with big shots in Major League Baseball. (One of the current most famous and influential owners was a high schoool classmate of mine and we talk regularly.) As I have said, this could have passed the legislature years ago and could pass in a minute now. The only reason it hasn't come to a vote is that the "build no matter what" guys don't want any dimunution of the fear/blame factor on the possible loss of the team. And if it's so bad, why have all sides accepted it as a right of first refusal in the current bill? Phyllis Kahn State Rep 59B REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
