Feb/070
Twins Ballpark in 2010?
2010 here we come.... or mabye not.
In a move that was somewhat unexpected, Hennepin county announced it's concerns over whether they would be able to work with the owners of the proposed Rapid Park location. Last year when the Legislature passed a bill that will fund the ballpark it was dependant on two things:
1. The ballpark would be in it's current location - The Rapid Park lot behind the Target Center.
2. The bill also stated that the county could not spend more than $90 million for accruing the land and to pay for public infrastructures (roads, sidewalks, etc).
Currently the limited liability corporate group that owns that parcel of land wants several million dollars more than Hennepin County is allowed to pay. Earlier this year a judge ruled that the land was work around $13.5 million dollars. The owners of the land think that is well below market value.
The Twins and Hennepin County are now put in a tight situation. They can either condemn the land ( which would jeopardize their 2010 opening due to the assumed length and complexity of the proceedings) or they can find another peice of land - which also has it's stumbling blocks.
If the Twins in conjunction with Hennepin County decide to move the ballpark somewhere else in Hennepin County that wll require that the bill go BACK to the State Legislature. A move like that would likely be very opposed by the stadium opponents.
Some stadium opponents believe that this news is nothing more than a negotiating tool. Personally I believe that this is a little more serious than they might be letting on.
Only time will tell and I am one that sure as hell hopes that Hennepin County and the Twins can figure this out.
This just in.... Establish your 2010 Priority Seating today!!! Ugghh....
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