Twins Ballpark
5197708
226176298
2008-07-17T04:31:37Z
Bobak
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Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/209.162.47.29|209.162.47.29]] ([[User talk:209.162.47.29|talk]]) to last version by Davumaya
{{Stadium under construction}}
{{Infobox_Baseball_Stadium |
stadium_name = Twins Ballpark |
nickname = |
image = [[Image:Twins Ballpark.jpg|300px|center]]|
location = 3rd Ave. N, between 5th St. N and 7th St. N, [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]] |
coordinates = {{Coord|44.982384|-93.27734|type:landmark|display=inline,title}} |
broke_ground = [[August 30]], [[2007]] |
opened = [[Opening Day]] 2010 (scheduled) |
owner = [[Hennepin County, Minnesota|Hennepin County]] |
operator = |
surface = Grass |
construction_cost = [[United States dollar|$]]522 million |
architect = [[HOK Sport + Venue + Event|HOK Sport]] |
builder = [[M. A. Mortenson Company]] |
former_names = |
tenants = [[Minnesota Twins]] ([[Major League Baseball|MLB]]) ([[2010]]-present) |
seating_capacity = 40,000<ref>[http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/ballpark/comparisons.jsp minnesota.twins.mlb.com]</ref> |
dimensions = Left Field - 339 ft <br> Left-Center - 377 ft <br> Center Field - 404 ft <br> Right-Center - 367 ft. <br> Right Field - 328 ft.
}}
'''Twins Ballpark''' is the working title of the future [[stadium]] for the [[Minnesota Twins]] in [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]]. It will be the franchise's sixth ballpark (or fifth, depending on how one counts the [[Washington, D.C.]] ballparks) and third in [[Minnesota]] (albeit the first built specifically for the Twins, as Metropolitan Stadium was built to attract a Major League team, while the Metrodome was built as a football stadium for the [[Minnesota Vikings]]), replacing their current ballpark, the [[Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome|H.H.H. Metrodome]].
The stadium will be a 40,000 seat ballpark in the [[North Loop, Minneapolis|North Loop neighborhood]] north of [[Downtown West, Minneapolis|Downtown Minneapolis]] between 5th and 7th Streets, near the [[Target Center]]. The architect is [[HOK Sports]] with Bruce Miller as principal lead. The firm is responsible for other stadiums such as Oriole Park in Baltimore, PNC Park in Pittsburgh, and AT&T Park in San Francisco. The Twins Ballpark will bear resemblance to these projects.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.citypages.com/sports/2008/06/interview_with.php|title=Interview with Bruce Miller, principal architect for the new Twins Ballpark|author=Judd Spicer|date=June 12, 2008|publisher=City Pages}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ballparkdigest.com/news/2007/twins_ballpark.html|title=Twins ballpark plans unveiled|author=Dave Wright|date=April 12, 2007|publisher=Ballpark Digest}}</ref> The Twins have opted for a "neutral" park which favors neither hitters nor pitchers; the current Metrodome with its white [[teflon]] ceiling is often said to be a "hitter's park", favoring the offense. Fan amenities are anticipated to be designed after those of the [[Xcel Energy Center]] in [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|St. Paul]], the last major sports venue built in the area. Although earlier proposals called for the park to be built with a [[retractable roof]], the current version of the park has neither a roof nor provisions to install one.
Current estimates put the stadium cost at [[USD|$]]390 million, while infrastructure and financing costs would bring the total to $522 million. Work on the site began on [[May 21]], [[2007]], with the official groundbreaking for the stadium taking place [[August 30]], [[2007]],<ref>{{cite web| title =Twins ballpark groundbreaking rescheduled for Thursday, Aug. 30| publisher =MLB Advanced Media| date =2007-08-09| url =http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20070809&content_id=2139188&vkey=pr_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min| accessdate = 2007-08-10}}</ref> delayed from the original date of [[August 2]] due to the [[I-35W Mississippi River bridge|I-35W Bridge Collapse]].<ref>Chros McDougall, [http://www.downtownjournal.com/index.php?&story=5914&page=65&category=54 Construction under way at ballpark site], ''Downtown Journal'', [[May 21]], [[2007]].</ref> The first concrete slab was poured on [[December 17]], [[2007]].<ref>Dave St. Peter, [http://twinsballpark.mlblogs.com/ Twins Ballpark Update]</ref> The Twins have targeted [[2015]] as a year to host the [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game]].<ref>Dave St. Peter, [http://twinsballpark.mlblogs.com/ Twins Target 2015 for All-Star Game’s Return to Minnesota], ''Minnesota Twins Ballpark Blog'', [[July 9]], [[2007]].</ref>
== Development ==
===Early plans===
Plans for moving the Twins out of the Metrodome began to take serious shape in the mid-1990s. By 1995, the Twins had found a new site just north of the Metrodome, on a large piece of land next to the [[Mississippi River]].<ref name="A051907">Paul Levy, [http://www.startribune.com/vikings/story/1194481.html No Vikings stadium bill now, but next year, maybe?], ''Star Tribune'', May 19, 2007.</ref> Located in the old [[Mills District, Minneapolis|Mills District]], the stadium would have sat next to the current [[Guthrie Theater]]; the cleared land for the stadium eventually became Gold Medal Park, a public park, in 2007.<ref name="A051607">Linda Mack, [http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1188723.html New park gets a gold star from its first visitors], ''Star Tribune'', [[May 16]], [[2007]].</ref> During the 1995 Minnesota legislative session, the proposed Mississippi River-sited stadium would have cost $300 million less than the proposed ballpark which eventually passed the legislature eleven years later.<ref name="A051907">Paul Levy, [http://www.startribune.com/vikings/story/1194481.html No Vikings stadium bill now, but next year, maybe?], ''Star Tribune'', [[May 19]], [[2007]].</ref>
The Twins underwent turbulent times in the late-1990s and into the new century: in [[1997 in baseball|1997]], owner [[Carl Pohlad]] almost sold the Twins to [[North Carolina]] businessman Don Beaver, who would have moved the team to the [[Piedmont Triad]] ([[Greensboro, North Carolina|Greensboro]] - [[Winston-Salem, North Carolina|Winston-Salem]] - [[High Point, North Carolina|High Point]]) area of the state. The defeat of a [[referendum]] for a stadium in that area and a lack of interest in building a stadium for the Twins in [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]] killed the deal. In 2001, the Twins, along with the [[Montreal Expos]] (who eventually became the [[Washington Nationals]]), were identified as a target for [[Major League Baseball|MLB]] "contraction" (elimination) by Commissioner [[Bud Selig]] after a vote by MLB owners.<ref name=MPR012202>Michael Khoo, [Court rules against Twins in Metrodome lease case], Minnesota Public Radio, [[January 22]], [[2002]].</ref> The contraction plans were shelved after the [[Minnesota Supreme Court]] upheld a lower court ruling requiring the Twins to play baseball in the Metrodome in 2003; however the pressure did spur the Minnesota House to vote in favor of some stadium legislation as well as support from then-Governor [[Jesse Ventura]]<ref name=MPR032602>Bob Collins, [http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200203/26_collinsb_mlb/ Selig says Twins' contraction still 'a possibility'], Minnesota Public Radio, [[March 26]], [[2002]].</ref><ref name=MPR052202>Brian Bakst, [http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/session2002/ap_stadium.shtml Ventura signs $330 million Twins stadium bill], Associated Press, May 22, 2002.</ref>
===Legislation and funding===
[[Image:051907-009-TwinsBallparkSite.jpg|350px|thumb|right|The site of the under-construction Twins Ballpark, two days before work commenced on [[May 21]], [[2007]]. The location is bordered by 7th St. N (overpass on left), the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (building with smokestacks at rear left as well as the similarly colored small building to the right of it), 5th St. N (overpass on the right side), and the 394 exits and downtown parking ramp (foreground). The tall red building is the Ford Centre.<ref>[http://www.startribune.com/business/11092551.html United Properties takes over Ford Centre]</ref>]]
[[Image:2008-0511-TwinsBallparkSite-001.jpg|350px|thumb|right|The same site as above, approximately one year later (357 days). The stadium structure is beginning to rise, the pedestrian bridges above the freeway are being constructed; a larger one to the right is not visible in the photo. The structure in the foreground will be a store and ticket office.]]
[[Image:2008-0511-TwinsBallparkSite-002.jpg|350px|thumb|right|Looking "into" the under-construction Twins Ballpark, almost a year (355 days) after construction commenced. Home plate is marked.]]
A state law passed in 1997 requires anytime a county seeks to raise its sale tax, the question needs to be put before the voters. The law also allows a county to seek permission from the state to enact the tax without a voter’s referendum. The [[Minnesota Legislature]] did not act on the bill during the 2005 session.
On [[April 26]], [[2005 in baseball|2005]], the Twins and [[Hennepin County, Minnesota|Hennepin County]] announced that a deal had been reached, in which the Twins would pay roughly 1/3 of the stadium's cost ($125 million), with the rest being paid for by a 0.15% Hennepin County sales tax. The deal would need to be approved by the Hennepin County Board. After delaying the vote one week, on [[May 3]] the Board voted 4-3 in favor of the stadium deal. Minneapolis mayor [[R.T. Rybak]] ([[Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party|DFL]]) had already weighed in favor of the stadium. The plan passed its second hurdle on [[May 9]], [[2005]] when a House committee of the Minnesota Legislature approved a bill to get around the referendum to be sent to the floor on a 17-5 vote. This legislation languished before the full Legislature, during a particularly gridlocked session, and was placed on the back burner, pending resolution of "more pressing" legislation. [[Naming rights]] belong to the Minnesota Twins.
In the 2006 session, the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]] passed the bill that would allow the team and county to go around the referendum. The [[Minnesota Senate]] also passed a version of the bill, but their version would also build a stadium for the [[Minnesota Vikings]] and fund transit projects. The two bills spent most of the legislative session in conference committee. The bill was passed by a 71-61 vote in the House and a 34-32 vote in the Senate. A [[ballot]] [[referendum]], called for by many Hennepin County residents, was deemed infeasible due to the time-critical nature of the bill (a referendum would have to wait until the November general election, while dates for the Twins to play in the Metrodome in 2007 needed to be applied for by July 1). Under the legislation, $392 million in public subsidy is provided through the Hennepin County sales tax increase for the $522 million project. The ballpark is scheduled to be open for the 2010 baseball season, the Twins' 50th season in Minnesota. The final bill was approved on May 21 and was signed by governor [[Tim Pawlenty]] before the Twins' [[May 26]] home game against the [[Seattle Mariners]]. The final version is substantially identical to the House version, with language relating to both the transit tax and the Vikings stadium stripped.
The County Board approved the ballpark plan 5-2 on [[June 20]], [[2006]] (Commissioner Gail Dorfman, previously an opponent of the park, switched sides, stating that the park was a done deal and the focus now was on implementing it in the most responsible way possible). The area also still faces an environmental impact study, though it is expected to pass.
In mid-February of 2007, funding and acquisition ran into a snag because the purchase price had not been previously negotiated when the State bill was passed and the current owners of the land were asking for a higher price than was expected. On [[April 4]], [[2007]], Dave St. Peter, Twins president and the head of the team's ballpark committee, announced that an agreement had been reached that would have the Twins paying a portion of the difference between Land Partners II's asking price and the county's budget for the land. As a result, after a four-month impasse, the Hennepin County board voted on [[April 10]], [[2007]] to use eminent domain to acquire the land with the Twins helping to cover acquisition costs beyond the county's previous $13.5 million offer.<ref>John Vomhof Jr., [http://twincities.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2007/04/09/daily19.html County will seize land for Twins site; Twins will chip in], ''Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal'', [[April 10]], [[2007]].</ref> Before construction could begin, the Twins also reached a related agreement with the [[BNSF|Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway]], which owns property adjacent to the site.<ref>Mike Kaszuba, [http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1111494.html Twins step up to plate for ballpark land], ''Star Tribune'', [[April 10]], [[2007]].</ref><ref name=MSPBJ050107>John Vomhof Jr., [http://twincities.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2007/04/30/daily19.html?surround=lfn County moves ahead with stadium site plan],''Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal'', [[May 1]], [[2007]]</ref> With the issue over land moving forward, the Twins presented the official design of the new stadium on [[April 12]]; it had been delayed due to the land dispute.<ref>[http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1112658.html What's Next?], ''Star Tribune'', April 10, 2007.</ref>
On [[May 1]], [[2007]], Hennepin County officially took control of the land after placing $13.75 million into a court escrow account; although the court would still need to officially determine the price of the land in the condemnation process, the Twins agreed to pay any costs beyond the amount deposited.<ref name=MSPBJ050107>John Vomhof Jr., [http://twincities.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2007/04/30/daily19.html?surround=lfn County moves ahead with stadium site plan],''Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal'', May 1, 2007</ref> The action assured that the construction of the stadium would begin on [[June 1]], [[2007]].<ref name=Strib050107>Mike Kaszuba, [http://www.startribune.com/509/story/1156687.html County takes title of land for Twins ballpark], ''Star Tribune'', May 1, 2007.</ref> In late August, a three-member condemnation panel ruled that the parcel was worth $23.8 million; developers had claimed that the fair market value was $65 million.<ref>{{cite web| title =Twins ballpark land price ruling leans toward county offer| publisher =Minnesota Public Radio| date =2007-08-20| url =http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/08/20/ballpark/| accessdate = 2007-08-20}}</ref> On [[October 15]], [[2007]], the two sides reached a negotiated settlement of just under $29 million, ending the dispute; as a result the County noted it would have to cut back on some improvements to the surrounding streetscapes, though it also revealed that the Pohlad family had committed another $15 million for infrastructure.<ref name=st101507>Rochelle Olson, [http://www.startribune.com/10241/story/1486731.html Stadium land feud ends with cost stretching to $29 million], ''Star Tribune'', October 15, 2007.</ref>
===Design===
[[HOK Sport + Venue + Event|HOK Sport]], the lead architectural design firm, tried to avoid creating a replica of the old-style brick [[Oriole Park at Camden Yards|Camden Yards]] or modern urban design of the new [[Nationals Park]] (both also designed by HOK Sport).<ref name=Strib041207>Mike Kaszuba, [http://www.startribune.com/509/story/1115358.html Twins ballpark: Above us ... only sky], ''Star Tribune'', [[April 12]], [[2007]].</ref> Instead, the design for the new Twins Stadium employs local limestone, Minnesota fir trees outside the outfield, heated viewing areas and a heated field.<ref name=Strib041207>Mike Kaszuba, [http://www.startribune.com/509/story/1115358.html Twins ballpark: Above us ... only sky], ''Star Tribune'', [[April 12]], [[2007]].</ref><ref name=MLB041207>John Gilbert, [http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp Renderings for new Twins park shown], mlb.com, [[April 12]], [[2007]].</ref> The stadium does not have a roof, rather a canopy.<ref name=MLB041207>John Gilbert, [http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp Renderings for new Twins park shown], mlb.com, [[April 12]], [[2007]].</ref> The stadium will be adjacent to an [[intermodal]] station on the [[Hiawatha Line]] [[light rail]] system with the Minneapolis terminus of the [[Northstar Commuter Rail]] line leading from the northwest.
The approved design does not include a retractable roof, nor provisions for one in the future, though it was considered initially. A retractable roof was cited to add $100 million to the total budget and none of the parties (Twins, Hennepin County or the State) were willing to pay for that cost. Much like other northern cities with outdoor professional baseball (i.e. Chicago, Detroit, Boston, Cleveland), the weather in Minneapolis during a 162-game baseball season and playoffs can vary from early-spring snow to rain and hot, humid weather. The Metrodome is climate-controlled, and has protected the baseball schedule during the entire time that it has been the venue for the Minnesota Twins. However, many Twins fans and baseball purists argue that this same sterile, climate-controlled environment creates a less-than-desirable atmosphere for watching baseball. The financial impact of adding a retractable roof is the other main reason that a roof will not be included in the new ballpark, and probably the decisive factor. The architect is also testing the feasibility of heated seats.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wcco.com/sports/twins.stadium.model.2.462078.html|title=Twins Stadium Model Reveals Design Tweaks|date=Oct 30, 2007|publisher=Associated Press by way of WCCO.com}}</ref>
===Upgrades===
On February 12, 2008, the Twins announced $22.4 million in upgrades to the original design.<ref name=MNTwins021208>Jim Molony, [http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080212&content_id=2371679&vkey=ballpark_min&fext=.jsp&c_id=min Twins kick in extra funds for ballpark], ''Minnesota Twins'', [[February 14]], [[2008]].</ref> The upgrades increased the Twins ownership stake in the new ballpark to $167.4 million, bringing the total ballpark cost to $412 million.<ref name=MNTwins021408> [http://twinsballpark.mlblogs.com/twinsballpark/2008/02/ballpark_enhanc.html Ballpark Enhancements Help Ensure Superior Fan Experience], ''MLBlogs'', [[February 14]], [[2008]].</ref> The upgrades were mainly based around increasing fan experience and comfort. The upgrades included a full roof canopy soffit (the largest in baseball). This will protect the fans further from the elements despite the stadium not having a roof. The Twins also upgraded the scoreboard from standard definition to a high definition screen measuring 102 feet long and 57 feet high. Other upgrades included warming shelters, changing 100,000 square feet of the exterior surface to "Mankato Limestone", increasing the number of restrooms, and increasing concessions areas.
=== Criticism ===
{{criticism-section}}
====Public funding====
Controversy over a publicly funded stadium has plagued the Twins for over a decade. Critics argue this is [[corporate welfare]] and Hennepin County citizens weren't allowed to vote even though state law passed in 1997 called for a referendum when a county wanted to raise the sales tax. The same state law also allows a county to seek a waiver from the referendum. The 2006 developments were met with much opposition to exempt Hennepin County from a mandatory referendum. Both the Senate (34-32) and House (71-61) passed the exemption by slim margins on the final day of regular session and was signed by Governor Tim Pawlenty. Pawlenty has expressed concern that the Twins were in danger of leaving town if a new stadium was not funded. Backing up the governor's position was the fact that [[Major League Baseball]]'s previous [[collective bargaining agreement]] allowed them to fold up to two clubs following the 2006 season.
A majority in polls have found that the voters want a referendum, but the Twins and some of the commissioners have opposed it saying that it places the plan in jeopardy. Overall opposition was lessened by the fact that only Hennepin County will see an increased sales tax. There also was some speculation that once Carl Pohlad no longer owned the team they might have moved without a new stadium. The new stadium seemingly ensures the team will play in Minneapolis free of the threat of contraction or relocation.
====Smaller size====
The site has also been criticized due to its small size, about one million square feet. The site is about the same size as that of [[Fenway Park]], though it will have roughly 3,200 more seats.
Many have shown concern {{Fact|date=April 2007}} for the logistics of the 5,000 people that will arrive every game via the Hiawatha light rail, because rather than unloading onto a broad plaza like that at the Metrodome, passengers will arrive and leave the ballpark in a space about 23 feet wide, roughly the width of a double garage. Others worry that not enough attention is being paid to make sure that the neighborhoods around the stadium, where related development is expected to occur, are not inadvertently walled off {{Fact|date=April 2007}}. As things stand, an 8-foot-high wall along the light-rail line will keep pedestrians from crossing N. 5th Street near the ballpark. There are also the [[Northstar Commuter Rail]] and [[Cedar Lake Trail]] lines coming into the small space around the stadium.
=== Comparison to Metrodome ===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:left;"
! !!New Ballpark!![[H.H.H. Metrodome]]
|-
! Seats
| 40,000 || 46,564*
|-
! Lower Deck Seats
| 20,000 || 21,621
|-
! Private Suites
| 60 || 115**
|-
! Group Party Suites
| 12 || 1
|-
! Club Level Seats
| 3,000 || N/A
|-
! Upper Deck Seats
| †12,482 || 28,779
|-
! Disabled Seating
| 820 || 190
|-
! Lower/Club Seats Between 1st/3rd
| +/- 12,037 || 6,679
|-
! Outfield Seats
| +/- 6,748 || 18,594
|-
! Seats w/ Obstructed Views
| 0 || 1,392
|-
! Main Concourse
| 40 feet, open to field || 22 feet, closed to field
|-
! Total Restrooms
| 34 || 16
|}
: *Expandable to 55,883 during Playoffs
: **Controlled by [[Minnesota Vikings|Vikings]]
: †Smallest in MLB according to MLB.com
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
{{commonscat|Twins Ballpark}}
* [http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/ballpark/index.jsp Official website, with live webcam of site]
* [http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/bills/billnum.asp?billnumber=HF2480&session_number=0&ls_year=84&year=2005 The Twins Stadium Bill] MN State Legislature HF2480, SF2297
* [http://www.leg.state.mn.us/lrl/issues/baseball.asp Minnesota Legislative Reference Library: Baseball Stadiums]
[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=north+5th+street+and+north+3rd+avenue,+minneapolis,+mn&t=k&om=1&ie=UTF8&ll=44.982054,-93.277949&spn=0.002842,0.005021&z=18 Google Satellite image of location (currently just a parking lot)]
{{start}}
{{succession box
| title = Home of the<br>[[Minnesota Twins]]
| years = ca. 2010 – future
| before = [[Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome]]
| after = Future
}}
{{end}}
{{Minnesota Twins}}
[[Category:Minnesota Twins]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Minneapolis-St. Paul]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball venues]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Minneapolis, Minnesota]]
[[fr:Twins Ballpark]]