Many Minnesotans surely rolled their eyes when the umpteenth stadium commission was appointed by legislative leaders recently.

Tuesday, November 27, 2001

Many Minnesotans surely rolled their eyes when the umpteenth stadium commission was appointed by legislative leaders recently. Most of us are either opposed to such efforts, or, if not, have accepted that widespread opposition will make the efforts of another committee just another waste of time. However, the stadium issue is one that is important to the future of this state, as the future of the Twins may be at stake.

This time, the commission has come together under the shadow of a contraction threat, which would probably eliminate the Twins along with the Montreal Expos. To many, this won’t seem any different than the phony relocation threat created by owner Carl Pohlad in 1997. It turned out to be a ploy to build support for a stadium – and it failed miserably.

However, this threat is different, and while many still wonder if the team owners who cooked up this contraction scheme actually intend to carry it out, the possibility of losing the Twins appears more real than ever.

As the stadium debate has worn on over the last five years, the proposals to fund a new ballpark have become less and less reliant on public money. Most ideas that have included public money have used some kind of targeted fund-raising, like ticket or hotel taxes, gambling proceeds or local sales taxes.

The latest stadium commission may well craft a new plan that includes some of these elements. Minnesota would be wise to give the commission’s conclusion a fair hearing, both legislatively and in the court of public opinion.

Despite what critics say, the Twins contribute much to the state, both economically and culturally. Ensuring a safe future for a team that has been part of our state’s identity for 41 years is something to be taken seriously.