Target Field - Public Funding

[S Bart]

One item that should be addressed is Target Field. The Pohlads may own the team, but the public helped pay for the stadium. Regarding Gleeman's article on the interview with Joe Pohlad, this owner kept referring to "his business" priorities, The Pohlad family should be reminded that the public paid for a good portion of that stadium where their business is operating. It should be taken into consideration when they cut people off from watching the games on TV (such as this year) and not wanting to invest in the team.

Per Wikipedia

"The final budget for construction was $435 million, of which $175 million was paid by the Twins and $260 million was paid by Hennepin County by way of a 0.15% county-wide sales tax. An additional $120 million in infrastructure costs were split between the county ($90 million), the team ($20 million), Target Corporation ($4.5 million), the Minnesota Department of Transportation ($3.5 million) and the Minnesota Ballpark Authority ($2 million) bringing the project's total cost to US$555 million."

 

Edited October 3, 2024 by S Bart
addition

[jctwins]

Unfortunately when "we" decided to fund it, we knew who we were partnering with. It's hard to argue otherwise now.

[harmony55]

On 10/2/2024 at 8:27 PM, S Bart said:

One item that should be addressed is Target Field. The Pohlads may own the team, but the public helped pay for the stadium. Regarding Gleeman's article on the interview with Joe Pohlad, this owner kept referring to "his business" priorities, The Pohlad family should be reminded that the public paid for a good portion of that stadium where their business is operating. It should be taken into consideration when they cut people off from watching the games on TV (such as this year) and not wanting to invest in the team.

Per Wikipedia

"The final budget for construction was $435 million, of which $175 million was paid by the Twins and $260 million was paid by Hennepin County by way of a 0.15% county-wide sales tax. An additional $120 million in infrastructure costs were split between the county ($90 million), the team ($20 million), Target Corporation ($4.5 million), the Minnesota Department of Transportation ($3.5 million) and the Minnesota Ballpark Authority ($2 million) bringing the project's total cost to US$555 million."

 

Are there any credible follow-up studies of Target Field's economic impact, positive or negative?

Sometimes public funding results in a return on the government's investment ... sometimes not

[S Bart]

1 hour ago, harmony55 said:

Are there any credible follow-up studies of Target Field's economic impact, positive or negative?

Sometimes public funding results in a return on the government's investment ... sometimes not

I'm unsure but will check on it. My point centers on the fact that the Pohlads have a duty in my view to consider how their "business decisions" impacts the fans. 

[Linus]

On 10/4/2024 at 12:34 PM, S Bart said:

I'm unsure but will check on it. My point centers on the fact that the Pohlads have a duty in my view to consider how their "business decisions" impacts the fans. 

I don’t disagree with you but they are under no contractual obligation in that regard. You would be expecting them to put community spirit ahead of the bottom line. I don’t like community spirits chances. 

[Parfigliano]

1 minute ago, Linus said:

I don’t disagree with you but they are under no contractual obligation in that regard. You would be expecting them to put community spirit ahead of the bottom line. I don’t like community spirits chances. 

Community spirit is dead.

[glunn]

It seems to me that the politicians should have made a better deal by insisting that the owners commit to pay a minimum payroll based on a percentage of gross income. I wonder if any other city has ever done something like that.

[S Bart]

35 minutes ago, Linus said:

I don’t disagree with you but they are under no contractual obligation in that regard. You would be expecting them to put community spirit ahead of the bottom line. I don’t like community spirits chances. 

Well....if you don't put forth an effort...you don't sell tickets and merchandise. That is a nobrainer. For example, I have 2 friends who are not going to be renewing their season tickets. Every summer, I spend a good deal of my own money taking my family to games. It will not happen in 2025 based on the current trajectory of what is taking place. I will take them to see the less expensive Saints or another event and will forgo my annual merchandise purchases. That is beyond community spirit.. that is money not going to the team and bottom line. My point is that they promote community spirit and rah rah..it is a two way street.

[Linus]

1 hour ago, S Bart said:

Well....if you don't put forth an effort...you don't sell tickets and merchandise. That is a nobrainer. For example, I have 2 friends who are not going to be renewing their season tickets. Every summer, I spend a good deal of my own money taking my family to games. It will not happen in 2025 based on the current trajectory of what is taking place. I will take them to see the less expensive Saints or another event and will forgo my annual merchandise purchases. That is beyond community spirit.. that is money not going to the team and bottom line. My point is that they promote community spirit and rah rah..it is a two way street.

As I said I don’t disagree. I think the Twins are bungling this big time. I’m simply saying I’m really skeptical they will ever do anything based on some sort of obligation to the community.