Could Pohlad Family Not Selling Minnesota Twins Be an Inflection Point Toward (Gulp) Relocation?

[Beast]

We’d see a team from Minnesota in the World Series sooner with a relocation and new team under expansion 20 years from now (assuming the spiraling MLB is even a thing anymore).

The current franchise, with its gross mismanagement of nearly everything, likely won’t win another playoff series in the rest of our lifetimes.

Go ahead and relocate.  I’m following the progress of a couple of prospects and have some interest in how Keaschall is doing, but they’d have to pay me more than my daily salary with free beer to sit at Target field and watch 9 innings right now.

[Whitey333]

Relocation isn't serious at all.  It must have been a misprint.

[Western SD Fan]

1.  Never underestimate the power of the Pohlads to sell us fans out for a Klondike bar.  While I believe that relocation is unlikely, especially considering the potential locations, nothing is impossible when you get money involved and the willingness to be sold out for a Klondike bar.  As much as I wanted out of the Correa contract, we didn't even get the damn Klondike bar as part of the transaction.

2.  Looking at the relocation sites mentioned:  

• Portland:  As Mike Sixel has mentioned, their largest employer is still working through a soft market.  They do have the strongest package as the OR legislature has guaranteed stadium financing through a tax that only goes into effect if they are named as an expansion or relocation team site.  My personal perception (likely not rooted in reality) is that the Portland area is still suffering from a corrupt local government, chronic homelessness and drug use, and the potential for riots to return, specifically given some of the current federal policies being enacted.
• Montreal:  This situation hasn't changed since 2003 when MLB purchased the team and forcibly moved them out of Montreal.  They still have Stade Olympique as their baseball site.  Not happening as long as some new stadium is not in the works.
• Nashville:  Probably the most intriguing of all the sites mentioned.  I've always wondered how the Braves would react to a serious bid.  You would also have to consider the OG teams of the upper south (St. Louis and Cincinatti).  Seems like not too long ago, I heard something that the Nashville relocation group has missed the boat in terms of receiving any public financing.  The region has already committed to a Vanderbilt renovation project AND a new stadium for the Titans ($2.1B worth of stadium).  I think the public is tapped out on funding sports stadiums for now.
• Salt Lake City:  Not mentioned in the article, but probably the closest of all of the locations to get a real team.  City is viewed as safe, has the ability to build a stadium with public support, although I believe that is all in talk and no agreements have been signed at the moment.  

Ultimately, I believe the Pohlads taking the Twins off the market is just an F_ You to the potential buyers that they didn't bring enough cash to the table to get the deal done.  I can also see MLB advising the Pohlads that they can't sell the Twins for less than $1.7B or it will look bad for MLB.  I look at this from the lens that when the news of the $400-$450M in debt came to the forefront, MLB quickly came out and said that they would guarantee the loan in order to help get a deal done.  

 

[Doc Lenz]

3 hours ago, howeda7 said:

No. It isn't. Stop it. This article is the definition of click-bait. You guys are better than this.

Also has political undertones. 

[old nurse]

3 hours ago, howeda7 said:

No. It isn't. Stop it. This article is the definition of click-bait. You guys are better than this.

They. Used to be. Times change 

[HerbieFan]

I would put nothing beyond the Pohlads.  But we all know the market and the ballpark are NOT the problem.

[LastOnePicked]

Contraction is more likely than relocation. And I'm getting to the point with this club that either of those options sounds preferable to more decades of Pohladball. 

[Lasorda_This_Out]

Likely (hopefully) not a relocation threat. But always keep an eye on Nashville...deep music industry pockets with tons of Star Power....

[D.C Twins]

I'm certainly confident that the Pohlads will use it as a scare tactic at some point in the future... completely on brand.... 

[TNtwins85]

21 hours ago, Brandon said:

No.  There is a stadium lease.  And I bet the new minority owners have a big minority stake like 30-40% stake to lessen the risk for the Pohlads while keeping them in control.  The Pohlads can use the minority take sales to pay down the team debt to give the team a fresh start.  But the minority owners probably will want to keep payroll in line too.  Also I wonder if one of the minority owners isn’t Mauer…

I heard reporting from Phil Miller that the two groups were an internal to Minnesota group and an east coast group. That the two groups were taking a significant position( likely the 30-40% as you speak) and I believe they still have 15 years still on their current lease. I believe the new groups bought out the percentage of Pohlads no longer interested in the team while also solving this $450M problem they have while also leaving Joe Pohlad in this position he wanted with Pohlads still being the majority owner. Although the lease could be bought out I don’t believe MLB would let that happen after finally solving the A’s and Rays situations opening the door for expansion in the next CBA which will bring in more money which had been the goal for Manfred since he came in. He doesn’t want the stain of another franchise moving I believe anyways. The new minnesota group infusing more positive faces to this. Cash from the outside group. If the Pohlads had to still be in charge I guess I can see this as a win. Time will tell as long as a Pohlad still holds the final decision but at least there’s other voices in that room. That’s coming from a guy who would be happy to see the Twins just an hour away from me in Nashville too. I think this is a win for the Twins really.

[TNtwins85]

17 hours ago, Western SD Fan said:

1.  Never underestimate the power of the Pohlads to sell us fans out for a Klondike bar.  While I believe that relocation is unlikely, especially considering the potential locations, nothing is impossible when you get money involved and the willingness to be sold out for a Klondike bar.  As much as I wanted out of the Correa contract, we didn't even get the damn Klondike bar as part of the transaction.

2.  Looking at the relocation sites mentioned:  

• Portland:  As Mike Sixel has mentioned, their largest employer is still working through a soft market.  They do have the strongest package as the OR legislature has guaranteed stadium financing through a tax that only goes into effect if they are named as an expansion or relocation team site.  My personal perception (likely not rooted in reality) is that the Portland area is still suffering from a corrupt local government, chronic homelessness and drug use, and the potential for riots to return, specifically given some of the current federal policies being enacted.
• Montreal:  This situation hasn't changed since 2003 when MLB purchased the team and forcibly moved them out of Montreal.  They still have Stade Olympique as their baseball site.  Not happening as long as some new stadium is not in the works.
• Nashville:  Probably the most intriguing of all the sites mentioned.  I've always wondered how the Braves would react to a serious bid.  You would also have to consider the OG teams of the upper south (St. Louis and Cincinatti).  Seems like not too long ago, I heard something that the Nashville relocation group has missed the boat in terms of receiving any public financing.  The region has already committed to a Vanderbilt renovation project AND a new stadium for the Titans ($2.1B worth of stadium).  I think the public is tapped out on funding sports stadiums for now.
• Salt Lake City:  Not mentioned in the article, but probably the closest of all of the locations to get a real team.  City is viewed as safe, has the ability to build a stadium with public support, although I believe that is all in talk and no agreements have been signed at the moment.  

Ultimately, I believe the Pohlads taking the Twins off the market is just an F_ You to the potential buyers that they didn't bring enough cash to the table to get the deal done.  I can also see MLB advising the Pohlads that they can't sell the Twins for less than $1.7B or it will look bad for MLB.  I look at this from the lens that when the news of the $400-$450M in debt came to the forefront, MLB quickly came out and said that they would guarantee the loan in order to help get a deal done.  

 

I can’t speak to the other places but working and spending a lot of time in Nashville they would find a way to get an MLB team and a stadium. The culture is infused with hundreds of thousands of transplants ready to grow Nashville with state and local money to fund it. A downtown site next to the new titans stadium prime for development coming. A population ready for the idea of MLB in Tennessee. 

[Otaknam]

Silly clickbait column. There is no way that MLB would let this team move. Great ballpark, engaged fan base if they have a decent product to cheer, and profitable franchise if run correctly. The problems are ownership not spending enough on the product, and front office and manager. 

[TheLeviathan]

I mean....has anyone read about the bleep show that the A's are going through in moving to Vegas?

You can put relocation in the "Nope, never happening" pile and forget about it.  Baseball isn't healthy enough to relocate or even expand.

Which is maybe the most stunning indictment one can make.

[Mike Sixel]

18 hours ago, Western SD Fan said:

1.  Never underestimate the power of the Pohlads to sell us fans out for a Klondike bar.  While I believe that relocation is unlikely, especially considering the potential locations, nothing is impossible when you get money involved and the willingness to be sold out for a Klondike bar.  As much as I wanted out of the Correa contract, we didn't even get the damn Klondike bar as part of the transaction.

2.  Looking at the relocation sites mentioned:  

• Portland:  As Mike Sixel has mentioned, their largest employer is still working through a soft market.  They do have the strongest package as the OR legislature has guaranteed stadium financing through a tax that only goes into effect if they are named as an expansion or relocation team site.  My personal perception (likely not rooted in reality) is that the Portland area is still suffering from a corrupt local government, chronic homelessness and drug use, and the potential for riots to return, specifically given some of the current federal policies being enacted.
• Montreal:  This situation hasn't changed since 2003 when MLB purchased the team and forcibly moved them out of Montreal.  They still have Stade Olympique as their baseball site.  Not happening as long as some new stadium is not in the works.
• Nashville:  Probably the most intriguing of all the sites mentioned.  I've always wondered how the Braves would react to a serious bid.  You would also have to consider the OG teams of the upper south (St. Louis and Cincinatti).  Seems like not too long ago, I heard something that the Nashville relocation group has missed the boat in terms of receiving any public financing.  The region has already committed to a Vanderbilt renovation project AND a new stadium for the Titans ($2.1B worth of stadium).  I think the public is tapped out on funding sports stadiums for now.
• Salt Lake City:  Not mentioned in the article, but probably the closest of all of the locations to get a real team.  City is viewed as safe, has the ability to build a stadium with public support, although I believe that is all in talk and no agreements have been signed at the moment.  

Ultimately, I believe the Pohlads taking the Twins off the market is just an F_ You to the potential buyers that they didn't bring enough cash to the table to get the deal done.  I can also see MLB advising the Pohlads that they can't sell the Twins for less than $1.7B or it will look bad for MLB.  I look at this from the lens that when the news of the $400-$450M in debt came to the forefront, MLB quickly came out and said that they would guarantee the loan in order to help get a deal done.  

 

OMG. Go away. Seriously. You have no idea what Portland is like. 

[ashbury]

24 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

OMG. Go away. Seriously. You have no idea what Portland is like. 

Mrs Ash and I enjoyed a brief impromptu visit to Portland last month.  There were no riots scheduled during our stay so apparently we missed out and will have to try again some other time when we can plan our events better.  😀