Wintry mix Thursday night, another storm Friday

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 (AP) - The proposed ballpark for the Minnesota Twins
advanced Thursday when the Hennepin County Board approved a 30-year
lease binding the franchise to the facility, and granting the Twins
almost every dollar generated within its walls.

      "This is another huge milestone," said Dave St. Peter,
president of the Twins. "Symbolically, it means a 30-year lease,
which is a huge deal for this franchise. What this mean is the new
ballpark is fast becoming a reality. We persevered for this and now
we can see it."

      The ballpark is scheduled to open in 2010.

      The ballpark authority was to meet later Thursday to give its
approval to the agreement.

      Dan Kenney, executive director of the ballpark authority, said,
"This is a huge step. Not only do we now have a roadmap on how to
get this done, we also have a 30-year lease."

      Under the deal, the Twins get to keep all revenue from ticket
sales, advertising, naming rights, tours and concessions during
baseball games. The team must share 10 percent of net revenues from
nonbaseball events with the authority.

      The team will be charged $900,000 in annual rent, with a portion
of that subject to inflation. The money will flow into a
maintenance fund.

      Unlike the Metrodome, day-to-day operations of the ballpark will
fall to the Twins.

Gallery

Twins unveil design for new stadium

A designer's perspective of the new Twins ballpark

Twins ballpark clears another hurdle in Hennepin County

Politics and Government News

Brian Bakst, Associated Press

Author

The proposed ballpark for the Minnesota Twins
advanced Thursday when the Hennepin County Board approved a 30-year
lease binding the franchise to the facility, and granting the Twins
almost every dollar generated within its walls.


Hennepin County signs off on lease for new Twins stadium

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