Twins and Gophers get new stadiums

After 12 years of legislative battles the Minnesota Twins finally have secured funding to build a new stadium. Governor Tim Pawlenty signed the bills into law on Friday May 26 at a pre-game ceremony at the Metrodome. The ceremony featured Twins owner Carl Pohlad along with several politicians and former Twins greats including Rod Carew, Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva and Kent Hrbek.

The new open air Twins stadium will cost $522 million dollars and will be funded by a Hennepin County sales tax of three cents on every $20. The site of the new stadium is just west of Target Center in downtown Minneapolis now used for parking (Rapid Park). Construction is scheduled to begin in 2007 with completion in time for the start of the 2010 baseball season. The new stadium will hold 42, 000 fans.

Meanwhile on the other side of Minneapolis a new venue for the University of Minnesota's football program will be built. The state legislature approved funding for a new stadium for the Gophers that moves football away from the Metrodome and back onto the U of M campus.

The new stadium will be built adjacent to Mariucci Arena on a space currently used for parking. The new open air football stadium will cost approxomately $248 million dollars. The Gopher stadium bill passed in the house 96-37 and in the senate 43-24. Construction is expected to begin this summer.