We sympathize with those who believe that the voters of Hennepin County should have had a say in whether they funded this project. But we still think the pros of building the stadium outweigh the cons.
The long-proposed “Twinsville” project was approved by a relatively harmonious state legislature this year, so the Twins will get a new ballpark over the old Great Northern rail bed (now a parking lot) behind the Target Center. Scheduled to open in 2010, the stadium—combined with the development of adjacent land into a new downtown neighborhood, and given easier access via a Northstar rail connection to the northern suburbs—should solidify downtown’s strength as an entertainment center.
Given that the Twins play 81 home games a year, it makes more sense to build this than a new stadium for the Vikes, who play just 10 (including exhibitions), even allowing for the difference in ticket prices. (Maybe all that’s needed for the NFL team is an upgrading of the Dome.) Now it’s up to the new Minnesota Ballpark Authority to make the park look good.
