This could throw a huge monkey wrench into the works. After waiting a decade to come this far, this is the last thing the Twins wanted to see. - Transic

Click on the link to read the article from the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal

County may seek new ballpark site
Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal - 2:52 PM CST Friday, February 9, 2007 by John Vomhof Jr.Staff Writer

Hennepin County officials say they are considering alternate sites for a new Minnesota Twins ballpark, as efforts to acquire the current site have stalled.

The county appraised the so-called Rapid Park site -- located just north of the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis' Warehouse District -- at $13.35 million, but the landowners want tens of millions of dollars more. Eminent domain proceedings have already begun, but the county appears reluctant to continue down that path.

The county is limited in how much it can spend for the ballpark land because the legislation that approved the $522 million stadium last May limits the county's infrastructure spending to $90 million. That cap includes the price of land acquisition.

Hennepin County Commissioner Mike Opat, the lead negotiator for the land purchase, confirmed on Friday for the Business Journal the county's new position on the site.

County officials hoped to acquire the land by the end of the month so that site preparation could begin in mid-March and construction on the 40,000-seat ballpark itself could get underway in August. Those milestones -- and the ballpark's planned opening in April 2010 -- now appear in doubt.

Switching the site at this point would not be easy, however.

The ballpark legislation only pertained to the current site, meaning a change in location would require approval from the Legislature. Even if such approval was granted, a new site would force the Twins and county to start over with much of their planning.

All this comes as the Twins prepare to unveil their designs for the new ballpark next week.

jvomhof@bizjournals.com | (612) 288-2101