State Sen. Roger Moe, Senate Majority leader from Erskine, rests his chin in his hand as the Minnesota Senate met briefly Friday, Nov. 14, 1997, before closing their part of the stadium special session in St. Paul, Minn. The proposal to finance a new ballpark for the Minnesota Twins stadium was defeated by the Minnesota House. Moe suports efforts to pay for a new baseball stadium for the Twins who have threatened to move to North Carolina. Jim Mone/Associated Press

Beaver cautions that Twins move far from a done deal

Web posted November 15, 1997

By Joe Macenka
Associated Press

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- With Minnesota lawmakers balking at a plan to finance a new stadium for the Minnesota Twins, Don Beaver cautioned Friday that his bid to move the team to North Carolina could meet a similar fate.

Beaver has a deal with Twins owner Carl Pohlad to buy the team if the Minnesota Legislature fails to approve a stadium funding package by Nov. 30. Beaver would ask major league baseball owners for permission to move the franchise to the Greensboro-High Point-Winston Salem region for the 1999 season.

The Minnesota House of Representatives rejected a stadium-funding plan Thursday night and the Senate adjourned Friday, apparently clearing a major hurdle for the Twins to come to North Carolina.

But Beaver said late Friday morning that he won't relocate the team to the Triad region if voters in the area reject a plan to use public funds to finance the bulk of the cost of a new stadium.

``We've got to have a stadium vote to make this work,'' Beaver said, adding that he would not use private money alone to build a facility for the Twins in the Triad.

Considerable opposition already has been voiced about an proposed initiative designed to raise $140 million of an estimated $210 million stadium cost through a food and ticket tax in the Triad.

The N.C. Travel and Tourism Coalition, the N.C. Hotel & Motel Association and the N.C. Restaurant Association have come out against the proposed 1 percent tax. In addition, most of the members of the Piedmont Triad tax district have criticized the measure as a regressive tax.

The proposal is scheduled for a May 5 referendum.

``To make something big happen in this area,'' Beaver said, ``it's going to take everybody working together. That's what people have got to do if they want it.''

If Triad voters are unwilling to fund a new stadium, Beaver's most likely option would be to temporarily move the Twins to a 12,500-seat facility in Fort Mill, S.C., where his Class AAA Charlotte Knights currently play.

Beaver said the Fort Mill stadium could be expanded to 24,000 seats in time for the Twins to begin playing there at the start of the 1999 season. The stadium would be large enough to serve as the Twins' home for two years, which is how long Beaver figures it would take to build a new stadium for the team in the Triad -- or in downtown Charlotte, which would be his most likely second choice if Triad voters decide against financing a stadium.

A 24,000-seat ballpark means maximum attendance of 1,944,000, which likely would mean a low payroll and noncontender status.

Beaver reiterated his first choice remains the Triad, which for decades has seen its professional sports limited to several minor-league baseball and hockey franchises.

Greensboro last month became the temporary home of the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes, who have the worst attendance in the league. But Beaver attributed that to many people being uncomfortable with ticket prices and the 75-mile drive from the team's home base of Raleigh, where a new arena is set to open in two seasons.

Beaver expects no such problems with moving the Twins to the region.

``We would not be coming in if we weren't sure -- and major league baseball would not let us come in -- if we weren't sure this was going to be a credible market,'' he said.

But there is still time for Minnesota officials to mount another effort to keep the Twins. Team officials met with various state government officials Friday to review their options as they approach the Nov. 30 deadline. Lawmakers have no more special sessions scheduled on the matter, but Gov. Arne Carlson has the authority to call one.

``They've got two more weeks to try to put something together up there,'' Beaver said.