Stadium Task Force
Unofficial Minutes for Thursday, January 3, 2002

MEETING:

Thursday, January 3, 2002
10:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M.
Room 10, State Office Building

Present: K. Blomberg, L. Buegler, K. Goodno, W. Haddeland, M.L. Holberg, A. Juhnke, S. Kelley, C. Larson, H. MacKay, B. Muesing, T. Osthoff, J. Robinson, R. Terwilliger

Excused: D. Barkley, J. Lawrence, D. Bridges, S. Pappas P. Wheelock

Co-Chair Haddeland called the meeting to order at 10:00 AM.

Representative Tony Kielkucki testified in favor of a bill for casino-based funding of stadiums.

Jim Belisle testified in favor of casino-based funding for stadiums.

Dan Maiette, Chair St. Paul Chamber of Commerce, testified in favor of a St. Paul located stadium.

Ron Blanchard testified in support of professional sports and the opportunities it provides for disabled fans.

Otis Courtney, President of Net Intrust Inc., testified about keeping the Vikings in Minnesota because of their support for various charities.

Ray Crump, owner of a souvenir shop, testified as to the importance of baseball in Minnesota

Rod Blanchard, spoke of the importance of teams to fans with disabilities.

Tony Spadafora testified for the idea of two stadiums to share one retractable roof.

David Strom, Taxpayers League of Minnesota, testified opposition to stadium funding.

David Mackay testified on behalf of public ownership of the Twins.

Gerald Barte testified in favor of public ownership of the Twins.

Scott Halgrim testified in favor of an outdoor baseball stadium

Susan Mackey testified in support of professional sports teams due to their charitable donations.

William Jewel testified in support of stadium development along the riverfront.

Greg Hawkinson testified that the sports teams are a public asset and is opposed to contraction.

Steve Gallos, Metrodome vendor, testified on the jobs that would be lost if sports teams were contracted and about the jobs of vendors.

The meeting was recessed until 1:05 PM for lunch.

Representative Andy Dawkins and Mike Adomovich testified in support of a proposal to build a neighborhood ballpark similar to Ebbitz field in conjunction with an affordable housing project.

Joe Marble testified on behalf of supporting major league sports.

Dick Wilke, Ken Kuby and Tim Wahlman, all Metrodome vendors, testified about vendor jobs.

Drew Bartley, AAU baseball chair, testified as to the impact professional sports has on young athletes and organized sports.

Pat Baumgartner testified in support of the Minnesota Twins.

Terry Ryan, Minnesota Twins General Manager, and Corey Koskie, Minnesota Twins Third Baseman, testified on behalf of the Twins organization and answered questions.

Dan Olson, President of Crystal Little League, testified in support of the Minnesota Twins and their charitable contributions.

Marina Lyon, Pohlad Foundation, Tom Renier and Jackie Reis all testified on behalf of the Minnesota Twins and their work with charities.

Bill Lester, Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission Executive Director, and Loanne Thrane, MSFC, testified on various topics and facilities operations.

Jesse Williams, Stillwater Junior High, testified on in support of the Minnesota Twins.

Jeff Resse, New Richland baseball coach, testified in support of the Minnesota Twins and their donations for new baseball fields.

Bill LeClaire testified in support of the Minnesota Twins.

Al Madden, social worker in St. Paul, testified on the impact professional sports has on inner city youth programs.

Tom Goldstein testified in support of an urban, neighborhood based ballpark.

Jim Taylor, St. Paul Parks Department, was available for questions regarding baseball fields.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:020PM.

Next Meeting:
Listening Session
Thursday, January 3, 2002
Room 10, State Office Building