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2008 Target for
Stadium Approval
Roy Terwilliger, chair of the Metropolitan Sports
Facilities Commission, told Sports Headliners yesterday he hopes state
legislation can be approved in 2008 to build a new Vikings stadium on
the Metrodome site. “I know it would be hoping for too much for this
year,” he said. “We’re going over the latter part of this week to the
Senate Tax Committee and a week or two later we’ll go to the House Tax
Committee. I think that will get them starting the discussion but I
would guess the 2008 session is when action should really be taken and
if that happens then it can stay on track so you can have a facility in
place for the 2012 Viking season.”
Sticker shock hit some Minnesotans last week when the commission (its
mission is to retain professional sports in this community) and the
Vikings announced a near $1 billion price tag for a new football stadium
with a retractable roof. Although not specified yet by amount, the Vikings are
expected to contribute to the funding.
The
commission, the Vikings, including owner Zygi Wilf, and
state government leaders are taking a leadership position on the stadium
as the clock ticks down to expiration of the team’s lease in the
Metrodome after the 2011 season. Terwilliger thinks Minnesotans and the
state legislature will decide the Vikings are too valuable to lose after
more information is provided and discussion takes place.
“I
think the community needs to have the discussion and I think once you do
that you have a better understanding by leadership of what’s necessary
to retain them,” he said. “I think people would not want to lose the
Vikings. I think if you lose the Vikings… (you) go out and get another
team and do the same thing and it would probably be more costly. … I
don’t think the public wants to do that. …”
Terwilliger said the strategy is to bring the plan for the stadium (also
includes redevelopment of the surrounding neighborhood) to the
legislative leadership without specifics as to funding. The city of
Minneapolis is restricted by law from providing more than $10 million to
build a stadium. Hennepin County by itself will not fund the Viking
facility because of its sales tax commitment for the new Twins stadium.
It
was suggested to Terwilliger that stadium proponents will consider
funding sources such as metro or state sales tax revenues, car rental
taxes, and sales or users taxes in and around the stadium area. “It’s going
to be a combination of one or some of those things,” he said. “I hate
to speculate on what it might be. There are all kinds of examples of
what has taken place (around the country to fund stadiums). …”
Terwilliger said there may be some cost cutting to the final budget for
the project but clearly the price announced last week will not change
dramatically. Part of that reality is the project includes millions for
infrastructure and parking but it’s also because the Vikings insist on a
new (not renovated Metrodome) stadium, and both the commission and team
want a retractable roof.
Terwilliger said the Vikings are at the bottom among NFL teams in
revenues. A remodeled dome won’t provide the fan enhancements,
amenities and resulting revenues that a new stadium offers. From the
community perspective, he said, a large new facility with a roof
continues the tradition set by the Metrodome of attracting a variety of
events ranging from religious rallies to concerts to truck pulls to NCAA
Final Fours to high school playoffs. “The fact is that in 25 years, 77
million people have visited events of one kind or another whether it be
a Super Bowl, or a Final Four, or World Series, or whatever,”
Terwilliger said.
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"We’re going over the latter part of this week to the Senate Tax
Committee and a week or two later we’ll go to the House Tax Committee."
MSFC Chair Roy Terwilliger
Zygi Wilf
From the community perspective, a
large new facility with a roof continues the tradition set by the
Metrodome of attracting a variety of events ranging from religious
rallies to concerts to truck pulls to NCAA Final Fours to prep playoffs.
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Location of Pitches Challenges Bonser
Boof Bonser, scheduled to start tomorrow’s game
against the Royals at the Metrodome, hasn’t looked like the pitcher who
could become the team’s No. 2 starter behind
Johan Santana. Bonser’s record: 0-1, 6.53 ERA. He’s given up the
most home runs on the staff, seven.
That’s a contrast to last September when his record for the month was
4-1, 2.63 ERA. He was named American League Rookie of the Month.
Bonser had a promising season with the Twins, twice being called up from
AAA Rochester to help rescue a starting staff competing for the AL
Central Division championship. In his rookie season Bonser’s record was
7-6 with a 4.22 ERA.
In
preseason 2007 there was talk the 25-year-old Bonser might replace the
injured Francisco Liriano as the team’s second best pitcher. So
far Bonser leads the staff in walks with nine in 20.2 innings and that’s
a clue why the young right hander from Florida has struggled.
“It’s
just placement,”Bonser told Sports Headliners yesterday. “Maybe (for
example) rather than throwing the ball in the dirt, I am leaving it up.
That’s the biggest thing. The pitching selection (variety) is there.
It’s just pretty much with my location right now. It’s a little off.”
Bonser was happy with his control last season, often locating the ball
where he wanted it. He said in his last start this season “everything
was right where I wanted it to be. It just didn’t work out in my
favor.” (In that game Bonser gave up only one walk in five innings at
Kansas City).
Bonser said even in spring training location of his pitches wasn’t
optimal. “I was getting away with it there,” he said. “Now that the
regular season is around I am not getting away with it. …”
Bonser has devoted
a “little bit” more bullpen time between starts to work his way toward
better placement. As always, he talks with pitching coach Rick
Anderson and studies video. “I am not panicking,” he said.
“It’ll get there.”
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Boof Bonser
“I
am not panicking. It’ll get there.”
Boof
Bonser on placing his pitches
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Worth Noting
The
University of Minnesota athletic department has mailed a new brochure
regarding NCAA rules to thousands of boosters. A booster is defined by
multiple criteria in the brochure including financial contribution to
the University. Among the many NCAA restrictions is that a booster can’t
purchase a restaurant meal for an athlete or send a get well card. “We
continue to do all we can to educate our student-athletes, staff and
boosters of NCAA rules and this brochure is another avenue,” athletic
director Joel Maturi said via e-mail. “I
believe we printed 20,000 and will mail to season ticket holders, donors
and all.”
Joanne McCallie, who was the Michigan State women’s basketball head
coach, left the Spartans last week to take over at Duke. You wonder if
former Clem Haskins Gopher assistant Al Brown, a women’s
assistant at MSU, will follow McCallie to Duke. Brown has worked as an
assistant coach for men’s and women’s teams in both the Big Ten and
Southeastern conferences. I don’t think anyone else can claim that on a
resume.
Among
the local fighters to watch with interest is Minneapolis heavyweight
Joey Abell who has 12 knockouts in 12 victories. He fights
Harvey Jolley of Detroit tonight at Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St.
Paul. The headline fight on the card is the featherweight match between
Jason Litzau of St. Paul and Aldo Valtierra of Mexico
City. The bout will be televised by ESPN2.
Beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday Canterbury Park is offering a free
informational
seminar on racehorse ownership. The seminar focuses on forming a
partnership, licensing, finding a trainer and claiming horses. For more
information, call Jeff Maday, 952-496-6437.
The Mr./Miss Basketball begins at 5 p.m. Sunday at
the Minneapolis Marriott West in St. Louis Park. For more information,
call 651-503-8881.
The Minnesota North Stars, starting with the
1967-68 season, made the playoffs in five of their first seven years.
The Minnesota Wild has been in the playoffs twice in seven seasons.
Hockey fan favorite Glen Sonmor wants to
return as color commentator on Gopher radio broadcasts next season.
Sonmor said he works on a one year contract.
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Joel Maturi
John M. Williams, DDS
Cosmetic & Family Dental Care
612-521-7611 |
