Weiner makes the wild assumption that Minnesotans favor some kind of public involvement in the team and urges McCombs to do his fair share. Late in 1996, the Twins said they would if asked. Not one legislator ever asked. St Paul Mayor Norm Coleman stumps hard for a city-wide sales tax to finance a new Twins stadium. Neighborhood meetings are scheduled around the town.
Opponents are much in evidence.
Taylor and the Wild partners have a combined wealth of billions. Both have already received millions in public subsidies for their respective sports franchises. Vikings owner Red McCombs is unapologetic in his demands that Minnesotans contribute hundreds of millions of dollars for a new football stadium. St Paul Mayor Norm Coleman unveils his new budget which would privatize a number of city services, contending that city workers need competition from the private sector. But Coleman wants to protect Major League Baseball players from open competition in the leisure marketplace by spending public money on a new ballpark.