let's get some overruns
january 27, 2008 @
23:14
link
There have a been a couple of reports in the media that the Twins stadium is over budget. Here's a blurb from Kare11:
The Minnesota Twins say their new $390 million ballpark is over budget by a "significant amount." Twins Sports president Jerry Bell says the team will increase its contribution to the ballpark rather than cut back on the plans.
And here comes the Sid Hartman take:
The headlines in Saturday's papers all raved about the signings of Michael Cuddyer and Justin Morneau to long- term contracts, and the Twins management should be complimented for those moves.But I thought the bigger news was that the ballpark was coming in more than $20 million over budget and that the Pohlad family had agreed to come up with the money.
A couple of things struck me about this story. First, as someone who has been watching the progress from my office downtown, they seem to be moving really fast. They post schedules for road closures and stuff and a lot of it is being completed in half the expected time. But per the kare11 piece, the increase in cost is due to the price of materials, so maybe getting it done in half the time doesn't change anything. Like it's fixed bid or something. Except for the materials part. But yeah, that'd be a weird way to bid on something. Time and no materials? Materials and no time? Huh? Reminder: I know jack squat about the construction industry.
The second thing I'll point out is that both stories (especially Sid, obvs) seem to imply the Twins are 'stepping up'. Here's the part where I remind you that the stadium deal was written in such a way that the Twins are responsible for any overruns. So in this case that they're not so much 'stepping up' as they are 'doing what they're obligated to do'. (Just like will with Santana, right? Right?!) Maybe mention that next time?
Also this: A 5% overrun is 'significant'? Um, the last 10 NFL stadiums built averaged a 19% overrun. So yeah, 5% is ass kickingly great. Maybe mention that next time, too?
FD: Still super excited for outdoor baseball!!1!
New ballpark is over budget by 'significant amount' [kare11]
Twins making great moves on, off field [strib]
Chris thought:
Remind me to ask you how excited you are about outdoor baseball when it's 20 and snowing in May and the stadium is empty or for that matter when it's 100 with 100% humidity in August and the stadium is empty.
Minnesotans are the ultimate fair weather fans. The always "sunny" and 70 dome was perfect for Minnesota. It allows people to go to a game whenever the team is winning without also worrying about if the weather was as good as the team.