Ventura said he wouldn't rule out calling a special session to "take care of the baseball stadium issue.'
Meanwhile, Selig says baseball would pursue contraction for the 2003 season. Selig backed off contraction this year after the Minnesota Supreme Court refused to hear its appeal of a lower court decision that required the team to play in the Metrodome this season because it's lease specifies that.
The apparent softening in Ventura's stance on the issue encourages Twins officials.The governor and House Speaker Steve Sviggum had been warming toward a variety of user fees to help finance a new Twins ballpark. Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe had put his name behind that effort. The leaders say they want to help the team -- as long as the general taxpayer doesn't pay the bill.
The speaker and Ventura have said Alabama businessman Donald Watkins, who is negotiating to buy the Twins and contends he also can finance a ballpark, impresses them so far. Some are skeptical about Watkins' claims that he has the financial wherewithal to buy the team and build a stadium without public subsidies.
St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly is advocating that a Twins ballpark in his city and backs legislation already introduced for that purpose. Minneapolis Mayor R. T. Rybak, who was planning to meet with Watkins this week, said that a new stadium isn't his top priority but quickly added he is meeting with businessmen who support a stadium in Downtown Minneapolis.
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