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Dayton confirms: $25M for new Saints ballpark

New Saints ballpark

The final step in funding a new St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) is complete, as Gov. Mark Dayton signs off on $25 million in state bonding proceeds for the project.

Earlier this week the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) recommended the spending, out of 90 projects submitted to be part of $47.5 million in state bonding money authorized by the Minnesota Legislature earlier this year. The final step in the whole process was approval from Dayton, and this was seen by many as a foregone conclusion: Dayton had requested this money in his original bonding bill.

One change made by Dayton: he awarded the project $25 million, instead of the full $27 million sought by the city for the project, which includes much more than just a new ballpark; it also involved some potential brownfield remediation and development at the current Saints ballpark site. That means a total of $52 million has been accounted for between the state, the city and the Saints; more work needs to be done if the project is fully funded.

The $54-million ballpark, to be located in the Lowertown area of downtown St. Paul on a former Gillette industrial site, could open for the 2014 season. Midway Stadium, the team’s current home, would be torn down and replaced with a business park.

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