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Shakopee Ballpark Backers Targeting American Association Entry

Metro Millers ballpark rendering

Backers of a proposed 8,000-plus-capacity ballpark in Shakopee, located in the southwest quadrant of the Twin Cities, are hoping to place an independent American Association club in the facility.

Late last month, we noted the proposal taking shape to construct a new ballpark adjacent to Canterbury Park–which features live horse racing, off-track betting and casino and poker games–for the proposed Metro Millers team. Baseball would be at the center of the facility’s offerings, but it is expected that the venue would host other events as well, including soccer, lacrosse, concerts, and more.

While there is still work to be completed to lineup financing for the roughly $42 million ballpark, which would be funded through traditional investors along with crowdsourcing via the MNVest portal, and acquiring needed properties, project backers have confirmed that they are hoping to have the Millers included in the American Association. The group’s goal is to complete the ballpark in time for the 2021 season. More from the Star Tribune:

Negotiations to buy all the necessary land are still underway, [DFL state Rep. Brad] Tabke said. What the Millers organization does own are all the rights to the Millers name, images and history, he added.

The Millers spelled out the project in a community meeting last month, and it “received wonderful feedback,” Tabke said.

On the team side of things, Tabke said that Elko town ball managing legend Terry Fredrickson is in charge of baseball operations.

A goal for the team is to be a part of the American Association and revive the old-time rivalry between the Minneapolis Millers and the St. Paul Saints, Tabke said.

“This is an incredibly exciting project for the region. Our expected location in Shakopee has great transportation access, is near many other successful entertainment attractions, and will be an invaluable community asset,” Steve Becher, the Chief Management Officer of the Millers, said in a press release issued Monday. “The Millers has a long history of exciting baseball in the Twin Cities and we’re looking forward to bringing that back in the southwest metro.”

There have been several plans for a pro or summer-collegiate ballpark floated for the southern Minneapolis-St. Paul suburbs, first in 2008 for neighboring Burnsville and later in adjoining Lakeville for indy teams. In addition, there were later discussions of a summer-collegiate ballpark at the Canterbury Park complex, but those plans never reached fruition. Shakopee has been a high-growth area in recent years, attracting an Amazon warehouse as well as other high-tech firms like Seagate and Shutterfly.

Rendering courtesy Metro Millers Baseball LLC. 

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