Minnesota Twins Announce Relationship with Mayo Clinic to Improve Health Throughout Twins Territory

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

MINNEAPOLIS and ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic and the Minnesota Twins announced today they will work together to help improve the health of people across Twins Territory. The relationship will begin April 2 and 3 when Mayo Clinic presents the Exhibition Series as the Twins play their first games in Target Field against the St. Louis Cardinals (April 2 at 5:10 p.m. and April 3 at 1:10 p.m.).

The two organizations are teaming up to provide on-site health screenings and educational events before Twins' home games, pregame interviews with Mayo Clinic physicians on health topics, and other collaborative efforts throughout the year. The agreement also includes in-stadium signage, print advertisements in Twins' Magazine and scorecard, health tips offered by Twins players during games at Target Field, and Mayo Clinic patients throwing out first pitches at selected games.

"The Twins are proud to build a relationship with Mayo Clinic to encourage people throughout Twins Territory to maintain and enhance their health," says Dave St. Peter, Twins president. "We are excited to work together with another Minnesota organization with such a strong tradition of excellence, teamwork and success."

The content of the health screenings, educational events, in-stadium signage and print advertisements will center primarily around three areas: heart, neurosciences and orthopedics. The emphases will be on both maintaining and enhancing health as well as showcasing Mayo Clinic as the place to go when expert care is needed.

"Mayo Clinic is excited to work with the Minnesota Twins," says John Noseworthy, M.D., president and CEO of Mayo Clinic. "By teaming up with the Twins, we share ways for fans to improve their own health and remind fans throughout the region that Mayo Clinic is close to home so that if you or a family member is faced with a serious health condition, we can help you find the answers you need."

Mayo Clinic and the Minnesota Twins will offer health screenings and educational events throughout the 2010 season. Screenings and education events are on tap for:

• Saturday, April 17 – Heart health screening event (12:10 p.m. vs. Kansas City)
• Tuesday, May 4 – Heart health screening event (7:10 p.m. vs. Detroit)
• Saturday, May 8 – Heart health screening event (12:10 p.m. vs. Baltimore)
• Sunday, May 9 – Mother's Day Breast Cancer Awareness Focus (1:10 p.m. vs. Baltimore)
• Thursday, May 27 – Heart health screening event (7:10 p.m. vs. New York Yankees)
• Saturday, June 12 – Mayo Clinic informational booth at Minnesota Twins Autograph Party (11:30 a.m. on Target Plaza)
• Sunday, July 4 – ALS Awareness Focus (1:10 p.m. vs. Tampa Bay)
• Saturday, July 31 – Stroke prevention screening event (3:10 p.m. vs. Seattle)
• Sunday, Sept. 19 – Twins Healthy Heart Day (1:10 p.m. vs. Oakland)

Learn more about the Mayo Clinic-Twins relationship.

About Target Field

Target Field, one of America's most urban ballparks, is located in the historic Warehouse district of downtown Minneapolis. Site clearing began May 15, 2007 with actual construction commencing in August 2007. Designed by Populous (formerly HOK Sport) with Mortenson Construction serving as construction manager, the 40,000 seat ballpark is slated for completion prior to Opening Day 2010 and the cost of construction is $425 million. The Twins and Target Corporation announced a historic 25-year naming agreement for Target Field and Target Plaza on September 15, 2008. The Twins Ballpark Webcams provide fans the opportunity to view progress on the construction of the new downtown Minneapolis ballpark through completion in the spring of 2010.

Ballpark History

The Minnesota Legislature in 2006 approved legislation to fund the new Minnesota Twins ballpark. The legislative action was the culmination of a 10-year effort to return outdoor baseball to Minnesota. Under the terms of the legislation, the public contribution totaled $350 million, which included $90 million for infrastructure and $260 million for ballpark construction. The legislation called for the primary public contribution to be financed by Hennepin County issued bonds that will be repaid from a County sales tax. Since the legislation was adopted, public sources such as the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the Northstar Project and the Minnesota Ballpark Authority (MBA) have contributed an incremental $5.525 million to the Public Infrastructure Budget. The MBA was created to oversee the design, construction and operation of the new ballpark. The MBA will own the ballpark and the site on which it sits on behalf of the public. Under the original legislation, the Minnesota Twins' contribution was $130 million for ballpark construction costs and any cost overruns. Since the legislation was adopted, the team also has committed to contributing an additional $55 million ($15 million for non-land infrastructure expenses, $4.5 million for plaza enhancements and $35.5 million for ballpark enhancements). Target Corporation has also matched the Twins contribution of $4.5 million for plaza enhancements. The total ballpark budget stands at $425,491,694 with the Public Infrastructure budget at $119,525,000 as approved by the MBA on May 15, 2009.

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About Mayo Clinic

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