Tim Meyer is a Duluth architect and community builder writing about Downtown Duluth, politics, business, sports and economic development. Reach him at tim.meyer@meyergroupduluth.com
I have been a Minnesota Twins fan since I was six years old, back in the days when Calvin Griffith moved the franchise from Washington, where it had been the Senators, to Minnesota. Mediocrity has never been foreign to this organization. With the exception of the 1965 World Series season, the Twins have not returned to baseball’s biggest stage.
I grew up in the 1970s watching Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva, Rod Carew and Roy Smalley. Those teams had stars. They had heart. But they rarely had October staying power.
Carl Pohlad purchased the team in 1984 and, in 2001, helped rescue it from contraction. The Metrodome lease at the time prevented the franchise from folding, and for a period it appeared stability had arrived. The Twins won the World Series in 1987 and again in 1991. Pohlad, who built his fortune in banking through Midwest Federal and Marquette Bank before selling to U.S. Bank, was reported to be worth about $2.6 billion.
In 2006, the Minnesota Legislature passed a stadium bill in the final hours of the session, clearing the way for a new ballpark. Target Field opened in 2010 and quickly became one of Major League Baseball’s premier venues. Carl Pohlad died in 2009, and his son Jim assumed control of the franchise.
From 2010 through the early 2020s, the Twins produced several 90-win seasons and made multiple playoff appearances. Yet postseason frustration became a familiar script, particularly against the New York Yankees in the first round. Despite a loyal fan base and periodic investment in high-profile free agents, the Twins repeatedly fell short of a return to the World Series. Competitive stretches under managers Tom Kelly and Ron Gardenhire produced division titles and playoff berths, but not another championship.
Payroll often lagged behind baseball’s largest markets. The Twins were contenders, but rarely constructed to overpower elite competition in October.
Then came 2025.
The season marked a turning point for many fans. After an underperforming year, ownership initiated a sweeping roster overhaul. The Twins moved Carlos Correa, Chris Paddack, Randy Dobnak, closer Jhoan Duran, Harrison Bader, Brock Stewart, Danny Coulombe, Ty France, Minnesota native Louis Varland, All-Star Willie Castro and Griffin Jax. In return came a package of largely unproven minor league prospects. Payroll reportedly dropped from nearly $160 million to about $100 million heading into 2026.
Jim Pohlad stepped aside and his brother Tom assumed a more prominent leadership role, saying the family remained committed to winning and restoring fan confidence. New minority partners joined the ownership group, including the Glick family and Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leopold. The franchise had quietly been exploring a sale in 2025.
The message from ownership has been clear: The family is in it for the long haul. The question for many fans is whether the financial commitment will match the rhetoric.
After 57 years of watching this franchise, I have learned patience. I am willing to see what this new structure produces. But if the Pohlads, the Glicks and Leopold are not the answer, what is?
Why not consider community ownership?
The Green Bay Packers operate under a publicly owned model, overseen by a board of directors and thousands of shareholders. Fans are stakeholders in the truest sense. The Packers have sustained competitive success for decades under that structure.
Major League Baseball does not currently allow that model, but the concept deserves discussion. Imagine a hybrid structure in which the existing ownership group remains involved while opening a controlled share program to Minnesota fans and community investors. A broad-based ownership structure could provide capital, accountability and a direct connection between the franchise and the people who support it.
Pair that with a seasoned general manager with a proven track record and a field leader empowered to balance analytics with baseball instincts. Invest meaningfully in payroll. Rebuild trust. Restore visibility, including broader broadcast access so fans can again find their team on television without difficulty.
The Twins belong to Minnesota. The public financed the stadium. Generations of fans have invested time, money and loyalty.
If the current ownership group can deliver sustained contention, it will be welcomed. If not, it may be time to ask whether a broader form of ownership — one rooted in the community — could provide the stability and commitment required to build a true, lasting winner.
