IN BRIEF : Twins Get New Metrodome Lease

A lease agreement that could keep the Minnesota Twins in the Metrodome for at least 10 years was approved today by the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission.

The lease, approved on a 6-1 vote, also includes an “escape hatch clause” under which the American League club could leave the dome in downtown Minneapolis, depending on attendance figures. In addition, the deal would provide the team with free rent, an increase in concession revenue, a new ticket office and increased earning potential from Dome billboards.

The Twins could get out of the agreement after 1998 if after 1997 the team fails to average 80% of the American League annual average attendance for 1995, 1996 and 1997; or if the team shows a cumulative operating loss for those three years. The current annual average for teams in the league is 2 million fans, so 80% would be 1.6 million. The Twins drew 3 million in 1988 and are expected to draw around 2.5 million this year.