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Twins sue for year-to-year lease on dome

ST. PAUL, Minn., Oct. 19 (UPI) -- The Minnesota Twins want a year-to-year lease for the Metrodome, the ballpark's owner wants something long-term and the two will take the dispute to court.

The Twins filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

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The Twins have been on a year-to-year lease since the previous one expired in 2004.

The commission, playing on fears the team will leave the state or go under for lack of profits, wants a lease that would end when a new ballpark is built.

The commission is threatening to sabotage certain revenue sources if the team doesn't agree, like electronic advertising within the stadium and a novelty shop outside it.

The squabble comes at a time the team is pressing for state funds for a new stadium.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is pushing for a special legislative session to discuss the funding.

The plan is to use a 0.15 percent sales tax in Hennepin County, Minn., to fund 75 percent of the new stadium. The rest would come from the Twins.

The state's governor and legislature need to approve the new tax and the Twins want them to waive a requirement that any new local taxes have to be approved by referendum.

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