With concerns running rampant for the status of the Elizabethton Twins’ longevity in the area, citizens, and visitors alike, are looking to do their part to help keep the Minor League Baseball team at Joe O’Brien Field.
Petition has been circulating throughout town to show the area is supporting the team’s stay within Elizabethton.
Annetta Hall, who manned a booth outside the Twins’ front gate Thursday evening, said the petition was a way for the community to show leaders they wanted to keep the players at home.
“They needed to have someone to get the attention of City Council, the ones doing the voting,” Hall said. “This was the only way we knew how to get attention to keep the Twins. There are several of us doing this … Debbie Alexander from Carter County Bank and Dr. (Keith) Morley have both helped us. We just started this to see how it would do, and it has gone very well so far.”
Fans of the Twins were able to sign on the dotted line to declare their support, but it was the support of visitors that also caught the eye of Hall.
Riley King, who attended Thursday’s game to support her boyfriend that played for the visiting Burlington Royals, was very adamant, along with her family members, to show their support. The family one was one just many that stopped by the booth to provide a name for the cause.
“We’ve had a lot of support from people in the area, but also a lot of people away from here,” Hall said. “There’s one man that comes from Boone, North Carolina, and he comes to every game. There’s one man from Linville, North Carolina that has came to 15 local games so far this year. We’ve also got a man and woman that have been coming down from Bristol for over the past 10 years. Then you have the players’ families, surely there’s some type of revenue coming in.”
The status of the Twins staying in Elizabethton has been dicey since the August City Council meeting when it was announced from Minnesota Twins President Dave St. Peter that the Twins’ initial contribution offer of approximately $600,000 was pulled from the table. The president cited the change in a letter, which was read during the meeting by City Mayor Curt Alexander.
“We have heard from an outside third party that the city council is preparing to vote on this project this week, however, because we have no insight into what it included in this proposal, it is in everyone’s best interest to step back and regroup,” the letter stated. “The Twins remain open to renewing talks on this renovation project and are available to consider any proposals. It is imperative that we have a full understanding of what is being considered if we are going to include a significant contribution.”
Alexander has remained steadfast in stating that the city will work with the Twins in any type of capacity, citing that the team has been a landmark in the community for 42 years and that the city doesn’t want to see them go.
Following the August City Council meeting, Alexander said that officials will stay in talks with the organization to address the $1.8 million price tag that is reportedly needed to address renovations at Joe O’Brien Field.
But Hall said that the group organizing petition will attend the Sept. 8 City Council meeting to make their voices heard to show support for the Twins
“We haven’t got a number yet on all the signatures,” Hall said about the number names. “We’ve dropped off the petition at several businesses. We want to get many as we can, there’s not really a set goal. It will be presented at the City Council meeting.”
Anyone looking to sign the petition can find the booth at home games for the Twins or at local businesses until after Labor Day, Hall said.