New minority owners bring skills and hopes of energizing the Twins

The recent announcement that the Pohlad family has finalized a new ownership structure for the Minnesota Twins marks a pivotal shift for the franchise. By bringing in Glick Family Investments, George Hicks, and Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold as limited partners, the team is positioning itself for a “reset” following a period of financial and operational strain.

While the Pohlads retain majority control, fans and stakeholders can expect four key contributions from this new trio of investors.

1. Significant Debt Reduction and Financial Stability

The primary and most immediate impact of this investment is the infusion of capital to address the team’s balance sheet. Prior to this deal, the Twins were carrying a debt load estimated between $400 million and $500 million, brought on by long-term capital debt, a declining local TV deal and pandemic-era losses. The new partners have reportedly acquired a combined stake of approximately 20% at a franchise valuation of $1.75 billion. This cash influx allows the organization to retire a “significant amount” of debt, providing the breathing room necessary to reinvest in the roster and stadium operations.

2. A “Winning-First” Advisory Influence

The new limited partners will not just be silent financiers; they will sit on a newly formed ownership advisory board. George Hicks, a Minnesota native and co-founder of Varde Partners, brings a distressed debt expertise that specializes in turning around struggling entities. Similarly, the Glick family, known for their multi-generational success in diamond trading, real estate and venture capital, brings a long-term investment horizon. Their presence is expected to provide a “healthy sense of accountability” for the Pohlads, pushing the organization to focus on revenue growth through winning and fan re-engagement.

3. Dual Sport Owner and Aggressive Ambition

The addition of Craig Leipold is particularly notable for Twins fans. As the owner of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, Leipold has a reputation for aggressive spending and a commitment to keeping stars in Minnesota (Kirill Kaprizov). His experience navigating the Twin Cities sports market and his history of “going for it” may influence the Twins’ front office to move away from recent right-sizing of payrolls and toward a more competitive spending model.

4. Strategic Continuity

The introduction of these partners coincided with a leadership change: Tom Pohlad has replaced Joe Pohlad as the team’s Executive Chair and Control Person. This shift, supported by the new investors, suggests a more streamlined, business-first approach to decision making.

By cleaning up the debt and stabilizing the leadership, these partners are effectively prepping the franchise to make the Twins a much more attractive asset should the Pohlads decide to pursue a full exit in the coming years. All in all, it’s bringing a well-needed dose of optimism in Twins country.

This article was originally published on www.puckettspond.com as New minority owners bring skills and hopes of energizing the Twins.

New minority owners bring skills and hopes of energizing the Twins

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