The Pohlad family is selling a portion of the team.
The Minnesota Twins are nearing the completion of a partial franchise sale that is expected to significantly improve the organization’s financial standing and reshape its long-term outlook. “Selling more than 20 percent of the franchise to three minority partnership groups at a $1.75 billion valuation, the Pohlad family is expected to announce this week they’ve finalized a transaction that helps a club $500 million in debt return to a sound financial footing while also requiring the addition of three seats to the team’s ownership advisory board,” reported Dan Hayes of The Athletic on Monday.
The transaction leaves the Pohlad family in full control of the franchise and does not provide any of the minority partners with a path to ownership power. As part of the agreement, three new seats will be added to the Twins’ ownership advisory board. Tom Pohlad is also expected to take on an expanded role within the ownership group.
Originally announced in August as a sale to two limited partnerships, the deal experienced delays as additional groups expressed interest in purchasing smaller shares of the franchise. Ultimately, enough interest emerged to form a third minority ownership group.
The sale was facilitated by Allen & Co. and began in October 2024, when the Pohlad family publicly explored selling the franchise after 40 years of ownership. While the initial goal was a full sale, the family ultimately pulled the team off the market this summer and opted for the partial transaction after determining it was the strongest offer available.
A major driver behind the decision was the Twins’ mounting debt, which grew sharply following the 2019 season. Expected attendance of more than 2.3 million fans in 2020 never materialized due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization continued paying employees and minor leaguers, pushing debt into the $200 million range. Attendance remained depressed in the years that followed, including just 1.3 million fans in 2021 and fewer than 2 million in each season since.
The team’s financial challenges were compounded by a reduction in local television revenue after FanDuel Sports Network stopped carrying the Twins following the 2023 season. The club now broadcasts through Twins TV in partnership with MLB at a significantly reduced rate.
Despite declining ticket sales and revenue, the partial sale places the franchise in a far stronger financial position. With limited long-term contracts, a farm system ranked second in baseball and the potential for increased league-wide media revenue later this decade, the Twins could emerge as a more attractive asset in the future. For now, the deal provides stability while allowing the Pohlad family to maintain control and chart the organization’s next phase.