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Some St. Peter Answers

May 31, 2006 2:57 PM

COMMENT

After reading that Twins president Dave St. Peter was welcoming input from fans by email, I sent him a quick message. The mainstream media doesn't seem to be overly concerned with good ballpark design, content to cover mostly just the political and financial aspects of the project.

But I have questions and concerns (expressed extensively over at DTFC) about the design, and took the opportunity to go directly to the horse's mouth. I was a little bit surprised to receive a personal response within about an hour!

I decided to start with a few basic questions which had come up in the forums. Hoefully this can be the start of a direct conversation with the decision-makers.

RP: Has HOK been officially retained to design the park or will other architectural firms be considered?

DSP: While HOK has done all the conceptual design work, they have not been officially retained to do the final designs. The Twins will select an architect in coordination with a newly formed ballpark authority (to be named in the next 30 days).

RP: Is there someone on your staff whose job it will be to oversee the detail customization?

DSP: Yes, the Twins will appoint a "point" person on the project (in addition to employing an owners rep).

RP: How much of the preliminary design is already fixed? (For example, is the diamond orientation still up for discussion? The exterior facade? Outfield dimensions?)

DSP: Much of the design remains up for discussion. That being said, certain site constraints create limitations.

RP: How much input do you think the fans will be able to have in the design? Will there be some formal process for submitting ideas, or just informal communication?

DSP: Hennepin County will conduct three public hearings over the next 60-90 days. It's my sense that much of that time will focus on public input on the ballpark funding and design. The Twins welcome input from fans like yourself.

RP: Do you expect to be able to build over the railroad tracks?

DSP: Yes.

It is comforting to know that HOK will have to earn the contract. Of course, their extensive experience makes them almost a shoo-in to get this, and that is not a very comforting thought. From their recent projects (including the unfortunate Great American Ballpark), it's easy to see that they are only as good as their collaborators.

Conversely, this also means that if the Twins put together a good team on their side, this could turn out quite well even with HOK designing.

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Fortunately, a number of very good ballparks have been built in recent years, which will help with the final design.
Personally, I'd like to see a continuous eight foot high (between the foul poles), well padded, symetrical outfield fence, without the gold (or any other color)homerun band. Contrasting colors beyond the fence to help fans pick up the ball. Ten feet of foul space in those outfield corners. Four to five foot barriors everywhere else, with fans getting as close as possible to the action from all seating locations. Shorter rows, with the seats 20 to 22 inches wide, cup holders and leg/knee room for 6 footers (facing the pitchers mound).
Some fulltime quality local bar/restaurants, with seating (views of the field through the concourse), and a variety of foods all the time, not just on game day.
More, smaller restrooms, w/o the troughs, but with radio. Wide concourses.
A fullscale Twins merchandise/sporting goods store.
Escalators/elevators to the upper levels.
As much green (plants) as possible if there's no roof. Natural shade in the tailgating section.
Large, lit fountains (not fireworks) in any available outfield areas.
Color. Make it a visual feast for the eye. Large player profiles, past & present, baseball museum areas (including the Washington Senators), with team/player memoribilia. Lots of interactive activities for all ages.
Ditch the industrial warehouse lighting.
Many fans are older, so make things easy for them to navigate through the entire ballpark or have a senior section, along with the family section(s).

There's a ton of things, but I'm sure a lot of people have already mentioned them.

Posted on June 18, 2006 at 9:15 PM by Doug Thompson 1

Posted on April 6, 2013 at 4:21 PM by Rick 2

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"You talk about the magic, the aura, but what really makes a stadium is the fans. Concrete doesn't talk back to you. Chairs don't talk back to you. It's the people who are there, day in, day out, that makes the place magic."

– Bernie Williams

Explore the Site

Here are 50 images chosen randomly from the 3004 found on this site. Click the image to be taken to the original post. A new list is created every 10 minutes.

Here's a closer look at the bullpen area. It's hard to tell for sure, but I think there is still an opening to the concourse right above.

The former Ford manufacturing plant (now Ford Centre).

Loading dock -- already in use!

(Click to enlarge greatly)

Here's one big problem with a retractable roof: completely terrible seating in left. These scant few seats would have been tucked under the track. No sunshine, no open concourse, it was a terribly kludgy idea. With some hindsight, it's very clear that adding a retractable roof on this small site would have required compromises which would have just been too extensive to tolerate. Without it, the design was free to grow into something much more memorable.

Fun with section counting!

The Ballpark Authority at work (Source: RP)

The Metropolitan Club (click to enlarge)

Reverse view, now looking down Sixth toward the park. The Met Stadium flag pole will be right there!

Larry DiVito and staff member (you write the caption)

I took this because of the view reflected in the store windows. (The store is cool too.)

This is the HERC Premonade with railroad tracks snaking beneath. (I think this should be named the Halsey Hall Premonade. Seriously.)

This is some of the signage in place for concession stands.

The Carew gate ticket windows have grown a small awning.

New section labels, but some curious choices.

Playing surface dirt out there? Maybe. (click to enlarge)

Go get 'em, boys!

The art panels on the Fifth Street facade as viewed from the top of the Minnekahda building.

Pillows!

Click to enlarge.

Trees now line Seventh Street

Sometime in the late 1980s: B ramp is under construction. Not yet built: Target Center, I-394 and the A ramp.

This looks south and shows how the Northstar tracks are sheltered by the promenade above. This is the side which faces the HERC plant.

TCF Bank Stadium (click to enlarge)

Note the speakers hanging beneath that deck

The steel cage expands.

ATM-style ticket machines have appeared beneath the steps to the B ramp (you can also enter the B ramp directly by walking past the ticket machines)

Here's the view as you step to the front of the outer moat beyond first base.

Future home of the Met Stadium flag pole

Not much facade left to be finished at this point.

Pawlenty makes it official!

This view clearly shows the curve in the left field stands and the relationship of the first row with the playing field (no overhang to speak of in left).

A view straight on of the Pro Shop area and ticket windows (just barely visible). The piers you see beneath the plaza are already almost completed (see final photo).