Greetings from the very damp Kauffman Stadium! The rain killed our chances of getting in early to watch bp but we at least get 2 today.

Toronto? No. Absolutely not. They had it in 1991 and that was enough. Place is the Metrodome multiplied by about 500. Its ugly, damp, cavernous and carpeted. No way in bloody hell is it going to Toronto. It wont matter what the hell they do to spruce the damn place up...wont happen.

They would have the ASG at Ameritrade Field in bloody Omaha before returning to Toronto.

2013 renewal pack has arrived. For the first time in 6 years, I cannot tell you how dreaded it felt to open.

Luke-I have never been to Rogers Center in person for a game but the stadium has the most ambitious and best retractable roof of any stadium built anywhere in the world up to this date in time. The 3 paneled roof structure goes 672 feet from one side of the stadium to the other and slides 100 percent off of the seating bowl. Very soon the stadium is also likely to get an irrigation system and natural grass. I don't see any reason why Toronto could not wind up with game if they wanted to.

Well...ambitious or not, its still ugly in my opinion. And besides...its a multipurpose stadium, its cavernous. Its like a Canadian Miller Park. The one cool thing about that place was the hotel in CF and all the Mother Canuckers having sex with the curtains open while the Jays played ball. Then the stadium authority put the Hiroshima on that...

MLB has gone past the days of the cookie cutter stadium...I dont see an ASG going back to Toronto. Same reason MLB wouldnt have another ASG at Mount Davis Coliseum in Oakland. I have a feeling MLB will eventually do to their ASG what the NFL has done with the Super Bowl and the NBA with its ASG...they will select the elite of the elite cities with the best venues...and create a small rotation.

Take a look at the NBA ASG's of late and the frequency with which they return to cities like Orlando, Phoenix, LA and Houston. It is stunning. The days of a wide ASG rotation in MLB will soon be a thing of the past IMO.

Toronto is a terrific city, but I cannot imagine MLB having an AllStar game there without SIGNIFICANT renovation at Rogers and/or no other team wanting to host.

I do believe Selig when he said it was hard to get hosts, but I suspect that it helped when the ASG went from being a game to being a five or six day event. If you aren't local to the venue, it's hard to justify coming in for one day - far easier to come in for a few days or a week - and that is a far more significant economic impact for the host city.

tk - why did you dread opening the renewal packet? You know the price of the tickets, you know the team will be at or near the bottom of the AL next year ad you know the Twins want their STHs to pay for their 2013 tickets even before this dismal season is over. (one of the earliest due dates in MLB. Not sure why - the argument the last few years was high ST demand, but I'd be surprised to learn there are any significant numbers in the On Deck program any more. I'm losing partners who tell me they no longer want to pay MLB prices to see AAA ball.))

Rogers Center actually made a top 25 list of most beautiful stadiums at night: Stadiums at night: 25 beautiful cathedrals of sport

The list of Top 25 was pretty impressive. It pains me though that the North American continent boasts only 9 of those 25 stadiums. I almost lost my coffee this morning when I saw Donbass Stadium in the Ukraine...at a glance it looked like Dumbass. I just thought it was funny.

And sure Rogers Centre looks pretty at night when U2 is playing there, as shown in the picture, but I still see a cavernous stadium moonlighting as a ballpark. And when put that way The Trop in Tampa has a better chance of scoring an ASG and we all know how ugly THAT place is.

All star game = zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!! Who even watches anymore??

The top 25 list was indeed impressive.

But I'm not planning to watch the ASG in 2014 from a helicopter and I don't think Bud is going to say "Ima gonna give the game to Toronto 'cause their ballpark is so purdy all lit up at night."

Just got back from games at Wrigley and Soldier Fields. Still a fun atmosphere at Wrigley (largely outside Wrigley) but strange to see empty seats for a Friday vs SF Giants. One more day, and could have seen Twins at Comiskey.

People who read this blog regularly have heard me b**** - I mean complain --- about this before. One for nine tonight with RISP and a 4-2 loss as a result. And some of those RISP's were on 3d with less than two out.

I've forgotten what clutch hitting looks like.

Linked are photos taken at the Rangers-Twins game at the Met on Saturday July 5, 1980. It was shown as a backup game on NBC's Saturday Game of the Week. There are some nice shots for those feeling nostalgic.

Nice flagpole!

Love that on-field remote equipment.

Nice shot Jorge. Yep those were the days altight. Field looks in better shape than TF even though you can see the soccer lines in it! Like the grass pattern also! Fire the worthless and weak Larry Divito now and bring in George Toma! Used to buy the $2.00 ticket and sit in the wooden bleachers along 3rd base line. Was sitting behind homeplate by the 2nd inning!Not much security back then. Soon TF will have crowds like this!

I am sure you guys know this but a couple of years ago I was coaching my daughter in slow pitch over at Valley View Complex in Bloomington and I went to see those exact Met Stadium foul poles which got transplanted to one of the big baseball fields over there. They were cut in half,though and not nearly as tall.

Before depositing the remains of Met Stadium in a landfill in Eagan the poles somehow ended up there, although I do not know the story. I am bad with directions but the remains of at least one of the distinctive triangular shaped foul poles are located on the 2 foul lines at the Valley View baseball/softball athletic complex in Bloomington. The complex is quite huge but the field that has the poles is a big baseball field located on the south south east side of the complex. They are still yellow and the second you see them you recognize they are from the old Met.

Rick- I just found the website for the Valley View Complex,and the adress is 9000 Portland Ave. So. Bloomington MN. The complex is 34 acres, but the field with the poles is called Field #1, also known as Red Haddox Field. There are videos on the website and if you view the 34 second video showing Field #1 they show the right field foul pole clearly and that's definately the field I was talking about.

George Toma is in his eighties now; I doubt he'd take the (full season) job

I know we all know the Twins would/are pushing this get Twins season tickets for your chance to guarantee your chance for All Star Game tickets....

However, if one does not ask the right question, one could be disappointed.

When I called my rep today to speak about what my options were as a STH at getting tickets, he said they are trying their hardest to get all STH the opportunity to purchase. He said, however, with their LARGE STH base, it is only possible to do so much, compared to other clubs that do not have THAT issue (e.g. asked about how it is not the same process for the Mets, as there process must also be regulated by MLB).

The long and short, as a full season plan with 2 tickets, and a 40-game plan with 2 tickets, my option for a chance to get tickets would only bumped to full season plan (worse seats as it bumps to the highest level) and those would be guaranteed. So for having the 81-game, and 40-game, I will only be able to purchase 2 strips total.

He said if I only had a 40-game plan, it would not be guaranteed, but they would try their hardest.....

Needless to say, I told him that I also had to answer to two groups of 4 each and that things may not work out for us to continue. He ended by recommending to keep the full season if any, as that would be the guaranteed.

In all honesty, I am just looking to save the money now and try my luck on the secondary market (sick of getting stuck with unused tickets), as there is still no guarantee I would draw my name in the draft.

I am just going to recommend to my group to just try their luck at their own 20-game package, like the 100s that will be adding this year.

Regardless, the Twins do not have to do anything to please committed ticket holders for the next 2 years, as so many of us like to sit on our hands. I'm not sure I will this time.

Re: those great Met photos...

#24: Bring back the TC stirrups!
#7: Is that luke and joni au naturale?

tk, check out some of the answers DSP (@TwinsPrez) had on Twitter tonight. He does a good job of answering some ASG questions.

For the rest... Shameless plug, I just posted the following on Craigslist and wonder if any of you are interested. Clicky for the link. Mention that you're a BPMer and we can maybe work out a different deal.

------------------------------------------
I am looking to trade my Twins vs White Sox on Saturday 9/15 @ noon game tickets. I will now be out of town.

They are in the Legends Club, Sec B, Row 4, seats 17-18. These are amazing seats!

I am looking to trade for some lower level tickets.
---equal swap for Diamond Box or Home Plate Box seats. (lower half of section)
---I am willing to pay $20 cash plus my tix for Dugout Box seats.

I am able to attend the following games:
vs CLE Sept 7, 9-10
vs NYY Sept 25-26
vs DET Sept 28-29

Thanks Mike, yeah, I've seen those tweets nothing more than a mix of tweeting happy fans and answering some ASG questions. I thought I would just post my experience in talking with my rep today. I may have to Tweet at him, but we will see....then all my partners will see I am not happy and I'm the peace maker.

tk - not sure if your rep mentioned this, but it's even more difficult for partial plan holders, as those with 7 years will get top priority.

I suspect many partial plan holders, ESPECIALLY those joining this year and next, will be very disappointed in what ability they have to buy ASG strips.

If you aren't a full-season plan holder, the math just doesn't work in your favor.

One of @TwinsPrez' tweets last night was another in an endless string of as-yet unfulfilled promises to do something about the deforestation in center field:

"Looking at it for '13 RT@RCWjaguarsBBguy: @TwinsPrez why can some ballparks have trees in CF? Need to improve that area at Target Field. "

We will believe it when we see it.

"but they would try their hardest....."

Battle their tails off?

An 80 year old Toma would be a huge improvement overy Larry boy! Fire him now and get a half ass grass pattern going there! Field in horrific shape once again! Not impressed with the colorado sesamia grazz! Might be time for some Minnesota sod!

Grass, trees, quality baseball ----. The Twins can't be bothered with any of those things, they have an ASG to sell!

Drink a bit more of your rum twinkfan. The cut patterns will change before your very eyes. Repeat until you get the desired pattern.

Rick plain and simple the grass sucks! Patches that don't match everywhere! Toma could make it look good again! He is no match for clueless Devito. The team may suck on the field but at least we should have the yard looking sharp. Maybe the leauge will step in now that the all star game (whooopie) is coming in a couple of years!

Steve yes drinking makes watching these bums a little easier! Although I must say I'm 3-0 at TF this year after going 15-20 the first 2 years!

It's too bad Howard Cosell is no longer with us. We need his style of hard-hitting, in-your-face, tell-it-like-it-is journalism to expose this whole grass cut pattern scandal at Target Field.

"DiVito is widely acknowledged as one of the best in the business" By who? The Twins? Clearly not the Nationa;s if they let him go. Yes the team wants the grass short, which is stupid, the team is no longer based off speed. Plus didn't we want to get away from a field like the metrodome?

That being said, many stadiums in the league keep the grass this short or close to it, and it looks 10x better. Hell football fields, are shorter, get heavier use in one day than a baseball field gets all season, and it takes a few weeks for those to look bad.

They should just admit it looks like shit and figure out how to correct it..

One thing I did notice is that their "sod farm" has no shade, which may explain the lighter color of the grass compared to the ballpark grass. Inside the stadium, the grass gets shade until the sun gets to a certain point over the parking garage/grandstand, then again when it goes behind the 3rd base seats. The sod farm has no such shade, which if the grass is not grown in the same conditions it will look different.

Well said Duffman! I will drink to that!

It's not even a comparison...just look at Busch Stadium, US Cellular Field, Kauffman Stadium, Comerica Park, PNC Park, and Nationals Park to name a few.

The Target Field grass does not even compare to those other parks.

They have been in the ballpark now almost 3 full seasons and to only have one primary cut? Sure, they had the checkerboard design for the Opening Series in April 2010 and April 2011 but its been the current pattern for the remaining games over the last 3 years. Part of keeping the grass looking nice is changing up the patterns.

I am not criticizing Divito and his crew, but how much credit can be attributed to all of the new technology such as the heating systems and drainage systems. All of our lawns would be green in April if we were able to cover them and heat them during winter like they do with Target Field.

And maybe the Twins players should start worrying more about winning games rather than trees in the batter's eye or how different grass patterns play.

Maybe their fans should as well.

Mike, why not criticize DiVito? TF turf isnt that great looking, I will agree.
i am very concerned for 2014...do we think he can pull off a star cut for the ASG? Its not looking good.

LOL! Touche' Winona Mike.

Where do I look to see how far off I was in the pre-season stat predictions? Is there a prize for the biggest Rube?

Maybe their fans should as well.

A-fricking-men.

Fire DiVito now! Before all the grass turns to dust! Worse looking grass field in baseball. Toronto's turf looks better than our crap!

Ticket question: Has any 20 game STH here received his/her renewal package yet?

BR,

I received mine on Tuesday.

"BR,

I received mine on Tuesday."

Me too.

I am surprised no one has blamed Colorado for giving us inferior sod.

This site is beginning to sound like a sewing circle.

Go Granny, Go Granny, Go Granny, Go

There are plenty of other stadiums that have sod from the same Colorado farm.

The problem isn't where the sod is from.

Maybe Larry forgot to turn the heaters off under the field? Meanwhile our boys need to go 6-19 to get to the magical 100!

True jfh

Is there still a ticket section? was looking to see if anyone was interested in some roof deck tickets.

With the tribe and royals in town the next 7 games would think the Mon-Thur games won't hit 30,000. Beer vendors will be hurting. The drive to 100!

Hey but the Queens open up this Sunday. Might be the only game they are favored to win all year. I will go with 4-12 season!11 straight NFC North losses! Sister Christian in for a looooooooong year.

twinkfan, you must not listen to KFAN. It's "Hunt for 100." haha

Tonight is going to feel like an October game. I'm going to pretend it's a playoff game. Oh wait, that means it's definitely gonna be a loss.

Construction update on the new Siebert Field at U of M. (link)

If anyone is looking to share Legends Club seats for 2013, I have at least 20 games available in section G, row 5 at STH cost.

Star Tribune reporting the 'Queens are bidding to host the Super Bowl in 2018, 2019 or 2020. Take that one at face value. I wont say it, oh yes I will: TOLD YOU SO.

STH holder with seats in 109 Row 11 looking for 1 more partner for 15 games at STH cost...1st time in 8 years I had a partner bail...I've been fortunate..Click the link to email me...

The Vikes want to host a Super Bowl in their new stadium? You really went out on a limb with that prediction, Luke.

Remember Mike, you all were bitching about my sources and stuff? Its not who YOU know, its who I know. That makes all the difference...lol.
on this very site I predicted a 2018 Super Bowl. Look back. After we opened the HHH Poopcan, we had to wait TEN years to get a SB in our "new stadium". By 1992, the HHHPC was old-hat.
So, potentially as little of a wait as two years to get a SB for USBS, i would say thats pretty good. And if we select HKS as our architect, and they DO in fact build an LOS replica here (remember LOS did a hell of a job hosting SB XLVI) like some conceptual drawings have postulated, then I think we are sitting pretty.
and yes, i also have inside knowledge on the naming rights, and no, his name is not Charley Walters.

I try to stay away from the Luke bashing or generally commincating with him, but is Luke Sid Hartman?

Also, anyone else find it sad they are putting turf in an outdoor baseball field? Then again I was sad when they put in turf at TCF Bank Stadium, which I will be at today enjoying a beer, about time.

Duff, I would consider it the compliment of all to be thought of as Sid Hartman. Sadly, I am not Sid.
Second, with artificial turf at TCFBS and the new Siebert, as sad as it is, at least the University doesnt have to spend money on grounds crews. Not sure how much DiVito and his crew gets paid...but maintenance alone must cost a bundle, and with the turf, its money the U doesnt have to spend.
however, I believe I read that a brew at TCFBS costs $7.25...so they could have used that money...lol

If anyone is looking for skyline view, I have 2 seats for 20 games available in a full season package. Section 325, Row 1, aisle. The cost is the STH price. email me by clicking my name above to discuss.

Wow lots of STH groups looking for additions. I was just able to up my share in my group. Had a few guys decline in shares.

I think it's sad to have turf outdoor at Siebert. Is it because the college baseball season starts early and they are planning to make it happen without the Dome?

Game was fun, getting beers was a pain, had to go to the open end and buy them. Why they are not at every stand I don't know. Also they stopped serving at halftime, which doesn't make sense, why not the end of the 3rd quarter.

Did see Sid on his way in, 3 minutes before game time.

As for the turf at Siebert field, did they fire their grounds crew? And if they had one could they have not done both Siebert and TCF?

I suppose they'll still need a crew to rake the rubber pellets from time to time.

Congratulations, Luke; I gotta admit you nailed it with that prediction. None of us even suspected that, even though the possibility had been mentioned in all the lobbying for a new stadium, and the League itself mentioned the possibility of the Vikes hosting a Super Bowl once the new stadium was opened, the news that the Vikes would be pushing for the hosting gig in the near future caught all of us, except you, flat-footed. Even though the previous two games have been played in new stadiums, and the League has suggested to the 49ers that they might also get a game once their new stadium is completed, you were the only one who saw it coming.

How are you at picking stocks?

Mike, what can luke say? he's got some really good sources.

Lol Mike...it wasnt so much that the Queens WOULD get a SB after USBS opens up, it was WHEN. Remember, we waited TEN years to get a SB in our former new stadium.
The NFL is a pussy operation, they have been picky in past years. Holy Jesus, how long has Indy had an indoor stadium, and just THIS SEASON did they get to host a SB.

Or hell, how about St Louis? When the hell is their "new stadium" gonna host a SB? God, that place is almost 20 years old.

Of course, who wants to come to this damn city in the dead of winter anyway? Thats what makes it all the more interesting that the Queens ARE bidding for 2018. And that the NFL is giving us serious consideration.

I TOLD all of you in posts back that 2018 would be the year, not really knowing the Queens would actually BID for that year.

Btw Jared, I have some good stock picks for you, but I would rather keep them to myself rather than share my dividend checks with ingreats.

Arent you gonna be screwed if tomorrow morning is overcast? I would laugh my ass off.
If it is overcast tomorrow morning Rick, you owe me a six pack and LC tickets...lol

Please....just stop already.

Luke, Indy didn't get a Super Bowl until they built the new building. The RCA Dome was on par with the Metrodome; it lacked the amenities the NFL desires in a SB venue. Back when the League granted a SB to the Metrodome, the game wasn't used as leverage like it is today, and stadium standards weren't as selective as they are today. RCA and the Metrodome were similar in capacity, which is far below the League's standard of 70,000 or more. And St. Louis won't see a SB in the Edward Jones Dome while the Rams are trying to get out of there.
Comparing 1992 with how the games are doled out today is like comparing apples to oranges.

So it's already US Bank Stadium even before the architect has been announced and began drawing up any actual plans?

Winona, I concur in spades, I was just making a point. But, why not Seattles Kingdome then? Matter of fact, Seattle was in line to host SB XXVI in 1992. Kingdome was larger than the Dome.

In light of your comment, would it however be considered a conflict of interest to have two competitor banks solidifying their names to football stadiums in the same general location?

My guess still goes to MOA buying the naming rights.

You know Davs, I wondered if they might. But, i have no idea how much MOA pays to have its name on the Winona Poop Green carpet in the place. Remember, its still the Metrodome.
I cannot imagine MOA pays more than $1 million a year for it. Especially for a stadium whose days are finitely numbered.
with that said, I dont believe $1 million a year is going to cut it in the new place. I believe MetLife pays about $10 mil/yearand it took the Jets/Giants two years to find someone to pay that price.
conversly, Jerry Jones is STILL looking for a buku dollar title sponsor for his stadium, and of course who wants their name attatched to the Cowboys organization?
i would love to see MOA be a title sponsor for the new place, keep it local, but I think they will be relegated to a gate or a plaza for a company who can offer the bug bucks. I always thought 3M would be a nice title sponsor.

Luke, seriously??? Have it named MOA and keep it local?? Just when I thought you could go a day without an idiotic response you make a statement like that. The Triple Five Group owns/operates the MOA and is a Canadian Company, while USB is located in Minneapolis.

Tk- the mall itself is local, nutjob. Who gives a shit about about the proprieter of the place? Jesus, malls change proprieters like most of us change our socks. Look at what happened with the former Crookdale. They changed owners ALOT.

Good God, why dont we just name it after another deadbeat politician like Martin Olav Sabo or Barack Obama, and be done with it?

Man alive, some people...lol

I've been channel-flipping between the Twins and Vikings. The brightness of the sunshine on Target Field presented quite a contrast to the artificial light of that building on the other end of downtown. Of course Luke has made it clear he doesn't like enlightenment of any kind.

Lol terry. Enlightenment is my middle name. If it wasnt, I wouldnt be a Nihilist, now would I?

I cant wait to be the one to light that ignition switch that detonates the Dome to make way for what apparently has now become an As-Yet-Named Stadium :).

Interesting, guess none of that info got on my radar. I suppose the way people are on the school playground is often they way they are for life, some things never really change.

Even though I've lived here all my life, I have no idea what "Winona poop green" is. Care to elaborate, Mr. Enlightenment?

P.S. I'm not the person who brought up naming rights. I haven't even mentioned it. You've obviously got me confused with someone else. But then, confusion seems to be your stock in trade.

Lovely day at the ballpark yesterday. Game started pretty slow, Vasquez was missing the strike zone 60% of the time, but the bats started to get hot and Justin puts two in the seats including the walk-off. It just doesn't get much better than that!

And apparently there was some sort of event going on the other side of downtown, but I didn't pay much attention to that one...

Rick,

If you want cheap Gopher tix for this week, watch mygophersports.com later this week. Last Friday they were offering $10 tickets until 5 pm. With another non-conference opponent on deck for Saturday they may do it again.

Winona Poop Green was a play on words. The colour is Baby Poop Green, i just changed "baby" lol

A new GigaPan picture is available from Saturday night (TK Day). Click to link and zoom in.

Noticed an interesting tidbit - the scoreboard says it's top of the 2nd with Indians batting, but if you look at home plate, Florimon is up. So this seems to be a single camera that moves across the whole stadium snapping one pic at a time, and takes at least a half inning to do it.

So that means there are probably people in the picture more than once, if they are moving around and in the right place at the right time. If you knew the camera's movements you could be in it many times, sort of a twist on Where's Waldo.

ClarkAddison - my son & I spent some time about a month ago looking through some of those GigaPan shots. On most of them if you zoom in on the players you will see floating heads, legs with no body, etc. Sometimes there will be an infield full of Twins defenders as well as an opposing player also ready to field his position. Lots of stuff to make a 9 year old (and his dad) laugh.

Rick you could have had 10 delicious Hoilday dogs or brats instead of that overprised grislte filled Murrays steak sandwhich. Ouch!

" --- and I had to work around some pretty big pieces of gristle --- "

That's not a very large piece of "steak" in the first place, is it?

That GigaPan link was pretty cool, thanks ClarkAddison!

I had the most fun checking to see who was sitting in the ADA sections. Wonder why they even bothered putting automatic doors in the 1st/3rd base lounges?

Sometimes research is very distasteful.

The Murray's s/w is very inconsistent. Sometimes the staff understand that you don't want it sitting in its own puddle of juice. Sometimes the steak is cut and cooked just right. When those things happen, it's delicious.

My kid really likes it, so we've probably bought it 6-8 times. Comes out right about half the time. Not good enough odds for me, so I'd rather he develop a taste for those Holiday brats! (Or maybe just the ribs in CF, which are a much better deal.)

Well --- whoever put that name on that sandwich is damn lucky Marie Murray is no longer available.

Rick~
You should have no trouble going to the Gophers game and getting 3 from one of the scalpers for the same/better price then you are seeing online (especially with no fees included).

Just don't try buying tickets before the game from the box office, the lins were 100 people long on Saturday. Also half way through the first quarter, scalpers were still asking face value for tickets.

You can talk the scalpers down. Their inventory is way higher than the demand right now.

I have never been to TCF Bank Stadium so my friend and I are planning on going for the first time on October 13, which is homecoming.

We are hoping to get some tickets off the street before the game. Are there a lot of scalpers around TCF Bank Stadium? If so, where are they located? Will homecoming affect prices much?

It has taken me four seasons to get to TCF Bank Stadium for the first time but I am looking forward to it!

I think you can go online and the tickets are $10 for the rodent football game vs powerhouse Western Michigan. Something under FB10 or something. Looks like the boyz won't hit 100 losses this year. Magic #4 with 21 games left.

Mike~
You should have no trouble finding scalpers in the area near the open end of TCF. They are all over Oak Street, University, and 4th before games.

Speaking of the field - took my 9 year old daughter to TF tonight. She asked what the 2 bumps behind the pitchers mound were. I couldn't
answer her. There were 2 spots in the grass behind the mound and were rectangle shaped.

Hose connection covers.

There used to be no grass on them. I don't know how you'd grow grass on a steel plate unless they have patches of Field Turf covering them. Anyone have the answer?

As WE ALL suspected, Walters reported yesterday that the Vikes might use some features found at LOS in Indianapolis. He mentioned that Vikes brass like their roof, but that they want a fully sliding "window" which LOS does not have.

Tix to the game tonight as low as 78 CENTS!

2 tix in Skyline - including fees:

Stub: $11.83
Twins: $36.50

Decisions, decisions.

Work some scalper for $5.00 a ticket! What are they going to do say no?

Question for everyone:

Are there any good unofficial candy/snack vendors set up outside Target Field? I always used to buy peanuts and licorice from a guy at the base of the Dome parking lot stairs, but I haven't seen him or anyone around Target Field in my visits there. But maybe I am approaching the stadium differently.

Any thoughts? I've gotten worse about buying snacks in advance, but I still hate paying ballpark prices, and plaza prices are pretty much the same, no?

There's a guy at the Fort Snelling light rail station who sells various snacks and bottled water on game days.

Rick~
One other option if you're still thinking about the Gophers game. The U is selling tickets for $25 that include a hot dog and pop. Not a great deal, but figured I'd put it out there if you were still pondering your options.

There is a Holiday gas station about 2 blocks north of the light rail station at the park. Great dogs and brats and all the crap you need to bring on in!

2013 Twins tentative schedule released. Click my, as I have it starting with April 1. Twins opening season at home against Detroit.

Twins host Interleague: Mets (April) Marlins (April) Brewers (May) Phillies (June)

Forgot the Stros in August...

Never mind, I remember now why I left the Astros off IL...

The Twins got the shaft again with their 2013 schedule...

15 home games in April? Only 9 home games in July, with just one weekend series at home? I do like having a true Monday "Opening Day" at home on April 1. Could be 75 degrees or could be 35 degrees, will be interesting nonetheless. 4th of July home game against the Yankees is nice!

MLB found a way to screw up the Brewers-Twins home and home. What was once one of the most-anticipated series' of the year, is now just a mid-week home and home series in late May. I would much rather have seen them go to one 4-game Thursday-Sunday series and alternate sites each year rather than split 2-2 during mid-week. The fans are not going to travel for those games like they did when they were on weekends.

Post Labor Day, when attendance declines, the Twins are home 3 of 4 weekends in September. They can't be too happy with that.

I do like the fact they did a better job distributing the divisional games more evenly across the entire 6 months.

The Twins will visit Nationals Park, Turner Field and Marlins Park for the first time in 2012 if anyone is looking to check out those cities.

They did visit Atlanta in March 2011 for a pair of exhibition games but this will be their first-ever trip to Atlanta since October 1991.

Interesting sequence for Brewers series - Mon/Tue May 27/28 AT Milwaukee, Wed/Thur 28/29 Home. Could make for a fun roadtrip - weekend @ Detroit, Mon/Tue in Milwaukee and then home to catch one or two more games.

Only 9 home games in July with 4 to start, 3 in the middle and 2 at the end (leading into another 4 to start Aug).

Ha! You beat me to the punch Mike. I agree the Milwaukee series will probably not be as heavily travelled. Even with the 1st game on Memorial Day the kiddies are still in school so "need" to be back on Tuesday. I was hoping for a weekend as I have not travelled to Miller in a few seasons.

Was also hoping for some NL opponents closer to home (Cubs, Reds, etc) but nothing there either.

Also no weekend series in Kansas City. Two are Mon-Wed and the other is Tue-Thur. Too bad.

Mgmt can't be real happy with that schedule. Won't see anywhere near 3 mil fans. You need 2 weekend dates each month. One in July? LOL! And another back loaded Sept. Look for attendance to continue to plumet next year. Lots of 20,000 or under. Nice thing is you can buy a cheap seat and sit anywhere like the old days!

Rick if you google $10 Gopher tickets you will come up with a post from Micheal Rand from the tribune story of last friday called TFD. There was a link to the ticket site there. It just shows New Hampshire but I would check back tommorow of friday for the Western Michigan game. Not sure if its will call or if there are any fees. Good luck!

Rick I think you can get the $25 dog and coke deal now still. I would find it hard to believe they will draw a ton for Western Michigan. But I could be wrong. Just keep checking the web site in the next couple days. For last week they mentioned the offer $10 seats ended at 5pm friday.

Bought LC tix of SH for the Twins tonight: $12 each, plus fees, $35 total for 2. Yeah, it's midweek September to watch the crappy Royals play the crappier Twins, but that's still a good deal, imo. (FYI: I saw a pair of Champions Club seats for $110 each on SH. That's about as cheap as those get.)

One advantage of having a last place team is you can affordably sit in the "Beverly Hills seats" instead of your usual "San Fernando Valley seats". I got great seats in the LC right behind home plate for a late September mid-week game last year. Those seats would have been cost-prohibitive for me if the Twins had been a contender.

Pack your long johns tonight! Gonna be 35 degrees cooler than last night! Might not hit 20,000 tonight!

Anybody here bought Champions Club tickets before? What kind of deal did you get? I'm thinking I will eventually bite around $110 per ticket.

So what happened to all of the independent vendors from outside the Dome? All retired? Hiding? Cracked down by Twins and warehouse district business owners?

They have 4 off days in April as well which will help all of those pitchers get some rest from the "cold" weather. I am sure there will be one or two pitchers who get sore from the cold and will need that rest...its the Twins way afterall!! To rest and protect! Where pitchers are pulled after 100 pitches, that's assuming they can they can make it that far in the first place.

In June, they have every single Monday off so they can't use the "we need a day off" excuse...

On another note, why do season ticket holders even bother selling their tickets for under $5.00? Donate them to tickets for tots...at least you can claim the full value on your taxes as a charitable contribution and one or two lucky kids get to go to a game. It could be an experience of a lifetime for some of those kids.

I have donated 10 games to tix for tots this year because the re-sell values were simply not worth it in my mind. 2013 is not going to be any better, probably worse for re-selling.

Conspiracy theorists would suggest that it's the TWINS who are selling those tickets for nearly nothing on Stubhub. Filling the seats does at least help sell concessions.

I'm not asserting anything here, I'm just sayin'...

Mike, there have been times I thought of doing Tix for Tots and found out I was too late; I think you need 48 hours in advance (I haven't done it since last season). But that is plenty of time to know these weeknight September games vs KC aren't worth selling. My guess on the people who sell for 5 or less on SH is that some are regular STHs who don't know about the charity option,and can't find anyone they know who wants them, but I bet a bunch of those tickets are broker-owned, maybe from out-of-town. Not only does it add up to some revenue rather than none, with little labor expended, but if they pay taxes on their profits, this gives them documentation of losses to offset profits. I assume that's more valuable than a personal charitable contribution on Schedule C, or at least after the maximum deductible amount. I have donated a lot of tickets, and the deduction limits are getting more restrictive.