Rick, you are the REAL media...screw the Twins front office!

Thank you!

i agree!!

with kevin that is

WHY AREN'T REAL MEDIA MEMBERS ON THIS TOUR?

I'm sick of the Twins. Lame-ass non changes to the uniforms, excluding the biggest ballpark media outlet we have, and continued leaks of interior finishes. TERRIBLE.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but I bet we could see pictures of every inch of Target Field, and I guarantee you that each and everyone of us will have a "aw" experience the first time we are there on opening day.

I have been to the park twice now. I went to the safety appreciation lunch that was held on the main concourse back in February I think, and I was also there back in June. Both times I have been awed. They are no longer allowing project team members to bring others into the park. Now, if you want to bring someone to the park that is not on the project team, a request has to be run through Mortenson and then up the ladder to the Twins. I was talking with the PM in our office that is managing our scope of work for TF and this is what was lain down in one of the weekly progress meetings recently. So, no more site visits for me until opening day. I was disappointed because I really wanted to share some pics with all of you.

thanks for the pic Rick. Matter of fact, I didn't even know they had started seat installation on the club level until your pic. You can't really see it on either webcam.

trosy29-
You are spot on! The Twins could have been releasing these images with much fanfare and all it would do is make us want to see it in person EVEN MORE! If I were to tell you about the Grand Canyon, would you want to go there? Well, what if I showed you a few pictures of the Grand Canyon...I'll bet you'd want to visit even more so after seeing a few pictures. The Twins marketing dept seems to be filled with incompetence.

Thank you Rick, Thank you Ninja, Thank you Maz for your photojournalistic bravery!

an article in the strib about the "turf war" that was being discussed on the last thread

Oh COME ON PEOPLE WHAT DO YOU WANT!!!!!!! You wanted more pictures, they're giving them, how much is enough? We've had four albums released by the Twins this month plus other assorted pictures and articles they've put out the last few weeks. Not to mention the two slide shows and article the BPA release this month. Maybe they know how industrious we've been, and know that we'll find these hidden album?,

Allowing them to control what is seen to the general population in order to BUILD anticipation for next year. Personally for me, (with the exception of this week and the sod), while still extremely excited for next year the excitement in the construction of it is diminishing as the thing gets done, and only the less visible things are being worked on.

I've seen some pretty cool shots in the traditional media recently, and at least they are starting to cover it more and more as we approach opening day next year.

We could be the Mets, who didn't even have a proper web cam throughout construction. In comparison to recent MLB projects, the Twins have actually been pretty open.

Thanks for the new thread, Rick. I hope we can now put an end to the stupid gap and uniform talk.

FYI - new gates matching the ones on the plaza have been installed at the two 5th Street entrances.

Expectorate,

typically when you put something in quotes "", that means that you directly quoted someone, which you completely failed at, my post is more about the silly excuses that the twins pawn off as 'design principles' rather than distinguishing between high priced ticket payers and lower priced ticket payers, although IN GENERAL I believe what I insunuated to be true,

I have copied your post right here, and my post below it, when you find where you directly quoted me from, please let me know

EXPECTORATE:

Take it easy - stating that everyone in the club section (who forked over $1000-$2000 per seat, PLUS the per-game ticket price) is "not a true fan," who "doesn't know anything about our team" seems like a bit of a risk. But, it's your opinion. What do you think jfh?

ME:

these "design principles" the twins supposedly used inside the park are just a way to say "no we didn't seperate the rif raf from our richie riches by an enormous gulf in the upper deck, that was the architechts, for reasons to simulate mn's natural rock, it's not to keep our true (albeit poor) beer drinking fans away from the suits of these people who probably know little about our team but will pay us a lot of money to tell their golf buddies they were at the game"

I'm sorry but intentionally breaking off an upper deck cannot be faked as a "design principle to represent mn's rock"

it's looks absolutely nothing like rock you'd see in nature, (flat, 90 degree angles, squares) please Twins, don't patronize me with these silly explanations that were made up well after the fact

However in my post I hypothetically quoted twins management, so in this case I completely failed at quoting someone as well

yea i gotta say the twins have been great with the updates and pics of late. that being said, the author of this blog deserves access equal to that of any of the local newsies. he has been providing us this service out of pure love for the team and giving fans updates we couldn't get anywhere else.

Let's put this whole gap-design-principles-sequestering-cheap-seats conversation to bed. I'm surprised that people are complaining this much about something that is going to be this great. As has been pointed out, it's not like the gap in GABP or anything. Let's just all remember that we're going to be seeing this in the near future:

theloniousjoe is totally right, can't wait

...and not only will we be seeing it, but we'll be seeing it with our own eyes, from that vantage point, with several uniformed men playing a ball-game of sorts on that grassy area down there. Kwitcherbeliakin!

OK, I'll try again:

Take it easy - insinuating that people in the club section (who forked over $1000-$2000 per seat PLUS the per-game ticket price) are not "true" "fans" who "probably know little about our team" seems like a bit of a risk.

Better?

Like I said - you're entitled to your opinion. IN GENERAL, I believe your opinion to be inaccurate.

Camden,
I don't think people (me in particular) are chastising the Twins because of their VERY RECENT generosity with pictures, I welcome it and wish it would have started months ago. I think we're still chastising them because here it took this long and guess what, the sky hasn't fallen on top of them because they've released pictures.

The ire was stirred again this morning as "REAL" media was given a tour while people such as Rick who have been documenting this project from day one gets shut out. I'm sure you agree that Rick's coverage of this project is second to none, otherwise you wouldn't be here as often as you are. Those of us who have participated with blogs such as this one, Greet Machine, etc take exception to the snotty attitude the Twins have given to us after all the begging they did for us to help them get legislation passed. Are we a little bitter, yeah. Perhaps you weren't directly involved with working hard to get the legislation passed so you don't feel the Twins owe you anything, that's your perrogative. But this is a ballpark being constructed with mostly taxpayer dollars, this isn't area 51 - their secrecy up to this point has been a disservice to those of us who took time to work on their behalf to make this dream a reality.

If the Twins continue this type of recent attitude of releasing pictures, I'll be over it right now....And I hope they continue releasing images at this pace until April 2010.

I think the gap is a non-issue. People have cited GABP in Cincy. Parks in Detroit and Philly also have much bigger, uglier gaps. I have nit-picked this ballpark to death and this element hasn't even been on my radar screen.

Expectorate-
First of all, what's with the name? I have this uncomfortable feeling in my spelling appendix when I look at it like it's missing an "n" somewhere near the end.
But more importantly, to whom are you talking? Whose opinion do you believe to be inaccurate? If you're addressing me, to be sure, I don't think you know what my opinion is. I've never said anything about who is or isn't a true fan, or whether I believed there was any correlation to what they paid for their ticket prices. I do believe that we should all just calm down about this whole "sequestering" and "moats" between seating areas thing.
I just want people to stop focusing on things they think are "bad" about the park when the vast majority of us haven't even stepped foot in it yet. We should all be so lucky to be on the verge of watching the Twins play an outdoor baseball game in Minnesota. We should be thankful even if GAPB was going to be surgically removed from the earth of SW Ohio and plopped down next to the HERC, but it isn't. Instead, we're all going to get a gift (from ourselves) of the best new ballpark in all of baseball. So all I'm saying is - if you're complaining, chances are you haven't lived through the past 27 years of being a die-hard Twins fan. Because on a beautiful 75-degree Sunday afternoon in July with big puffy white clouds in the sky, there isn't anything worse than watching Nick Blackburn puke all over his own shoes and give up 8 runs in 2.1 innings...IN THE DOME. But that's something I'd be, err, "happy" to see sitting in TF.

theloniousjoe,

I wans't talking to you, I was talking to dirwin7. Should have clarified.

No worries Expectorate,
that last ramble wasn't so much to you, as it was to people who are complaining.

Fares for Northstar train line have been set. See link. $7.00 weekdays and $5.25 weekends (each way) to ride entire route seems very reasonable to me. They really need to work with the Twins to schedule trains around ballgames. This seems like a no-brainer to me.

I just want people to stop complaining. WE'RE GETTING OUTDOOR BASEBALL PEOPLE! REJOICE! HOORAY! WE NOW HAVE A COMPLETELY ORGANIC-BASED GREEN FIELD SITTING IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS! WOOHOO!

Rick,

Just wondering if we could get a higher RES copy of that photo? I'd love to have it as my desktop background.

Thanks!

It appears that they are taking a new approach to seat installation on the Legend Club Level. It looks like they are installing all of the supports first and then going back to put the backs and the seats in. They are also moving pretty damn quick. Maybe the backs and seats haven't arrived yet as they are different from the standard seats.

theloniousjoe,
I agree with you 99%. I too would rather sit outside on a beautiful 75 degree day next to a garbage dump instead of being inside the Dome. You had me with you all the way until you said you would be okay with seeing Blackburn's meltdowns at TF - I know you're beign sarcastic :-). Those meltdowns have to stop or his stay in the majors will be brief. Inside or outside, the product on the field will determine whether or not fans attend games after the 1-2 year honeymoon period is over.

Right now all we should complain about is if billy smith is gonna do anything about pitching, So far he signed, Gibson, Harden. The Twins are looking at Brad Penny, just released by the Red Sox, along with many others, including Detroit and Chicago, so it could be interesting.

Hopefully it all plays out well! Thoughts?

I ment to first say, all these bad things about the park are very minor so..(then last post)

Yes. I was being entirely sarcastic :-). But only about the Blackburn part. I definitely don't want to see that kind of embarrassing crap continue, and it sure would be nice to see our boys get to October...and not get swept out of it...
But you got me on the most important part. Outdoor baseball is 100% better than dome baseball in any and every circumstance. Cold, wet April? Bring it on. Scorching summer heat and humidity? I'll take it. Bundled up for October baseball? You better believe it.
The main difference for me is going to be that after watching a Blackburn meltdown at the dome on a beautiful 75 degree, etc, etc, I feel like I wasted my day. Whereas after having to watch something like that at TF, I'll just be pissed about the loss, but at least I'll have gotten to enjoy the nice day outdoors.

And as for fans that aren't going to stick around after the ballpark honeymoon is over, good riddance to them. More (and hopefully cheaper) seats to choose from and more true fans left over, and they weren't there in the late 90's anyway. As dark as those days were, if you don't know that "DJ" once actually played for the twins, or at least vaguely know who Marty Cordova and Denny Hocking were, then you're not a real Twins fan in my book. (I'll give a pass to those who are too young to remember). Contrary to what a lot of people seem to act like, the Twins didn't come to Minnesota in 2002. (See name link).

For sure joe! Twins and wild are two teams i never give up on ever! so ill be there past the "honeymoon stage"

RE: The Sooj
Where are you seeing we signed Harden? I'm seeing we got Rauch.

my bad it said ESPN reported they might have! sorry about that i m missed the might haha

Thanks! That is an awesome photo!

Yeah just picked up Rauch. There is conflicting reports on Harden, some saying it was the Twins that claimed him off waivers, others saying (more realistically) that it was a National League team that claimed him.

Forgot to mention for those that haven't heard, Twins also picked up Mahay.

the sooj likes to post things

...twice

I sure do like to post

...twice haha i just always seem to think of stuff after i post

Picked up Jon Rauch from D-backs...article on link

Sounds like we got Harden too as long as they work out a deal...article on link...

Picked up Ron Mayah as well, and going after Brad Penny...

I can't believe this...they might pick up 4 pitchers in a three day period. Now, they need to sign some of these guys for next season.

Rick,
Thank you for that high res image from the parking ramp angle. There have been a lot of great images posted, but i think that one is tops (so far). not only does it give a great view of the interior of the park but it gives the best example of space and depth yet. It's hard to really get a sense of the park when the majority of the images you see are from webcams or when people arent really working. In this image you can tell it is a far more intimate layout by simply looking at the workers along the first base line upper deck or in the press box and finally relate their size to the size of everything else. Not to mention the lighting and angle gives you a good look into those mid level sections we don't see well from the webcams and from plaza or field level images.

Again, great work!

In case people missed this from the previous thread.

This is from Charley Walters

One deck underneath the "Harmon Killebrew 573 Club" eatery at the Twins' Target Field next year will be a "Hrbek's" pub. The specialty offering?

"Beer," the former Twins first baseman said.

Hopefully of the local variety!!!

Ok, I'm going to be incredibly picky here, but I'm not digging the cutouts around first and third. They're too square looking for my taste (just discovered that if I use Explorer's zoom to 200% on the webcam page I can really see some detail!). I'd rather see half-circle cutouts. Anybody agree or disagree?

Faber,
I noticed the same thing on Rick's latest (and quite fantastic) shot of the park this morning. I have to agree with you on that point. The pseudo-square cutouts are a little weird, and I too would prefer the quarter-circle cutouts. However, quite a long time ago, I decided I was going to reserve judgement on details like this until the whole thing is done. Sometimes when you see design elements like this in the making, they look a little strange, but when you see them in context, big picture complete and everything, it all seems to fit.
I don't think it will look that bad when all is said and done, and if it does, that's one of those things that's quite easily fixable. It's only turf after all, not concrete and steel.

Nice photo Rick. As has been discussed here already, the grass makes the seats look a different shade of green. The shade reminds me of Wrigley Field. Which I like very much. I'll be there for tomorrows Cubs- Mets game. Can't wait.

I think you guys are whining about details that are not even done yet. I would advise withholding your judgment of such petty things as infield grass cutouts until we have been informed that the field is done. They just laid the sod last night. Do you seriously think you are looking at the finished product the next afternoon???

I was just looking at pictures of Wrigley Field. Their cut outs at 1st and 3rd are almost identical to those we see now at TF. I've never heard anybody complain about those at Wrigley. And judging by this link, the style goes back awhile.

That's exactly what I said badjuggler.

This is a better link

Here's a link to Ebbets Field. Infield cuts very similiar.

Hey Rick,
would it be possible to get a high-res copy of this image?

It was from the 8/21/09 article "Plaza Trees." I just love this photography - it incorporates the existing downtown into a shot of the park like I don't feel like we've seen much before. And it looks so Bostonesque with the back of the scoreboard towering over a winding street, old historic buildings, streetcars and all.

Even Met Stadium. See link

Wow - look at those paths from the dugout to home plate at the Met - looks like a couple of runways!

i am just about to head into the dome to see tonight's game. it's rough on a night like tonight...

we are sooooo close

The Twins uniforms suck.

ch. 5 said something about the sod install isn't complete and that the twins say it will take a couple of more nights. i can't see where else there is to lay sod. maybe they're referring to tightening things up on the infield.

KSTP-TV reported on the 6:30 newscast tonight that not all of the grass was installed. There's about 1500 sf.(?) that will still be put in tonight. (no link at their site)

Great shot Rick!

Agree that you should be included in the media tours. Crazy that the Twins haven't seen the light yet.

The son and I took some shots from the same spot Monday night. Not very good at all and we missed the the first roll of turf, but it was a blast going down there...

dirwin7 - regarding the comment a LC member is is "not a true fan," who "doesn't know anything about our team", I thought it was just ignorant.

I'm sure there is a significant number of sales of LC seats to businesses and that many seats will end up being used by casual fans or people with a passing interest. Probably a few bought by ticket brokers.

But there are a number of long-time, die hard fans that wanted to make sure they had great seats at TF. Unless you had an incredibly low priority number, buying LC memberships was the only way to do it.

I would argue that the vast majority of INDIVIDUALS that bought in to LC seats are very much true fans and follow the team closely. I spent $4000 for the right to buy two seats every year. That's money I'll probably never see again. I think that shows I'm either crazy or a dedicated fan. My wife says the former, I say the latter.

For some, maybe $2000/seat was pocket change. For me, it was a significant amount that I had to think long and hard about. To say that I can't be a true fan because my seats are in the Legends Club is so far off base it isn't funny.

So Twins post plans for final game at the dome. I just wish Chuck Knoblauch would be there. I mean he is on the all metrodome team. Click name for link.

Don't forget to bring your hotdogs.