let me tell you something about this groundbreaking it was one of the best thing ever kent hrbek is the man he is the all time great. ps 2010 with alot of love

The only renderings of the current, and I assume, final design were on the video screen and a banner in back of the podium. There was a tent with posters of the design from back in April. I didn't see any model, either. The poster and programs handed out also contained the old rendering. The design shown on the podium appeared to be pretty close to what is being displayed at the Twins state fair booth. There was a rather hostile woman booing the proceedings who I engaged in "conversation". Let's just say booing Harmon Killebrew is beyond the pale for this baseball fan! She was among three people who hung signs from the 7th street bridge. I couldn't believe how angry she was. You would've thought they were groundbreaking for a nuclear power plant. But it was a great day for the groundbreaking, and you're right, Hrbek was the highlight.

How on earth did Ron Davis get a mention on such a great day? His name is never used in a sentence without expletives.

yeah, it was too bad there were no updated renderings or anything. The lady said the model is still under construction, and will be available for viewing when it's done, sometime within the next month.

I was disappointed to only see the one rendering at the groundbreaking. An animated video was also played of what the concourses will look like. I'm hoping the Twins post this stuff on their site soon.

I spoke with one of the Twins people there and asked about the model. He claimed it was to large and delicate to move.

He did say that eventually the model will be on display on the 46th floor (I think) of the Multifoods tower. Also said that it will most likely be at next years Twinsfest.

I watched the video as well and agree that the concourse footage looks like stock with that large, bold label on it. Hahah. (They must know that we would disect every little part on this website).

One thing I did see in the images of the park that SEEM to be the new drawings...the outfield lights moved back off the scoreboard and onto a large stanbdard above the left-field seats. This may be a mix of old/new drawings, so again we'll prob just have to wait for them to publicize the new drawings all together....but since its come up before, just though I'd mention it.

Whos getting excited!? Hey Rick...do you know, are they going to be doing construction during the winter at all or or is this a fall/spring/summer kinda thing??

Hopefully they'll work year-round on that model, too. It'd be nice to see something palpable before the stadium opens for cripes sakes! I'm so disappointed there aren't any decent representations of the final product by now. Frickin' ridiculous, I think!

Good to see Land Partners have made a settlement offer of $33 million. Are they freakin' kidding me? Does this mean they think that through an appeal that they wouldn't actually get $33 million?

If the land owners think the land is worth more money - then why dont they start paying taxes on what they think it is worth?

What did it smell like at the groundbreaking? Was there any traces of the garbage burner? Thats pretty much the only thing that worries me about our new ballpark.

I agree, I've been to the site a few times in the last year and I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary. Is there going to be any gates on the HERC side of the ballpark, or just the Target Center/Light Rail/other sides?

Did anyone happen to see Dave St. Peter on Mark Rosen's show Sunday night? I was just wondering what he had to say or if it was the same old "BS" we have been hearing all along. Curious if anyone watched or heard anything "new" from the Twins President.

I am just amazed how long it is taking to release the "final renderings" and "models". The way it has been going, I suppose we will have to wait until Twinsfest 2008 in January...

No nothing new was shown. It was the same schematic renderings from back in April, which I think is annoying. It's like they're hiding some big secret. The stadium is under construction, show us what it's going to look like. St. Peter said basically that the park will resemble what was revealed back in the Spring, kasota stone exterior, etc., but we know that there's been big changes to parts of the design, particularly the outfield seating. Anyway, nothing new, same ole same ole from the Twins.

It was fun watching the ceremony from my office (I'm on the 45th floor of Multifoods), despite still being at work. One thing I noticed, and not sure if it's been discussed yet, was the shadows. It seems that pitchers will be pitching into the shadows during twilight games, making it tough for hitters. After being at ground level, were you able to pick up on how they might come into play?

I don't understand why the Twins refuse to show the final renderings of the new park. If they are driving piles, the design has to be finalized, right? Perhaps someone with knowldge can enlighten me?

From the August ballpark authority meeting minutes:
"Mr. Hunter reported that the new ballpark design is at the Phased GMP stage and is being reviewed by Mortensen, HOK, the Twins, Hennepin County, and the Ballpark Authority. All parties are reviewing the design and preparing a cost estimate. These items should be before the Ballpark Authority Board in October. Chair Cramer requested that the MBA be briefed prior to October."

phased GMP stage? Looks like we'll see a more conclusive design come October.

"GMP" stands for "Guaranteed Maximum Price" in construction parlance. Any idea how the budget is holding up? and are the collections for the sales tax meeting expectations? (with the economic slow down and all)

Looks like the pedestrian bridge is still in....they are starting the foundation this week!

how is the traffic going to go in to downtown from first avenue or the highway

Any new updates from anyone? Any new pictures of any renderings/models? Just curious as it has been quite quiet over the last couple of weeks. I see Hennepin County made an offer $19.3 million for the value of the land. Sure seems like this battle could be going on for a long time after all appeals and rulings are said and done with.

No, have to wait 'til October. Watch the progress on the web cam. Maybe you can start a fund for the former landowners, they sound like a great group of people, at least a couple of reporters at the Star Trib. keep trying to tell us that. How sad that they feel they're "whipping boys". I wouldn't use "boys", more like old, entitled opportunists, but whatever. Yea Aron, this motley crew you represent are certainly the "whipping boys", boo-hoo. Sorry that sale to Hines was signed and everything, whoops. Your pr hack isn't doing his job if he still can't sway public opinion even after getting his reporter friends to write favorable, cushy stories about the people he represents. The general public doesn't care anyway. So sit back and watch the "battle" there Luke, enjoy. I'll be watching the park rise out of the ground....

Attached is a pic of new Yankee Stadium. They are putting up the steel that will connect to the facade.

wow the pohlad family is taking over the ford centre building.

From the Pioneer Press:

"Plans are for the Twins' new ballpark, scheduled to open in 2009, to feature Kentucky bluegrass, which will be grown on a sod farm starting next summer."

I saw that too...whats with the 2009 thing?

The question isn't whether that bridge will be built, it's the main connection from sixth st. to the ballpark. The pile driving may not have started earlier this week, but it's supposed to begin soon. The budget comes into play on other connections, from 7th, for instance. So there will a connection, that's a given. The question is how many other pedestrian links to the park there will be and how many amenities they will have. The confident talk of the lawyers representing their clients is rather amusing given the job they did before the condemnation panel. I think Mr. Rosen thinks he can charm a jury. We'll see....but they aren't getting anyway near what they tried to extort from this process. There was a ruling, it came in at under 24 million. They're clearly having a difficult time dealing with their bungling with all the finger pointing they're doing at the county. It wasn't the county's fault the legislation contained the acquisition and infrastructure cap. That the bill passed the legislature in the first place was a miracle even with that cap the county had to swallow. Getting that bill through the legislative committees given this issue's contentious history was incredibly difficult.

I believe they are doing the bridge...I drove by the site a couple days ago and they have the stick markings in the ground for the foundation. In addition, the sign in the parking ramp elevator, which is from the ballpark authority, says they will be start working on the pedestrian bridge this week. If you think about it...it would be pretty difficult for them to have the ballpark without the bridge. A majority of the fans will arrive from downtown. They also need to have a bridge to connect the light rail extension to downtown. Without the pedestrian bridge fans and light rail riders will not have easy access to downtown.

Hey everyone, the new BNSF track has been laid in the last two days. Saw on the webcam that they were working on Monday and Tuesday. Good news is it'll be done in a short amount of time and they can get started on the sections where the current track is located.

We need updates

We need updates

The first tower crane is going to go up this week! You can already see the base for it on the first base side!

Does anyone have ability to do a cross section comparison with the metrodome? I would like to see how high the seats are in comparison, especially in the upper deck as those seats seem very high to me.

Hey Rick.

Was checking out a website and saw they were using your photos on the new stadium...(see link)

You should be getting credit for 'em, haha.

Keep up the good work

Hey does anyone know...?

Is there any update on our flag-pole from the old Met!?! are they gonna bring it over??

Update from the Ballpark Authority (see link)

Hey guys,

FYI, for anyone who attended the groundbreaking ceremony last month and signed the white pile...that pile was driven into the ground today to commemorate! I believe it was on FOX 9 news, but am not 100% certain.

I signed the 2 piles that were available at the ground breaking. And yes, FOX 9 News did indeed do a story on it.