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New Ballpark Construction Views #2

May 9, 2008 11:50 PM

In case you missed the tiny link in comments from yesterday's entry, Mo led us to another great source for ballpark construction photos.

Also, the Ballpark Authority offered to loan me a hard hat the next time I get a chance to tour the site. Problem solved, so bring on the leads! (Thanks, DK.)

Here are some more construction photos from my extended walking tour around the perimeter of the construction site yesterday. Let's start with the big sign:

Next, on to the plaza.

A mass of rebar and complicated cable runs ready for a pour.

Here's where the plaza empties out to Sixth Street.

This is the view from where the plaza will connect to the walkway on the west side of Target Center. This presumably aids traffic flow back to the A ramp, and perhaps to the skyway connection (though the doors to the skyway right there are typically exit only).

Viewed from up Sixth Street (that's Target Center on the left), you can get an idea of how the connection is currently planned. As it stands now, the plaza will extend to that support pillar, from which a stairway will empty to the sidewalk below. If they get their wish, additional support structures will provide a walkway along Target Center which will gradually (without stairs) meet the sidewalk somewhere up near First Avenue.

Looking at those images, it seems like it might make sense to create a connection directly to the skyway from the plaza itself just on the other side of Second Avenue. A staircase up to that long skyway would seem to be a convenient thing, though maybe it would introduce some security concerns.

At this point, I'm unclear on exactly how people will get back to the skyway unless they exit the ballpark/plaza area completely and use one of the parking ramp entrances. I suppose that creating skyway connections is an enormously complex thing from a permitting standpoint.

Now on to the field area...

This appears to be the floor to the home dugout!

Just up the foul line, it looks like the base of the wall in foul territory on the right side.

Over in left...

A collection of support pillars for the left field pavilion.

Tomorrow the finale, with some shots over by the railroad tracks. Thanks for stopping by today!

Comments

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I have noticed they are using the TC logo quite a bit in the new stadium. I bet they will bring it back for the new uniforms in 2010.

Posted on May 10, 2008 at 08:39 AM by MOJO 1

All I can say is they better bring the TC logo back fully, I hate the M logo.

Posted on May 10, 2008 at 09:33 AM by bmd 2

i never thought i'd say this, but i hope they bring back the light blue away unis.

Posted on May 10, 2008 at 11:45 AM by yeahklye 3

sweet away uniforms!

Posted on May 10, 2008 at 11:48 AM by yeahklye 4

At Twinsfest, I spoke with someone who was manning the booth with the model. This person indicated there is a plan to put a staircase from the plaza side up to the skyway - and that it would be above or near the entry into the 'B' ramp from 394.

Posted on May 10, 2008 at 11:48 AM by barryS 5

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Here are 50 images chosen randomly from the 1869 found on this site. Click the image to be taken to the original post. A new list is created every 10 minutes.

Integrating the administration building was really a great idea. Actually, there will be more things inside than just offices, but that will probably be some sweet space.

Click to enlarge greatly

A little higher angle shows how the two stations are close to one another but distinctly separate. The oval, glass-enclosed area is the entrance from the Northstar platform below into the ballpark. The LRT platform is comparable to the other stations along that route.

View Level

Artist at work

The connection from the corner of Seventh Street and Second Avenue. You can now see where the little grassy area and franchise history board will be (the triangular area in the foreground).

Do you think somebody's already cooking hot dogs out there?

Dan Kenney provided this alternate shot of a walkway behind the view level

These are the footings for the staircase which will connect the plaza to the skyway.

This is a good overview of the spot where the Northstar (bottom) and LRT (top) will intersect.

I could gaze at this streetscape all day. It isn't perfect, but as a model for Minneapolis, I love it. (Except the Biff, of course. Click to enlarge.)

Some of Minneapolis' finest checking out the construction through a spot where a knothole will be one day.

If you want, you can ask those folks how the game is going -- and even get a little bit of info from the big screen (Grandstand)

The windows have started going in.

Concept drawing of Coomer gate (click to enlarge)

It looks like the Target-themed signage has spilled out to the surrounding area (this was taken from the entryway to the B ramp from Third -- the 394 entrance ramp tunnel)