thanks rick! great stuff.

#23 - perhaps this one has already been mentioned. no more centerplate food service.

#24 - no more church group volunteer concessionaires who stare at your photo ID for 60 seconds trying to determine in their own mind (while giving you a stupid guilty look) if you are really old enough to be buying that beer you just ordered. no lady i am just a 19 year with a fake id who just happens to have the onset of graying hair. give me a break! now give me my damn beer and dome dog thank you very much!

also - in relation to rick's post regarding the "first lighting" of tcf bank stadium (the new home of gopher football) here is a link to a video segment FOX 9 (KMSP) ran about it during last night's newscast. good stuff!

what's wrong with a 3B dugout? I've always considered a 1B dugout for the home team an admission of "we're generally going to hit into outs at 1st base, and we're lazy, so let's have a short trot back to the bench."

I like the huge neon budweiser sign on the model....I wonder if that's a guarantee fixture at the new stadium, not a huge fan of the beer, but it looks cool

I always thought Miller Lite was a big sponsor. So does that mean that Budweiser is going to be the main beer vendor now? Also, I still want to see a giant neon "TC" logo sign put up in centerfield. I'm not a fan of the "shaking hands" logo at all. I think its ugly.

So, will the "MN Shaking Hands" neon sign be in the park? I hope so...

another thing that concerns me is this. If you are sitting in the left/center field stands, you wont see any of the scoreboard, or hardly any of the out of town scoreboard. You will lose out on a lot of the experience IMO.

Vikeologist,

I think you're over-thinking things a bit. The "experience" is outdoor baseball, not staring at videoboards/scoreboards.

cool photos of the lighting at TCF -- the only thing I don't like about the stadium is that the entire thing seems very classy with the brick and carved lettering, and then you have that cheeesy plasticky-looking TCF signage directly above the hi-def.

I understand that the experience is outdoor baseball, but part of it is having cool looking new technology things. I mean if you are watching the game from those areas, and you wanted to see an instant replay, you cant. If you want to see a guys batting average, you cant. if you want to see who is warming up in the bullpen, you cant. All those little things that I like to see when im at a game, you cant see from those areas because there is no screen telling you that. What good is a the 4th largest scoreboard in baseball, if half the fans can't even see it?

#25 I will not miss watching the curtain in Right Field slowly change from white to brown and knowing that I am breathing in that stuff. Thank God for FRESH AIR!

Camden,

It will be forever b4 i can choose i can assume around late july at the soonest...but this is still a fun lil tool to mess with very similaer to the 3d seating chart

any chance they put up a 3rd webcam, or even move the 2nd webcam to behind homeplate?

Vikeologist-

Are you sure there won't be other places to see batting averages and stuff like that. Will the ribbon or other small video displays be showing that information?

I'm with Jimbo, even if you can't see that stuff from center field, to me it's just one small price to pay for outdoor baseball. Look at it this way, Wrigley Field or Fenway Park don't need all that stuff and the fans love the experience anyway and I'm sure you'll feel the same when you take in your first game. Give it a chance.

Every ballpark has one main scoreboard. Every ballpark has tons of seats with a poor view of it (or none at all). That is part of your decision when buying a ticket. If you can't watch a game without seeing Kiss Cam, frankly I feel sorry for you. And usually batting averages ARE displayed on the auxiliary scoreboards.

whoa, im not saying im not giving the place a chance, I think Target Field is going to be great, but can't i voice my opinion of things I think could have been improved?

Is there going to be ribbon boards behind homeplate and down the baselines? and also, looking at the diagrams, I dont see any auxillary scoreboards. I see the big main scoreboard/videoboard, and the out of town scoreboard in right/center.

It has nothing to do with seeing a kiss cam. It has to do with the game itself. Replays, stats, etc. I go to a game to watch the game, and know what is going on during the game as well. Batters averages especially.

I guess im in the minority here. I guess everyone else just watches and cares nothing about averages and such.

Ideas for TWIMATM:

-A giant curtain in center field to try to hide the fact that you're in a football stadium

-Suites that look as if they were built to be 1982 Soviet military bunkers

-Having the front row of the outfield seats empty with no fans in them

-Entering a 70 degree building on an 80 degree sunny day

-Almost no surrounding bars/restaurants to meet at before the game

I think for those sections that can't see the board, they were going to put like tvs or something? can someone confirm this? i just thought i heard that somewhere

Anywhere you sit is going to be give and take, unless you sit in the expensive seats. It's all personal preference. If you sit in LF, you are in the sun, but you miss the scoreboard. You can sit along the first base line and have a great view of the rest of the park, or sit along the third base line and see the skyline. I think one of the great features of this ballpark is that no two spots are the same. You find what's right for YOU and have a blast.

Unfortunately, you don't get to see a lot of scoreboard in left, but you do get to sit in the sun. I think those seats are cheaper, too.

Question about the HERC (Garbage Burner)-

With the new ballpark there, that piece of property the HERC sits on looks to be pretty valuable. Any chance it gets torn down and re-located so someone smart cookie and develop some bars/restaurants/condos in that spot?

New or remodeled parks I've visited with no "secondary video board":

San Francisco, Dodger Stadium, Chase Field, Fenway Park, Safeco Field, Yankee Stadium, Kaufmann Stadium, Angels Stadium, The Jake, Wrigley Field.....wait, now that I think about it: ALL OF THEM. Target Field will have plenty of ribbon boards with stats, etc, but ballparks only have 1 video screen. That's right: None of the current MLB parks have auxiliary screens that I remember (other than the 2 mini-screens at the Dome). Also, just for fun: MLB does not allow any controversial replays on video screens like the NFL does.

yes but in a lot of those parks, if you are sitting in left field, you can look over your shoulder or behind you and see it, you will not be able to do that at Target Field because the decks overhang eachother.

Big difference.

Why do they rope off the first row of seats in the ourfield? I have always wondered this...

Josh,

So fans dont reach over the wall and try to catch the ball. That is why in the new stadium, the seats will be set back from the wall.

the seats that won't be able to see the scoreboard will be far, far less than "half the ballpark", vikeologist. I'm just guessing from the 3D viewer, but it looks to me like the only sections that won't be able to see the board are only the ones under the outfield upper deck. that's like 5% of the seats - maybe 10%. and I bet they'll have tvs under there for the bleacher folks anyway

like i said, dont get me wrong, im not knocking the park, just expressing some concerns.

Are all the seats going to be green? i was hoping to see some Twins red or navy blue

Geez, Vikeologist...anything you DON'T want to complain about?? In just the past 4 hours you've griped about the centerfield sign, the scoreboards, the webcam, and the color of the seats. Seriously, dude. Cheer up!

Vikes,

yea its just a give and take.. where I want to sit (LF blechers 1-5 rows) I will not see even a inch of the board, but i do get lower level seating, in the sunny part of the park and its dirt cheap...if i want to see the scoreboard i would ahve to get the home run porch seats that cost i think 4 bucks more a game than the blechers and they are not on the lower level... there is a reason season tickets for the view on the 3rd base side is 12 bucks and 1st base is 10, you get a view of the skyline...

the ropes in the first 2 rows of the outfield are to keep fans from obstructing with the game... there us ed to be plexy-glass if you rememeber....atleast that is gone, that looked horrible...

uggh, i guess everything is perfect, i should not come to a ballpark site and ask questions, and express concerns.

Centerfield Sign: I said "I would like to see a giant neon "TC" logo in centerfield. Is that a complaint?

The Scoreboards: Its going to be the 4th largest in baseball and in high definition. Is that a complaint?

The Webcam: I said what are the chances of them adding a 3rd webcam, or maybe moving the 2nd one, to behind homeplate? Is that a complaint?

The Seats: I asked if the seats were all going to be green. I said I would like to see some red or navy blue seats. Is that a complaint?

Wow, sounds like you are the one complaining. I guess I will just stop posting here.

Thanks for the fun Rick.

That's not what I meant, Vikes...didn't mean for it sound so harsh. But for my tastes it's pretty rough when one guy is putting up every third post and they all center around some version of "it's not quite good enough". Hope there's no hard feelings...

" #24 - no more church group volunteer concessionaires who stare at your photo ID for 60 seconds trying to determine in their own mind (while giving you a stupid guilty look) if you are really old enough to be buying that beer you just ordered. no lady i am just a 19 year with a fake id who just happens to have the onset of graying hair. give me a break! now give me my damn beer and dome dog thank you very much! "

Now that's funny, If you only knew the crap the voluteer workers have to put up with there to get a few tax free bucks sent off to their charity group. How the food boss of the concrete ship is the nastest beioch you'd ever want to meet. How they search out the tallest 20 1/2 y.o.'s spray there sideburns gray. And send them off in there there to catch someone that might miss checking their ID, so they can shakle them and march them off the property.

Will not be any different at the new ballpark, no matter who runs the show. Cause a jillion beers will still be served to a 10 - 20K fans who can't hold their lunch.

Are the speakers in the canopy going to be the only speakers in the stadium? or will they have speakers in the concourses like at Miller Park and i am sure other parks??

I have yet to see a ballpark with a scoreboard and video board that accomodates everyones sightlines. I hardly look at the damn thing anyways when I'm at a game....who cares if everyone can't see it.

Thanks to MplsGreg for the great pictures. Wow!

Something tells me that Vikeologist has season tickets in the left field bleacher section! Just a guess. Suggestion: Upgrade your tickets if it's that important....or get drunk at the games so your blood alcohol level is higher than some of the players batting averages.

they're going to have monitors for the obstructed seats under the deck overhangs. i echo the thanks on the awesome pics from MplsGreg!

Friday July 17th at 5:06 PM. That's when I'll be selecting my seats.

From Target Field Seat Selection page (with credit to Moose on Baseball-Fever.com):

Restricted View Seats
* Because the Home Run Porch Terrace overhangs the left field wall, seats in those sections as well as the Home Run Porch View sections, are unable to view the left field wall.
* Because the Grandstand overhangs the right-center wall, seats in those sections are unable to view the right-center field wall.
* In Field Box section 101, the lower-numbered seats in rows 25-40 (closest to the right-field bleachers) only have a partial view of right field and center field. This is noted in the seat information that appears when you move your cursor over that seat for each affected seat.
* In the Main Level sections 107-126, rows 24 and above will only have a partial view of the main video board due to the fact they are beneath the club level overhang. Two 42" flat-screen televisions mounted above each of these sections will show the same images that appear on the main video board.
* In the Main Level sections 107-126, rows 16 and above are beneath the club level overhang.
* The Left-Field Bleacher sections 128-131 do not have a view of the main video board due to the Home Run Porch overhang.

oh boy then i prob wont pick until aug....

vikeologist, you gotta let the scoreboard thing go. here's a solution... don't sit in those very few seats that can't see the scoreboard. problem solved! no need to worry! :) and besides, i'm sure they'll have ribbon boards circling the entire field. it should be very very easy to see a batter's average from any seat in the park, just like it is now at the dome.

as for the seats being all dark green, thats a good thing. stadiums with different colored seats look bad. just take US Cellular where the white sox play. remember what those seats used to look like? they were originally bright blue and it was the most god-awful looking new stadium you had ever seen. eventually SOMEONE down on the south-side came to their senses and they replaced every last seat with nice dark green ones. and dark green is not a white sox color. but dark green is a very organic color and it looks natural. in a baseball park, seats are not supposed to stand out. they are supposed to blend in. if you want seats that stand out, go to a football game. :) different sport... different feel and look.

Charcoal or black seats might look pretty nice (as they are in the model above)

nah, charcoal and black doesn't look right at all. just morbid. dark green like green grass is the only way to go. when you think of baseball you think of being outside, summertime, playing in lush grass. black and gray just look dead. ;) bright blue looks too artificial (i.e. the metrodome)

Yeah charcoal and black seats for an outdoor venue where it will be sunny and hot.... Get up for a beer come back and burn your ass off. Sounds fun. Hey 40k people with sweaty asses... and some think the garbage burner is going to stink????

here are some additional pics (not mine) from the lighting of tcf bank stadium last night on the U of M campus. these ones were taken from inside the stadium as opposed to some others you may have seen.

click on my name.

Rick, very interesting on the sunlight reflection. I was just trying to think of parks with a halo of light or lighting that is continuous around the perimeter of the park -- will that be tough for fielders on high fly balls? Probably no worse than losing a ball in the sheet they call a roof at the dome I suppose.

moda253-

I believe that dark green would also absorb heat as well, which probably isn't a bad thing for the sunny chilly days. Personally, I'm fine with either color.

I also like the "Twin's Blue" painted dugouts and the blue and red alternating flags on the top of the bleacher seats in the outfield that I have seen in some of the diagrams.

Anyone have any more info on the Budweiser Patio above the admin bldg? Will that be an area that everyone has access to? Or will that be an extra cost?

Rick, good article, always nice to hear of a new take on things. It will be interesting to see how this factors in.

vikeologist,
I hope you post back here. Like Rick said, we all have some of those concerns or maybe should be called observations. The fun thing about this site is we all have a different opinions on baseball, the stadium, the seating, the Vikings, you name it we all see things differently. However, this site is for fans of our beloved franchise moving outdoors, the way baseball was meant to be played, the kind many of us played, and some of us watched as kids. So there is no hate from me and I hope anyone else, share your opinions, I think it is all great from a discussion stand point, and many times makes us all think about things from another perspective!

I always thought the seat color in the model was a dark blue. I liked how that looked compared to the green (on a general aesthetic level but also because its a twins color), but once fans are in the seats it's not going to matter anyway.

On the center field neon sign thing. I would like to see either the TC logo or the Twins script logo. I personally feel that an animated sign would be cool to see at first, but would eventually just be tacky.

Fred, you might be disappointed to hear that in the updated model, the roof of the dugout's are now covered in limestone. Also, those blue and red flags are no longer on the new model.

Bummer. Limestone on the ROOF of the dugout? That seem's odd. I like the blue with "Minnesota Twins" in red and white much better. Oh well, no big deal I guess.

Any info on that Budweiser Patio?

The Budweiser i think is for group rentals...

I really hope they keep the red and blue flags on top of the left field bleachers. I thought that was a "little thing" that really looked great.

i think the limestone on the top of the dugouts is a bit much, but whatever.

why would an animated sign be tacky? it's the twins logo since they moved here. it's a signature elemnet of their history, and holds a lot of memory for people, not unlike the hamms bear. but i'm thinking we're only going to get a lit-up "TC", not the "twins" shaking hands.

I would like to see 'Twins-Shaking-Hands' neon sign that has "moving hands" by lights turning on and off.

Do you guys think that the twins will have a bad season in 2010? Dont get me wrong but i love the twins and i love target field and the whole outdoor baseball thing but we have been playing indoors with good home field advantage like the white roof and bouncy grass..and that all gets taken away..they said on mlb network that the twins have the best home field advantage in the WHOLE WORLD.....what do you guys think???

I think Kubel, Morneau, and Mauer are gonna love the right field dimensions next season.

I'm concerned about that too, trent. I think they should be alright for at least the first few seasons when the place is sold out and rockin'. I have a feeling TF will be super loud - of course that's just a guess. I'm sure with the new place opening, it will bring new advantages, too - beyond the noise.

I think the roof and turf "advantages" are generally over-hyped by media outlets, simply because of how different it is. In the long run, only time will tell.

Since there has some model talk here about the flags above the left field seating not being there (What a shame, IMO), does anyone have any information on the roof above the stairs leading from the plaza to the right field trapezoid seating area? In the updated model it is still there, but from all the recent pictures and the webcam it looks like they have decided not to do this. Does anyone have any information on this? The roof was a great little design touch leading to the those seats.

I've always felt that the multicolored seats at the Olympic Stadium in Munich are very interesting. (click name)

The round shape and lime green probably wouldn't fit in with the clean lines of the limestone at Target Field, but a navy blue to light blue spectrum could look nice.

Any thoughts?

Camden,

I just looked at my email a lil more it has my selection date as Jul 13th 2009 11:18am!!! where did you want to sit @ TF again?

what are the chances of tf opening early??? it seems there going really fast..and I love it!!

Right field concerns me. I wonder if they will try to move that wall back at nys next season. I don't think that changing outfield dimensions (adding or removing seats) during the off season is unprecedented. As for TF, if it becomes an issue they could do the same. The twins tend to give up a lot more home runs than they get. I don't see how a home run happy park could be a good thing.

Lucky for us, DuluthTim, the Twins are going to follow thru on their promise to spend more money once they're in the new park. This means having a few bats in the lineup who can hit homeruns, right? Right, Twins? ....Hello?

Why are you talking to yourself Duluth Tim?

I'm not. I didn't leave that last comment. I think the twins have done a great job getting power. Just look at Tony Batista.

What are peoples feelings on Citi Field? I think it looks like a great stadium except for the massive tower of left field stands. I almost laughed looking at that and then comparing it to the 10 rows of left field seats at wrigley. It looks like it holds 62,000 not 42,000.

Great pics on here recently. Thanks for the shots Play Ball! and MplsGreg. Some great close ups of the underside of the canopy. It might have been mentioned before, but it reminds me of the belly of a humpback whale (Star Trek IV anyone?).

So has it been confirmed that the dugouts will have limestone on them? I know it's on the model, but is that "official"? I don't know of any team that doesn't have their logo on top og the dugouts. A solid confirmation of this would be nice...

Rick, will you take this website down once target field is done?? Or will you keep it up for discususion about peoples trip to tf or anything like that??

I have read any confirmation anywhere that there will be limestone on top of the dugout, but it's a safe assumption I think since it was a change from the original model.

Hmm, did they re-instate or at least give you some cred for priority? I've held tickets since 06. Anyways I haven't set myself on anywhere specifically. I have a bunch of people coming to me wanting to go in on tickets to ensure they would get to go to some games. I'm thinking maybe this will allow me to upgrade to little better seats. I'd like to be lower level, maybe I'll get a seat down the line for $28, Bleacher's are good value, but limited view of downtown, and no scoreboard. I've been leaning towards uppper deck between homeplate and maybe cheating a bit down the 3rd baseline for better view of downtown. If I could go down to the terrace level, but they require full season tickets behind home plate. So I guess I have some decisons to make.

One problem with having limestone installed on top of the dugouts...how the heck is someone going to be able to put their beer on top of it without it tipping over on the uneven stone face???

Does anyone else besides me wish that the organ will be the only music we hear? I can't stand that canned music at all. I'm sure there'll end up being some canned music piped in, but I want to listen to more organ music than anything else....

I meant to say, I have NOT read...

Fargo flood...sorry but those seats are UGLY!! We already had multi-colored seats at both Met Stadium (green and blue) and Met Center (green, gold, white and black - the mustard seats)...There will be a slight break in the green monotony at TF due to the wood seatbacks in the club level and certain outfield sections. I think it's been tastefully done.

Yes Fred...I also love the organ music buth with 2 conditions...It has a to a REAL sounding organ, not a whining sythesizer like the dome has. Also, there needs to be a REAL musician playing it. Whoever that old fart is a Xcel Center playing the zamboni organ, he only plays like 3 stupid things...BORING!

I loved coming to the stadium back in the day and hearing Ronnie Newman play Duke Ellington tunes as the grounds crew got the field ready for the game.

I forgot her name, but I know the organist will be following the team to Target Field, as I guess one would expect.

I hate the idea of the baggy, but I love saying "off the baggy." I like the idea of taking the baggy and putting it up on the wall in right somehow. There isn't much I will miss about the metrodome, but that will be one little thing. "off the baggy." maybe you should do a list of things you will miss, even if it is 5 things.

Kevin-

I agree...I want a REAL organist playing a REAL organ.....

Nothing better than pre-game organ music, REAL organ music that is!

I don't have anything against the Metrodome organist, but it will be nice to get a real organ at Target Field and play some of those traditional ballpark tunes pre-game and during the game. I hope they play some good old pre-game patriotic tunes around Memorial Day, Flag Day, Armed Forces Day, 4th of July, Patriot Day....

Nothing better than putting on some sunglasses and sitting outside on a nice sunny afternoon sipping an ice cold beer and having some ballpark food while watching a REAL groundscrew drag the infield and water down the dirt. Blue sky, sun beating down, a field of real green grass...the authentic sights and sounds of baseball which we have not heard or seen in Minnesota over the last 28 years.

I sure hope Rick keeps this site going, at least through the 2010 season so we can all share our thoughts,pictures and analysis of Target Field as we all experience it for the first time.

I forgot to post my link. This is some real classical baseball organ music at Dodger Stadium with a REAL organ!

Steve,

i will only remember 1 maybe 2 things from the dome..#1.. i remember whn i was a kid sitting in the cheap seats and Al Newman nearly hit a home run! but the cf was obstructed and the other player caught it at the wall (if you are 34 or older u know why this was a moment)

the other this is that the section of 210 where there is a lil stoop or orgain spot my gf gave me memories...other than that.. wally is cool, duane @ the door of the rally room is cool and i was assulted by metrodome police, barfed on the wall @ huberts and loved the old dude that looks crazys store "dome plus" his shit is cheap! and 2 weeks ago my son fell down 3 steps in that stupid dome and knocked a extreemly nice mans full 7 buck beer onto another nice man and they were not mad at us at all!!!

so basiclly i am 34 and this is what i have for memories of the dome...25 years of games and i have like 8 memories of this joint.. now i did not witness kirbys catch or homerun in person oh one more i went to kirbys memorial... it was nice thats my # 1

0

Rick I agree... but I think it's augmented by the aaaaatrocious sound system at the dome... i had season tickets facing a speaker in the upper deck... made it a ROTTEN experience.

but i suspect the Twins will continue to cram tv commercials between innings (though i really hope not) i suspect they'll also keep up the silly bush league promotions too... sadly

I wont miss opposing teams coaches complaining about the twins turning up the fans at the dome when they are up to bat so they can hit more homeruns. And if im not wrong does not another team already do the Budweiser sign thing already. It would be cool if a local brew would have a sign up there instead. Yea I know because of the dough it would take to do so it might not happen but hey one can dream cant one.

that limestone on the dugouts will the the smooth pieces we see mixed in with the rough cuts on the facade. we don't need ricochet blasts hitting that rough stuff and hitting people. the second least amount of foul territory in the league....fans will be really close to the action.

can it just be april 2010 already?

here are my pictures again of the model from just a month ago.

Leroy, off the top of my head, I know Boston and St. Louis have one of those Budweiser signs. How rad would it have been to land Hamms beer?

A family member of my wife's side drew the Hamm's bear (and Goldy Gopher). The other night I was over at her grandmother's house, and she has an entire basement full of Hamm's/Minnesota Twins schedules, pennants, posters and collectors items. I never realized Hamm's was such a huge part of the Twins tradition...

I think a Hamms Beer sign would be cool, also. Is Miller brewing Hamms these days? I know that Pabst was at one time, but I think Miller bought Pabst....

I noticed three areas between the 200 and 300 sections were the concourse is hidden behind some glass panels? Does anyone know what these areas are? Are they suites or...? Click my name.

I have a variety of memories from the dome that I'll cherish but tops on my list happened when I was a senior in high school. My baseball team (Grinnell, IA) got to play in the dome before a Twins game. It was the day Kirby announced his retirement. I hit a triple into the left/center gap. As I was rounding second I was picturing Kirby as he hit his triple in the 91 world series. It was definitely a stand-up triple but my coach was giving me the slide signal so I did my best Pete Rose into the bag. My coach knew I was a big Twins fan and shook my hand after the play was over. It was definitely a great life experience.

My coach died a few years later of pancreatic cancer. While I won't miss the dome, everytime I drive by it or see pictures of it I will think of that.

pawelk - I believe those are the "warming shelters" that the Twins have advertised. I think they're going to have sliding doors that can be opened during the warmer months. That's what I've always assumed they were anyway

That was a touching story crtwinsfan. Thanks for sharing.

So are we sure that it will be limestone on the top of the dugouts? This would be interesting, not sure that I like it, but interesting to say the least...

My biggest memory came from going to a game Twins vs Yankees while I was in High School. The game was braodcat on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball. Todd Walker hit a 2-run duoble and I held up a sign that said Todd Walker for ROY. I met him at the Twins Caravan in St. Cloud and was a huge fan of his. I was shown on National TV with the sign, and then after the game we went for autographs of the Yankees players. This was before they wouldn;t let you down to where the visitors come up, and we got auotgraphs of David Wells, Wade Boggs, and I got a ball I found during batting practice signed by Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter!

OG,

Yes...Hamms beer was a huge sponsor of the Twins on TV. In fact once Carew was sent to California, the only reason to tune into Twins games was for the Hamms commercials - what would that whacky bear do next??

thanks some guy. good to know

I like the limestone on top of the dugouts, very unique. I'm still holding out hope for the flags in left-field.

I think the limestone on the dugouts will look nice, but I would also enjoy seeing signage or the TC logo on them. That seems impossible if it is limestone.

Do you think they will have paper towels or electric hand driers or BOTH in Target Field restrooms?

Sorry, I couldn’t resist. I am absolutely fascinated by the minutiae that seem to hold some importance for some people. Seriously, keep it up, because I laugh out loud (actually laugh, not just type LOL) a couple of times a day checking this site.

All I know is that we will have a ballpark that is way cooler than Miller Park in a location about a million times better than theirs. And after all, the most important thing at the end of the day is bragging rights over the Sconnies, isn’t it? Then we are good for about the next 25 years, minimum.

What would be sweet and very classy is if they used the rough limestone on the dugouts and then with the smooth stone inlaid the words... Minnesota or Twins or TC or some combination. Maybe 2 TC logos on each dugout, 1 on each end.

I imagine this would be expensive, but I think it would look awesome.

Since another Steve posted about the baggy yesterday I will change my name. FL does not mean Florida, but a little town to the north.

I'm not in the construction business, but I bet there is some way to either put raised lettering or a logo on the limestone on the dugout roofs. Some sort of clean and modern lettering/logo could look kind of cool.

Fox example, it looks like they put a logo on the limestone of the pressbox. If you look closely on the updated model pictures provided by annoying, you can sort of make out a red logo of some type.

pawelk - Those glass areas are open concourse areas, just like the rest of the level. However, these areas will have heat from what I was told. We stood up there about a month ago, and it seems like these areas won't be sectioned off (based on what was built at the time).

I am sure there is some type of signage they could attach to the limestone on top of the dugouts to read "Welcome to Target Field", "Minnesota Twins" etc...just like other parks do, but rather than paint on a smooth surface, the Twins could have some sort of signage fastened to the limestone. I am sure there will be a sign for the Herb Carneal pressbox as well that is mounted to the limestone on the pressbox facade.

OG Jeff - click on my name for a classic hamm's beer commerical from either the 1950's or early 60's. man, talk about a catchy jingle!

The thing that excites me about Target Field is that I think the design will be conducive to it having a good vibe.

I know folks aren't crazy about the outfield upper decks, but that coupled with the small amount of foul territory and the slightly more aggressive seating bowl could give it a real loud, cozy, crazy atmosphere. Imagine a playoff game in that little place with fans all around and right on top of you. Should be awesome.

My favorite memory of the dome. I was at World Series game 7 1991. Jack Morris 10 inning shutout. I was a nervous wreck the whole game. That was the best ever.

I was at game 6. Sat directly behind Evander Hollyfield down the third base line. he was in the temp seats set up on the warning track, I was in row 9.
The atmosphere in the joint was electric. in fact, the entire downton scene was electric with excitement. Nothing can generate a vibe like that other than a World Series.
By the time Kirby hit that game-winning homer, the tension was unbearable. Everyone experienced the release while Kirby rounded the bases. My God, it was noisy!
Contrast that to the 1998/1999 NFC Title game. The Vikes take a knee with about 30 seconds left in each half, instead of taking a chance. That strategy, as you all know, came back to bite them. Once the Falcons returned the punt in overtime, you could sense in the crowd that everyone knew the game was lost. People were putting the Purple Pride towels they got at the door over their heads instead of watching Atlanta march down the field and eventually score.
Filing out of the Dome, the concourses were packed, yet you could hear a pin drop.

Beta, that was awesome.

How about Schell beer? Minnesota company, great script logo that would look very cool...

Where did this limestone ON the dugouts come from? I thought it was going to be around and in the dugouts. That would be strange, since it would be the only place in the stadium where limestone faced the sky. Rick? Any info on this?

Abe, scroll up and look at Annoying Customer's pictures of the new model, you'll see limestone on top of the dugouts.

Anyone think that our first game in TF will be broadcast nationally? I would hope so but who knows with espn, they really don't like Minnesota.

ah, sure enough. That will look nice. Will I be able to walk from the upper deck concourse to the admin building party deck? Or do I have to take the elevator?

David,
Schell would be beyond ideal, if only because they brew Grain Belt, and there is no beer sign more iconic than the Grain Belt sign over by De La Salle. Some night the team should go down and steal it, then unveil it Opening Day 2010.

There's talk of the grain belt sign's days being numbered. It's getting old and no one wants to pay to restore it. I think the Twins should adopt it for TF.

that would be great. I'm not sure why the Twins would give free advertising to Grain Belt. And I'm sure Schell's can't outbid AB-InBev. I hope I'm wrong, but it's going to be Bud.

DT - Where did you hear about the signs days being numbered?

Let me try this again, my last comment was posted below. I stitched together some of the Play Ball pics and came up with this panorama of TF (click name).

i'm really interested in how the reflection off the buildings will play out. the reflection off the ids tower around 4pm in the fall is significantly bright. this could be one of those "why didn't they think of that?" issues.

I was thinking about the wind tunneling under the canopy and creating a mini-jet stream out to right field. I can't think of other stadiums where there is a such a large gap. But I'm no Sven or Belinda, so I don't know the science behind wind all too well.

Steeks-

I've thought about the same thing....and I guess the only solution to a problem like that (if it exists), being that we couldn't move the wall out any deeper than it is, would probably be to raise the wall and create another "Green Monster" in right field.

I certainly hope we never had to deal with something like that, though.

looking back over the model it appears they have changed the glass all the way around the administration building to leave the exposed cement block elevator tower. i hope they at least cover it with that "champagne" colored siding because the cement block is bad form, but looking at the model photos it appears we're going to get a giant facade of grey block. boo.

the other thing i noticed is that they updated the model to show the new target plaza, but there are still banners hanging on the parking garage. did that great idea for the windscreen go away, or is that still in the plans?

I would guess that it would have just been too time consuming to cut out a bunch of litte squares and place them on the side of the parking garage so they didn't do it.

I think they're still doing the wind veil.

i guess that makes sense. i could see the architecture intern's face when they tell him to glue together 40,000 chiclets. i am looking forward to seeing it installed though.

Some TF photos from monday through wednesday...Also have a pic of my favorite metrodome memory. I got to the top of the B ramp and my batteries died on my camera, so there are only pics of the outside, but it's still new recent pics, enjoy!

Favorite dome memory - I got thrown out for running across the field during the 1991 World Series.

So the game was being played in Atlanta at the time, and it was only on big screens in the dome. But I did, in fact, get thrown out of the dome for running across the field during a 1991 World Series game.

Even better - after we got escorted out the tunnel, we just went back inside through the main doors. Free admission!

Here is a better link to my photostream...sorry, first time flickr user, usually use photobucket...

Nice pics Uncle Tom. Thanks.

That would be fun to have the grain belt sign or some of the other beers mentioned before having their sign up in that spot just to have something a little different than other stadiums. Ahh dare to dream.

I don't think they will leave grey block on the admin building. I am guessing they will cover it with the same material they covered the top of the other elevator towers with.

What a blast by Morneau! That would have killed a fan in TF bleachers! Where do you think it would have landed at TF?

Tonights game reminded me of another TWIMATM nominee...

Ground rule doubles that would be triples or in some cases inside the park home runs.

tyler - you mean major league baseball teams are NOT supposed to play on field surfaces that act like a frickin' trampoline?!

The funny thing is, you know they will try to get the new field to play as close as they can to the turf. Short grass, rock hard dirt/clay in front of the plate.

O.G uncle Tom ESQ,

those are some mighty fine photo's you shared with us 2night! good work! and i love the kirby seat... when i was growing up Kirby was like a God to me and my crew... our baseball team coach would not allow any of us to pick out # 34 for the season cuz we all would fight over it!

when i was @ kirbys memorial after he passed i sat about 4 seats to the left of it and 2 rows down, the twins found the dude who caught that HR ball puck hit and had him sit in there.. it was crazy most folks sat behind homeplate me and about 100 others all sat around HIS seat!

and lookie here we have Joe back!

Seat selection has begun starting at 2:00pm yesterday, here's the seats that seem to be gone so far. Sadly a few lonely solo's and some odd choices, I guess some want to be in the middle of the sections, literally, vertically and away from the isles, can't say I blame them. Hopefully this pasted format comes out ok.

Section Row Seat
114 15 4
113 15 6
113 12 6
110 15 9-10
006 05 1-4
006 05 12-15
006 06 13-16
012 13 15-16

why oh why couldn't brian buscher's double off the right field wasll have just been 2 feet higher so it would have cleared it for a homer and the twins win?! i had a bad feeling once he got to second that he wouldn't be visiting home plate with gomez and punto coming up after him - even with no outs. unfortunately my thoughts came true.

by the way craig breslow fantastic game tonight buddy. walk the bases full in the eleventh to lose it for the good guys. nice work on that one gm wunderkind billy smith. you sure know how to pick them don't you?! breslow should be off doing calculus somewhere, not playing pro baseball.

me mad......good night.......

Beta,

While you were drinking beer during the game, I was drinking Maalox. No wonder why I'm constipated this morning! Yes yes...I know TMI!

What a shame that such an entertaining game had to turn out like that...YUCK! For once I can't blame it on Guerrier. Tonight's Maalox Goat of the game....Craig Breslow!

We should start the "Ron Davis Choke Award" to be given to any reliever that lives up (or down?) to the expectations that Ron so fondly established. Who knows, with all those game he blew we may have been in contention come September back in '84-'86 or so. Even at 8yrs old I remember thinking "Oh geez, why are you bringing in Davis? He's gonna screw it up." Naturally, he'd follow through.

i can't believe i am going to say this, but please hurry back jesse crain! where is pat neshek in his rehab process? i know it is only may 3rd, but we can't watch this breslow, dickey & ayala sideshow much longer!

wonderful experiment you have going here with the bullpen billy smith.

improve our bullpen over the winter? billy smith: "nah, not us. we'll be fine. gotta keep that old payroll at 52% of revenues as we like to say in the front office." sheesh.....

neshek is out for the entire season so don't hold your breath waiting for him to come in and save our bull pen this year.

Rick how about a new post for Monday to take away the frustration of watching the Twins this weekend!! New aerial pic from ballparkauthority.com, click my name.

Thanks for posting that link Jeff. That lightened my mood. Hopefully most of our bullpen will be staying at the dome and not moving to Target Field next season.

Carmen - how did you get a list of the seats that had already been selected? I don't see that option in the tool

By tool do you mean your a season ticket holder and can log into the seat selection website? If so if you click on a section all of the seats with a green dot are available, red are selected, and purple are ones on hold until another finalizes their pick.

Yes, that's the tool I was referring to. I just wondered if there was a way you got the summary of selected seats or you just went section by section and made notes.

yea its cool but kinda scary how its only been 3 days since the selection has began and how many sections are no longer avalible.. looks like they are all pretty much the spendy seats right now so that does not hurt me..

Umm, the sections that are no longer available are the Legends Club and Champions Club seats, which are close to sold out (and require a PSL) and the lower level right field bleachers, the overlook and pavillion sections which can't be purchased as season tickets and presumably are for groups and/or day of game seating only.
Everything else is available, though the real test will be what's left around the 18th. I suspect there are going to be a lot of disappointed people, as the amount of "prime" seating in the Home Plate Box area isn't as much as folks have been led to believe. Unless there is a huge interest in other areas of the park, I suspect those that have taken full season plans in the last couple years will be disappointed in what will be left when they get a chance to pick.
Looks like the Twins have blocked off 4 rows in most of the HPB sections too.

Also - if the letter I have is correct, seat selection doesn't officially start until tomorrow (and only for the class of 1961). The masses don't start selection until a week from Monday, 5/11.

can someone explain to me why the twins think it is a good idea to send a decent hitting back-up catcher like jose morales back down to AAA instead of telling an aging mike redmond that he will be going on the DL? this move doesn't make any sense to me at all. the twins get way more out of having morales in the line up/on the bench than they do redmond. but then i guess that is why i am not managing a major league ball club!

jfh,

They ended up starting SOME of '61 on Friday. I saw a blip on one of the TV news websites (can't remember which, don't feel like looking), and decided to check out the tool, only to see some seats were gone that were available Thursday. I don't know what decided some would go earlier, but I'm guessing VIP's, maybe that dude with the awesome beard that sits by the visitor's dugout.

Neither am I. But the reason seems to be that Redmond is a better defensive catcher. The pitchers are better when he's behind the plate. That's what they say, anyway. The way our boys have been pitching (especially in the bullpen) they need all the help they can get.

Jfh,

the full season class of "61" has started picking seats...it was on the twins live after the game friday they actully showed the first guy to pick his seats with dave st peter.. he was te same to pick when the dome opened, i forgot his name but it is a well known name in the twin cities.. like say Carlson or Pohlad..rich

Thanks for the update. I saw the game Friday, didn't see Twins live.
I'm just hoping there will be some decent Home Plate Box seats in a couple weeks, but going to have a good backup plan for seat locaation since I think the top level of seats in home plate box are going to be very disappointing. Must've been cool to pick seats with Dave - imagine what a rush it would be to have the ability to pick seats anywhere in the park you want. Of course, you might second guess yourself for 20 years, whereas the rest of us will just end up with the best of whatever's left. :)

I belive the mans name was if I am not mistaken Wheelock Whitney think I spelled that right. I saw the news story as well took you through the seat picking process just to see what it was like. There must be others that have had tickets for that long that are just average joes isnt there.

yes... it was Mr. Whitney... one of the wealthiest businessmen in the state. he was also instrumental in bringing the Twins to Minnesota, was an owner of the Vikings for many years, and was the driving force behind the expansion North Stars in 1967.

he ran for Senate on the GOP ticket in the mid 60's and lost to Rudy Perpich in 82 if memory serves.

I'm not sure if this is worthy of a post on this site, but did anyone else see Garza's comments in the Pioner Press about what a mistake it is for the Twins to build an open air ballpark in this climate? (click link) I thougt kev would get a kick out of this. What a joke? I've never liked the guy. Does he actually think MLB is for the players? What a prima dona? I hope MLB schedules the Rays for a 4 game series in April or September next year at Target Field, and the day he pitches its 25 outside with a 40 mile/hour wind blowing straight out to right field when he's on the mound. IT'S ABOUT THE FANS YOU IDIOT!! Here's to booing Garza for life! I'm ticked!

Bottom level of the scoreboard was installed on Friday and this morning they were continuing...

YESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When is everyone scheduled to select their seats for TF? Roll call......

i hope next year they get rid of the eagle video clip during the star spangled banner. yesterday i was reminded how random/corny it is when mixed with the live action of children singing.

if yesterday was outside, the game would have had one redeeming quality: very nice weather. other than that, it sucked.

Max,

July 13th

i have not yet received my ticket selection info but i e-mailed my ticket guy. hopefully i find out soon and set that time aside on my calendar.

Locker's link didn't work so I'll see if mine does.

Garza comes off as a big prick in that little blurb. Worse than the metrodome? Is he nuts? Coming to this sight the whole "its gonna be cold early and late in the season" argument is getting really old, and combating that argument with "look at all the other teams with similar climates that don't have roofs" is getting pretty old too. I wonder how many years it will actually take for people to stop complaining about the weather and actually man up and deal with the weather. I personally am looking forward to going to a game that has a bit of rain during it. How awesome will that be? Watching a Twins game, outside, and its raining! (maybe not as good as outside and sun shining but still its going to be fun)

garza is from fresno, ca and every time i have been there, it has been ungodly hot. i guess when you are used to mid 70's in april, low 50's feel like an arctic chill.

also, the lowest it has ever been there was 17 (click my name for wikipedia info)

This coming from Garza, whos knock was he could not win IN the dome!

not to mention...fresno is an armpit

Morales was sent down because he needs to be a full-time catcher in the minors so he can work on his defensive skills. He is a good hitter but a lousy catcher.

Enough is enough already with "stink factor" at Target Field. After reading the majority of comments from Garza article at twincities.com, I asked myself, will people ever stop complaining about the ballpark? Click my name for an article that was linked from one of the commenters, Tim.

Ticket selection Roll Call: May 26th for me

Jeff, the comments below the article about matt garza were actually promising. The majority were of the opinion that "it won't be that cold and people should stop worrying." The website with the article on the herc, well thats another story.

I love reading those HERC articles. QUICK: Turn the issue into a political one! Rant against politicians! Rant against corporations! Do we have our facts straight! NO - BUT KEEP BITCHING!!

Just to try to make my sarcasm somewhat credible, again - I live next to the HERC in the North Loop. Never smelled a thing, unless driving next to a garbage truck on it's way to the plant.

Target Field update courtesy of the Minnesota Twins. Click my name

You would think they could make the pictures a bit bigger. Nice to see the topiaries.

Does anyone else hate how the Twins do those updates? I mean how they structure the webpage. It would be a lot easier to navigate the site not having to scroll up to read captions and scroll down to see the coresponding picture. In whole I think they could do better with updates including making them available more often.

Oh BTW, I 'm a little disappointed not to see seats being installed today, as today was the day I predicted the process would begin.

July 17th, at 5:06PM for me.

While I was at TF taking pics a week ago, the HERC was blowing out lots of steam. I completely circled the ballpark for an hour, and......NO STINK AT ALL, not even a hint of anything!!! I am more upset about the "stink" in the dome from the fans sweating dome dogs w/saurkraut. It reaks, and no fresh air to blow it away! Whoever started the rumor about a smell coming from the HERC is probably just smelling themselves!

Wow i think i may be a converted topiaries lover.. i like that blue lights... all i all this place is gonna turn out great!

yea those lighted topiaries look pretty cool. and the HERC smell issue has been used since the rapid park site was first put forward as the preferred land for the ballpark. first it was used in an attempt to kill the deal, then by proponents of sites in other cities, (remember the then mayor of st paul mocking it?) and now by those who still lose sleep that the ballpark bill passed.

seeing the park rise from that site, it looks like it belongs, and that's thanks to the designers and team. we're getting a more initimate, unique ballpark, (least amount of foul territory outside of wrigley) because of that parcel of land.

Scoreboard update: This morning they had completed the bottom row (pieces are in approx 3x3 ft squares) and they've finished 2/3 of the second row now... A lot of electrical boxes, etc have been installed as well!

Jeff,

Leslie Davis is a crackpot and is well-known as such at the state legislature and other places. It's unfortunate that any media gives him air time but the article is more a reflection on the Minnesota Independent than the ballpark.

So lonely. I wonder if Mortenson has forgotten about me....

At least people are still excited to see you go up -- people have long since forgot about the dull view that I offer, and now it looks as though I'll never be moved to an interesting spot, like behind home plate.

It looks as if they are installing limestone on the right field wall. I was under the impression it was only going to be on the facing of the overhang, at least that is what the model indicates.

That's odd...an irregular stone face on the wall? If a baseball hits it, it could deflect in any direction. How could a right fielder possibly judge the bounce off that?

Nobody asked me if I thought it was okay to run and jump into a limestone wall...that thing better have some padding on it or I'm headed to the ChiSox

Cuddy,

Don't let the door hit ya on the way out!!!

Amen Max!

Am I played out?

please tell me that they are not considering putting limestone anywhere on the outfield walls. even if it is higher up on the wall(s). that is overkill on the whole limestone theme, maybe even a little bit tacky and will have a negative effect on the game itself considering the strange and rather long bounces that will occur because of it. hope that is not what they are doing out there in right field!

Yeah we definitely need an update on the right-field limestone.

I wonder if the uniform bird is one of shooter Charley Walters lil' birdies.

Kevin in AZ

quick , the 91 world serise is on mlb network right now!!!

im glad i called in sick today now!

Does anyone know if we will have a tarp along one of the lines? I haven't seen any sort of holder built into the wall yet, or is the heated field and drainage system going to take the place of a tarp all together?

Calm down there, Cuddy. I don't think that's limestone in right. Looks more like beige paint. Hard to tell from webcam 2.

i doubt limestone will be used...unless the twins didnt think it through rock walls would be very dangerous...

I think that they would use that smooth limestone on the wall at the end of the first base stands, but the right field playing wall seems too much. Plus they would need to use limestone across the entire outfield wall if they did that, otherwise it would look ridiculous to have limestone in right field and something else in center/left.

Uncle Tom, I would imagine the tarp would be held somewhere in the infield where there is more room in foul territory. I doubt they would use a tarp all over the field just one to cover the infield to prevent it from becoming a muddy hole.

Hey everybody. I was in Kansas City this last weekend. Finally getting a chance to catch up.
Did they run out of money for this project? The seating bowl on the third base side has had no progress in six days. And, I didn't see anything on the scoreboard...someone here said they've started installing it?
I dont know...it looks like construction has hit a standstill. I'm so disappointed, I cant even look at the webcam anymore :( .

luke... we're reaching the point where a lot of the work is going on inside the building and we won't see it change every day like we have for the last six months.

They ran out of money. Yeah that's it. Love bleacher seats? How about the whole stadium?

CJ - I suppose you're right...you make a good point.

they've been making tons or progress, the really fun stuff is just starting to happen. grass by september, what more do we want. i don't think they could be building this beauty any faster.

i hope to be playing for the vikings this year and winning a super bowl. what do ya'll think? sorry about the ya'll....it is the mississippi leg-hound in me!

signed,

brett fav-rey #4 - qb minnesota vikings

Okay, fans...my camera finally arrived, so I can begin taking daily shots of the park.

Here's some shots taken a couple hours ago this morning of the Transit building, the scoreboard, the admin building and the centerfield entrance. Enjoy.

wow...they are really making progress on that party deck building today...looking great

thanks for the pics, OGJ.

Wow OG Jeff those pictures were great! If you can keep them coming daily, I'm sure everyone on here would really appreciate them.

Thanks Jeff, great pics. What do people think about the signage? I liked the big white block letters used on the model, but I guess it's okay.

the signage on the northstar station? it's alright. I figured the signage on the models wasn't the final design anyway. I'm more interested in the look of the signs on top of the metropolitan club or in center field.

Personally I can't wait until the Ballpark Ninja makes another appearance INSIDE of Target Field...

Thanks OG!

I like the signage...this "new age" stuff is really growing on me...im ready for those blue bats to get glowing!

Ah, too bad. "Target Field Station." not "North Loop Station." Another piece of history falls to corporate America.

Hey, I know! They are going to cover the limestone in right field with a baggie, so the Dome-lovers will have something familiar to look at! Then after the game, the baggie comes down.

they are putting the limestone on the overhang in right field

i like that signage, looks sharp imo.

agreed david. the stop should be known as North Loop Station -- although Target Field Station is better than what is proposed on the lightrail route maps -- "Minneapolis Multimodal Station". Never let a civil engineer name your light rail stops.

agreed david. the stop should be known as North Loop Station -- although Target Field Station is better than what is proposed on the lightrail route maps -- "Minneapolis Multimodal Station". Never let a civil engineer name your light rail stops.

sorry for the doublepost. This is not a wrigley gum commercial.

sorry for the doublepost. This is not a wrigley gum commercial.

I too like North Loop Station better than Target Field Station, but I guess thats what you get for paying millions of dollars for naming rights and signage opportunities.

KC stole our idea to put limestone behind the plate!

MAD,

And didn't the Twins steal it from Pittsburgh?

When will the Twins wake up and realize how foolish Young is? I think that Delmon Young is allergic to running, and Span can run 30 ft. for a ball that delmon can't get to in 10 ft. There was one vs. the rays where he just jogged and hit him in the foot, all he had to do was raise his glove. Then the one that got by him in Det, he should have had that too, but Gomez was on the bench. Even Kubel is a better outfielder than Delmon. I wish my bro was a major leaguer, then I could suck and be paid millions! My proposal, Span in Left, since his arm isn't strong enough to be in CF, Cuddy in RF, and Gomez in CF. 30 HR a year for Delmon? Yeah Right, and Jason Tyner can hit 10! Delmon looks like he gives up too easilly. When I pay for tickets, merchandise, and overpriced concessions, to pay for his big salary in this economy, it is no longer a game for me. Geez, I wonder why TB was willing to give up a 30 HR guy for our SS of the future and a Starting pitcher who ultimately helped them get to the WS. I like Harris though! Sorry, back to Target Field.

Kev, at least we have a reason to "steal" the idea, besides the fact that it comes from MN. PNC is built out of MN limestone. And, we didn't steal the idea because we wanted ours built with MN materials. Where is the limestone skin on Kauffman Stadium's exterior? Seems to me like they just wanted it to beat us to the punch for the TV cameras.

Who is chomping at the bit and has planned ballpark trips for this summer? I know lots of Minnesotans are headed to Chicago in June for the Cubs series or the annual trips to Milwaukee or KC. What a road trip in June if you did Milwaukee, St. Louis, and KC consecutively.

Personally I am headed to Dallas next week for a Rangers game before the heat becomes too unbearable and out to San Diego in June for a Padres game and a Dodgers game....

most people don't know what "north loop" means. it's an old term from the streetcar days. target field is where the station is located, the name fits.

Nice, Max. I like the Ballpark at Arlington a lot...as long as it's not 120 degrees out. I'm going to take Mazaratirick's advice and tailgate this year in Milwaukee for the Giants series in June...

Sheesh - this is a ballpark page. Pop a Rolaid, buddy.

tim, as a north loop resident I would respectfully disagree with your assessment of 'north loop' as an old term--I'm sure the north loop neighborhood association would object also seeing as they've spent $$$ branding the hood (see link).

Where was it confirmed that we will have limestone behind homeplate?

I may have missed this April video tour (if someone already posted it here), but it's got some nice exterior goodies in it...

Limestone is going up on the overhang. by the way, I'm gonna be really POed if that becomes the Pepsi over hang or the Meinekeautocare.com over hang

Josh, the limestone behind the plate can be seen in the updated models of TF. Even though the models aren't technically "official" its pretty safe to assume that they would continue the limestone theme behind home plate.

Thanks billymayshere, I saw it in the new model, just was not sure if it was made "official".

Max
I'm headed to Seattle at the beginning of the June to see the Twins play there. I'm also planning multi-city trip to Chicago (Wrigly),Detroit, Cleveland, and Pittsburg in September. The Twins will be in Cleveland, and the Indians (I'm traveling with an Indians fan) will be in playing the tigers when we're in Detroit. The other two are just to see the parks. I can't wait!

hopefully i havent repeated anything, but i see a canopy is going up, atop the Admin Bldg...must be for the Budweiser plaza huh?

The plans for the Multi-Modal complex call for flattening the North half of the 5th Street bridge, and relocating Light Rail there. Then, they can call the new station "North Loop".

I don't know if anyone had posted this or not, but the latest edition of the Downtown Journal has a comparison page between Target Field and the Metrodome.

One thing I'm surprised to learn about, but pretty much expected to occur is that the Twins want to bring the Dome Dogs with them to the new field. The name obviously has to change, so what name would you give it?

I know I'm in the minority, heck I'm probably the only one, but I would keep the name Dome Dog. It's our history, pretty sick history but history nonetheless. Did they have a nickname at the Met?

How about TargetBestBuyUSBankStanlyAwesome Dogs. Seems in the spirit of things.

Even better name for the dome dogs:

Cold and Gross dogs.

Max,

as I am doing the STL-KC in late june.... Milwakee is during the week and not worth my vac days,,,,i have gone there every year for the past 7...i will be there in july when the twins are not there and if there is a game i will go there and be a stupid brewer fan!

My money is on Downtown Dogs

Yeah I'm also doing the trip excluding Milwaukee. Went there a few years ago, roof closed of course. Anyways not going with Maz but we should hit the bars some night down there.

Yes Matt, they did have a nickname for them at the met. They were called hot dogs because that was a day before all of this gimmicky bullshit. Of course for a period of time they served Peter's Weiners............

My mom had an out of left field idea of renaming them Airdale Dogs. Me personally, I like the idea of renaming them slugger dogs.

Land O' Dog!