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Ballpark Spring Training

March 6, 2009 10:01 AM

COMMENT

Building a ballpark must be a deep mixture of fun and tedium. Since most people in the world aren't following it nearly as closely as you or I or Dave St. Peter or Dan Kenney, there have to be the occasional pauses to bring everybody up to speed.

In that vein, here's the recent KARE11 construction update, in which Dave and Dan answer some of the Same Damn Questions again for the 15 millionth time:

You begin to wonder if the Twins will one day wish they'd put a roof on the thing just to avoid explaining their decision ad nauseum!

It is interesting that a project which was at one time seen as giant boondoggle (and will always be seen as such by some) is described in that video as "a bright spot on the local construction scene."

Here's another video you may have missed. This from KSTP, covering a safety lunch held in the ballpark and featuring some familiar names:

The Flag Pole Lobby

I've received a number of messages from people disappointed that the old Met Stadium flag pole will be so far away from the playing field. I've tried not to think too much about it, just happy that the Twins are making the gesture to link the new park to the team's ballpark history.

But I will admit that I always imagined it standing in straight-away center as it did at the Met. In the case of Target Field, that would be among a small grove of trees in the batters eye. But that still seems like a very good place for it.

When I saw the model, I couldn't help but notice the row of flag poles just behind the overhang in right, where the plaza meets the seating. That, too, seemed like a pretty good place for the pole -- highly visible, working every day, touchable by the passing fan.

What do you think? Take the poll (in the left-hand column) and let me know. We'll talk more about it after we get some opinions.

Comments

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absolutely without a doubt putting the met flag pole in the plaza would be a phenomenal tip of the cap to the ol' met. the twins also must keep something (or many things) from the dome in the plaza. puckett's golden chair?

Posted on March 6, 2009 at 11:41 AM by yeahklye 1

I like the idea of putting your flag pole somewhere in centerfield. The hop bats on the plaza might overshadow the flags a bit on the plaza.

Posted on March 6, 2009 at 12:43 PM by Lafferty 2

I'm sure this question has been asked before, but it may take a lot of digging to ask, so I'll ask anyway: What is the small structure that juts-out from the main ballpark structure, immediately behind home plate on the ground level? Looks like it's about to be covered by the lower-level stadia.

Posted on March 6, 2009 at 3:59 PM by hofflalu 3

I think it would be great to see the flag pole over by the team store. That area seemed to be left out of the Target Plaza design. The Twins could design something really special over in that area since there is nothing more than a triangle shaped planting bed. It could be like an ode to the old Met flag pole.

I think their is too much going on in centerfield with the current design plans. I don't think it would fit well with the trees, and whatever plans they have in store for the centerfield family/picnic area.

I think Target Plaza has too much going on already. The flag pole needs to stand alone and be seen.

Posted on March 6, 2009 at 4:45 PM by Jeff 4

That KARE 11 report was so disappointing since it provided no new information and basically reported on stuff already known. The report also failed to show any new areas of the ballpark that were never seen. It promised things that were never seen or heard of but it was just a big disappointment.

Posted on March 6, 2009 at 5:13 PM by NewGuy 5

Flagpole must be seen by the seated fans. Centerfield would be my preference.

Posted on March 6, 2009 at 8:04 PM by kevin in az 6

I like your idea of the putting the flag by the store - adds a nice touch to that part of the park.

Posted on March 6, 2009 at 9:38 PM by OG Jeff 7

All you guys that take/post pictures, THANK YOU! It's amazing to see the finer fidelity and all the nooks and crannies versus what the webcams show. I'm moving across the country this summer and a stop at Target Field is going to be a huge highlight! So much of it will be (or supposed to be) completed by then.

As for the flag pole my first thought was to put it in right field with the others. Putting it out in center in the batter's eye seems too much of a cliche or longing for nostalgia. Though it does belong on the premises, not 1-2 blocks away. TF will certainly be unique in its own rite, so let's let it develop its own character by incorporating the old but let's not force feed it into the new. Why not put it closest to the field flanked by the POW and Canadian flags (in right field)? However, I am intrigued by the idea of placing it standing alone near the team store and 7th street. It would then still be incorporated "on the grounds", yet its solitary pride welcoming fans from that arrival area. Great idea, Jeff. I like that best.

Posted on March 7, 2009 at 02:49 AM by chuck in ak 8

I think its gotta be in CF, but can be in the trees or above on the level above the batter's eye since there is kind of a dead area there for which there are no final plans yet. If nothing else, out in RF among the rest of the flags.

No matter what happens, at least Rick found the pole from the VFW, and it will be a part of the Target Field experience!

Posted on March 8, 2009 at 06:25 AM by Uncle Tom, OG 9

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"You talk about the magic, the aura, but what really makes a stadium is the fans. Concrete doesn't talk back to you. Chairs don't talk back to you. It's the people who are there, day in, day out, that makes the place magic."

– Bernie Williams

Explore the Site

Here are 50 images chosen randomly from the 3003 found on this site. Click the image to be taken to the original post. A new list is created every 10 minutes.

Pillows!

Limestone still dominates the Seventh Street walkway from a pedestrian point of view. But brick take over as you move upward -- a concession to cost, no doubt.

Just think: It could look like this!

Awesome seat. Awesome sun. Awesome hitter. (Photo by Tony Voda, courtesy Jared Wieseler)

An arch under construction.

The first completed mural

Earl Santee, principle architect for HOK Sport, presents some concepts while Mike Opat listens

Quote wall

OK, just how many servings per container?

This will be a great neighborhood. Note that the covering is being built for the emergency access. Also, note the streamers above, which appear to be monitoring air flow.

The media had some beautiful foliage to use as a background.

Photo by Tyler Wycoff

I don't exactly know what this is. A first-aid station? Concession office?

Here's the entrance from the seating bowl.

Hot dawgs! Getcher hot dawgs!

Here is one of the concept drawings referenced (but not shown) in the MPR story (conceptual ballpark at left, LRT tracks switched to the north half of the Fifth Street bridge, which is actually in all of the long-range plans).

This is the HERC Premonade with railroad tracks snaking beneath. (I think this should be named the Halsey Hall Premonade. Seriously.)

Midway Stadium (seen from our tailgating spot across the parking lot)

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).