No, I don't believe that is HD...Its probably Standard Definition Widescreen, or just upconverted, but it does look like crap.

Interesting notes Rick, great take on NYS. I agree concerning the WFTC broadcast. The center field camera looks like somebody smeared mayonaise on the lense.

ch 29 is like watching the game through a windowscreen. now that we get both feeds on MLB Extra Innings, I always watch the other team's feed for a much better picture.

#30 and the final #31 canopy horizontal support (CHS) have now been installed. Thanks to all who participated in the CHS contest! It was fun serving as the official during the contest. I also appreciate OG Jeff, Maz, Rick, kev, and Maz for sponsoring the contest and providing some awesome prizes. Meet those folks by the flagpole on opening day 2010 if you won anything.

I will be prepared to give a full Petco report. Have been there before but it's been a while and I'm looking forward to going back.

Also, for those in the Target Field neightborhood (OG Jeff) I was driving by the gas station visible in the first webcam yesterday and there were some signs of construction (it's been closed for quite some time as the gas signs still read $3.65/gal). The only reason this is somewhat to mildly interesting is they announced some time ago that they would be using leftover limestone from the park to create a new facade. just something else to notice in the webcam since it is becoming apparent the 2nd cam is not going to be moved to a more interesting location.

I agree, there is no way WFTC is HD. See you this afternoon Rick!

mplsgreg - I recently spoke to a developer in the North Loop about the gas station. A franchise owner for HOLIDAY gas stations has bought the property and is going to be completing a full rebuild of the station, which is set to get underway any time now. I heard a reference to "a Bobby and Steves type of station", but I don't know that it will fully emulate their store on Washington. The new owner does indeed want to use Mankato limestone to try to "class up" the spot and connect it to the adjacent ballpark.

Good Morning everyone. I was just looking at webcam 2 and noticed the flag in Right Blowing in towards the filed. May be this will happen just in the morning or maybe we will see fewer homeruns on the plaza than we hope.

Here is a link to the image of the flag I just mentioned above.

considering the twins line-up i'd prefer a more pitcher friendly park than a launching pad. the twins havn't been a homerun team since the hrbek, gaetti, brunansky days. i miss that type of team.

Shane, Will you be at the first game at TCF Bank Stadium in Sept? If so I'll be there and I want to buy you a beer!

I've worked on 6th St and the wind can blow hard in either direction there depending on the day - hell, depending on the time of day. I would guess that 5th St would be similar in that regard... but that's obviously just a guess.

I agree with Tim. The Twins are great at developing pitchers, but do not draft or develop power hitters as well. So a pitchers park would not be a bad thing...

A couple things about that plaza that I was thinking about today:

1. When fans are entering the gate before the game and batting practice is taking place, people will need to be aware that fly balls could be rocketed at them. It will be a cool pre-game hangout area, for sure.

2. The home-run derby at the 2014 All-Star Game! The plaza would be a great place to hang out and catch fly balls!

kevin in az, I have season tickets to the new TCF stadium. I can't wait for that to open. I was in one of the fraternities back in my college days and I really wish we would have had a stadium down the street when I was at the U.

These so called moats, which ballparks have these? Is it just Yankee Stadium or does Citi or Nationals Park have this?

Yes, can someone show a picture of what this "moat" is, I'm confused.

I actually like the NYS facade. It's simple, elegant, and a modern interpretation of pre-rennovated Yankee Stadium. Yes, the limestone appears 'thin' based on the aerial shots, but what HoK park doesn't?

My biggest problem with NYS is the interior. It's way too mall-like. The seating bowl is also very boring. I'm not saying they should have gimmicks and quirks, but it just feels bland and hackneyed. And due to the wide open deck layout, it doesn't feel nearly as intimidating as the original Yankee Stadium. It's like when the Celtics moved from the Garden to the Fleet Center.

The moat is the concrete path that seperates the seats directly behind homeplate/dugouts and the rest of the field seats. Dodger Stadium also has a moat, and it's nearly impossible for fans in the "regular" field level seats to move to the seats directly behind homeplate because the ushers check tickets.

HD-
It's because the network hasn't invested int he technology to show stuff in HD. The Twins have the cameras, which is why FSN can run several games in HD. It is more expensive for them to broadcast in HD, and definitely an up-front investment that a local like 29 hasn't made yet. Note most of the local news networks haven't even invested in HD technology for their news, except KARE and now it sounds like Fox may have recently.

Interesting post today Rick. Just outta curiousity, which MLB ballparks past/present have you been to and how would you rank them based on your experience? I am a believer that your perception of ballparks is strictly based on what you know or have seen.

Just to help with this HD Issue! The OTA games IE. sunday baseball here in the twin cities is not in HD. It is how ever 16/9. Also it will only happen on a select road games and all home games when it is Over the Air (OTA). As for the issue of beening in HD yes it cost's alot of money for any one place to invest in. It will be some time before you ever see OTA games in HD unless they were to go to another Local station like 45. The main money cost that I understand is getting the signal from the TV truck to the UPN29/ FSN. I hope that helps everyone.

Somewhat ballpark related - More development happening in the North Loop. Story by Michelle Bruch in the Downtown Journal about a new restaurant opening in the North Loop area. Click my name for the entire story.

"The owners of 112 Eatery and Barrio are teaming up to open an Italian restaurant in the old Babalu space at 800 Washington Ave. N. in August.

The venue is called Bar La Grassa, which means “the fat,” and is the nickname for the Bologna region of Italy.

The 150-seat design by ESG Architects will include a rustic grotto bar, a dining room with seating overlooking an open kitchen, and a private dining room. The restaurant is going for an intimate feel with raw woods, wrought iron and exposed brick."

Looks like Target Field may have the same problem as NYS, though not quite as bad - the Dugout Box seats in the outfield (sections 1,2,16,17) aren't selling well at all and may show up on TV as big blocks of empty seats.

I hate the moat concept for two reasons - you lose two prime rows of seating for 2/3 of the infield and it's somewhat elitist. I really don't have a problem with the uber-expensive seats behind the plate - Champions Club - but the "moating off" of the dugout box seats really gets me. You want to charge more for the seats in the first 10 rows and/or make them plush? Fine. But that's done at the expense of a few hundred season ticket holders that won't have a chance to sit in the Home Plate Box area because of it.

Everytime I hear someone say "Coom" when I'm watching a game I die a little inside.

Does anyone know if the fans will able to view the bullpens from the main concourse in the outfield? I can't tell by any pictures if the concourse is open above the bullpen or if it will be walled-off. It would kind of neat to be able to lean against a short wall above the pens and watch the pitchers warm-up....

Say Rick, me and my brother are going out to Chicago for that Cubs series in a couple of weeks, for one game we are sitting in section 512 row 1 and I was wondering if those are the seats that you were commenting on about Wrigley? We have never been there so I am a little nervous about how all the seats will be for us.

JCE, I know this question was aimed at Rick, But last year I saw a game in Sec. 412 3rd row, just below Sec 512. Row 1 in 512 is a great seat. The support columns start further up, Great seats. They step up from the walkway and you will not be blocked out by people walking in the walkway below. Also, you will be able to see Lake Michigan.

JCE - those should be fantastic. You are just about even with 3rd base, and being in the first row (mind you, you aren't in the first row, but the first above the upper deck walkway, you should have a great view. The thing to keep in mind about the Wrigley upper deck, is that those post that folks complain about do their job by bring that UD close to the action. I wouldn't be nervous at all about those seats (I had Cubs season tickets as a kid, and have sat just about everywhere in that park)...

Moose

Thank you for saying fenway is overrated.

Thanks for the input guys, that puts me at ease alot about it. I have just heard so much about those columns and being in the upper deck I didn't know were they come in view, so that is good to hear that they start higher up than us.

FYI - Those looking to go to the Twins/Cubs series have a new option. The restaurant in Center Field (the Batters Eye Suite) had previously been a party suite for sale to groups only (75-100 people). It recently has been opened up to individual ticket sales at a rate of $165 per select game (price includes all-you-can-eat food and drink), and the Sat. and Sun. Twins games are listed as available on the link (click me name). Just throwing it out for folks that are interested. I mean, if you're going, why pay $100+ for a ticket on StubHub, when you can get ticket + food in a unique experience (yes, you can access the rest of the bleachers and the rest of the ballpark from what I understand with this ticket).

All I have to say is, if someone takes advantage of this - please provide pictures!

Moose

Those upper deck tickets are for the Saturday game and for the Friday game we scored some lower deck tickets out in section 202 row 14...the price for the lowers were about half as much, probably mostly because it is on a fiday rather than a saturday we were assuming.

Rick and MATT - Fenway IS overrated from the uncomfortable seats standpoint, but first off, they have done a MUCH better job at updating Fenway than they have Wrigley over the years. Hopefully, this will change in the near future, and Wrigley will be renovated back to its former glory.

Now, back to those seats - click my name for some pics (from baseball-fever) of a major seat-repacement project from this past off-season. I'm not going back there this summer, but I'll bet that seating will be much more confortable there now...

Moose

WOW im watching a game on MLB network from the early 90's cubs vs. pitt. makes me really regret talking trash about harry carry , man i miss his voice...

I'm going to see the Brew Crew tomorrow.
Should be an interesting matchup - Twins on their losing streak, and the Brew at the top of the NL Central.

I'm sorry if I'm repeating something - but when I read Charley Walters' column in today's Pioneer Press (of course I revere him as a sports-writing god) I saw this:

"Installation of artificial turf, designed by the FieldTurf firm, began Wednesday at the Gophers’ TCF Bank Stadium. Minnesota’s is among seven Big Ten Conference stadiums using FieldTurf. Installation will take four weeks."

That was new information to me!

artificial turf outside is a joke.....

been to a lot of stadiums myself and met stadium was no jewel! it was in line with old shea stadium!

Artificial turf is pretty much necessary, so I don't see why it's really a joke. If the only time the field was used was for the seven to eight home games a year, it'd be different, but undoubtedly the team, and the band, will practice occasionally in there. Real grass is not out of the question, but the upkeep would be pretty expensive, and it's not like the univerisity, or any extension of the state government, can afford to spend money right now. The idea of real grass in TCF was barely entertained.

Kinick Stadium here is also switching to the new artificial turf technology as we speak. The drainage system under the field was completely clogged and non functional last season after many years of natural grass. Really caused some problems during the Iowa State game last season after the previous day of heavy rains. It seems the new "turf" is the preferred playing surface anyway among players and coaches in the football realm.

The Field Turf that so many Big 10 teams are switching to is the same used in many NFL stadiums including Hinze and Lambeau. Is it real grass that has synthetic blades stitched into the real grass increasing the life and quality of the field. You maintain and mow the grass as if it was only natural grass.

Heinz Field and Lambeau Field do not have 'field turf'. Michigan Stadium, TCF Bank Stadium, Camp Randall, Memorial Stadium (Illinois)and the Horseshoe all have fieldturf along with some NFL teams such as Seattle, Minnesota, New York, Cincinnati, Detroit and Atlanta to name a few.

Lambeau Field's turf is Kentucky bluegrass stitched together with some special synthetic fibers called DD Grassmaster, which is not field turf.

college teams don't, or shouldn't have budgets to fix the kind of turf problems that a grass field in minnesota in the fall/winter can produce... you'd be replacing the field every year...

agreed that fieldturf is preferred and maybe necessary at TCF -- football is so much harder on the field than baseball. add in the fact that they play if it's pouring rain and the field would turn into a giant mudbowl and it's not much of a decision to make.

will be nice to have the smell of fresh cut grass in TF though!

How about Notre Dame wanting to play a football game at NYS? Those are two teams I cannot stand, Yankees and Notre Dame.

I just looked at the seat selector and im getting worried that all the folks with the good dome seats are taking up the nicer cheaper ones at TF there is not one fron row seat avalble in the blechers LF i am bummed!

8 runs already, I guess we were due for a game like this.

i am curious how much these seats will be

Could you take a screenshot of the seat selection diagram and post it here?

Back in MN for a week. Going to my last ever game at the toilet known as the Metrodome tomorrow. I can't wait to spit on the place as I walk out...Hopefully I won't blow out my knee like Rick's buddy did.

Drove by both TCF and TF this morning....WOW!

If Joe Mauer doesn't get SERIOUS MVP consideration this season... I'm gonna be pissed.

Maz can you provide an update on what seats are taken and what seats are still available at this point for Target Field? It looks like lots of people are curious. Thanks much.

Twins up 20-0 against the White Sox heading into the bottom of 7th!

While I love kicking the crap out of the White Sox more than any other team WHY OH WHY couldn't they have used some of this offense outburst while losing 4 games in New York by a grand total of only 5 runs?!?!? Or during the first two games of this White Sox series when they left a bunch of guys in scoring position?!?!

I almost don't like it when they have these crazy offensive outburst and then follow it up with a 3 run production game the following day. Drives you crazy! :-)

Here's to hoping the Twins destroy the Brewers this weekend. Screw you Wisconsin!

Beta

I agree Beta...Tomorrow the Twins lose 2-1....Take it to the bank!

Ok we might need to have Mauer Tested....

I dont have the computer savvy or nealy the patiance and Camden to go through the whoe thing section by section but the breakdown as i see it goes like this:

Between sec 108 to 120 (1st base to 3rd) it is either gone or getting there.. 106 is hardly touched yet,105, 104,10 and 141 are basiclly untouched except for the 1rst rows

121-127 (3rd baseline) .the left field blechers are pretty open excpet for the 1st 2 rows of each section and maybe 2 rows in the back of 129

The CF grandstand is all open except for 2 rows in 238

besides 230 & 229 the hr porch is basiclly open..but those sections i mentioned are about 70% sold out for some reason

228-223 pretty much untouched, sec 222 last 3 rows gone, 221 open, 220 first row gone 219 about 55% gone

218-216 lots of good seats open

215 & 214 just the first few rows are gone

212-201 pretty much all open i think there are a few rows gone in sec 209

301-306 untouched, 307 a few rows gone, 308 rows 8-11 gone. same with 309 also 1/2 of row 12

310 & 311 have been gone since b4 you could pick

312, 313 untouched, 314 about 5 seats gone (one loner by itself..is that you Kevin?)

315 rows 3-5 gone and a few others 2 here 2 there

316-320 wide open, 321 rows 8-11 gone.

322 8-11 gone and 1/2 of row 12

323 rows 1-3 pretty much gone

324-327 open

wow i guess i did go through it all section by section...

hope that helps

Dammit Kevin I will be at the sat game.. to bad we could not both light a seat on fire or somthing!

Kev - you're going to the game tomorrow too?
Me and my bro will be there - somewhere in the Upper Club (i'm buying tickets walk-up).

It appears as though they finally started work again on the lower level stadia. In the homestretch towards the admin building!

this isnt really related to the current topic...but why have the twins worn home jerseys the past two games on the road?

TheTwins announced long ago that they would be having the DD Grassmaster system installed at Target Field by FieldsInc. Teams that use DD Grassmaster include the Packers,Reds,Broncos,Steelers, and the Eagles. This should work out to be a good system for the Twins.The heating system to heat the field to 65 degerees I would guess will go underneath the DD system.

Thanks Mazaratirick, that's great. Do you guys think the club seats (i.e. section L, N, etc.) will be better or worse than the regular seats right below them?

See it for yourself with the 3D seat selector thing JCTwins. It's on the Twins website.

Section L is right above section 117, so, go on to the 3D selector for 117 and section L. Use the same process for Section N. Section L and N are both on the third base side. L is closer to home, N is porportionate to third base, and right above section 119.

The only difference is the ticket price. And season-ticket availability.

BB,

The Twins dropped their road blue "Minnesota" jerseys this season, so I guess they've just been using the home "Twins" ones as a replacement.

BB - It happened this year. The Twins stopped wearing their blue 'minnesota' unis on the road. They decided to just have one blue jersey, the 'Twins' one.

Did they let Rick take pictures on his tour today? Kind've a slap in the face if they let him in the building for two hours on the condition he not take pix.

Mauer4MVP - any particular area you are interested in?

Dugout box gone in the infield, still a lot left in the outfield.

Very little left in Home Plate Box that isn't under the overhang or obstructed. Lots of picks seem to be taking 4 or 6 seats.

Decent availability left in the first Diamond Box sections, but filling fast.

Home plate area Terrace level beginning to fill.

Didn't look at the outfield areas today.

check this out, guys. found this article in the StTrib about the best local rooftop decks for bars/clubs. might be worth checking out

(best rooftop deck for)"Keeping an eye on the Twins stadium construction: Epic.

This rooftop, which sits atop the concert venue's unfinished restaurant next door (and is accessible through the club's second level) gives you a front-row seat to the work happening at Target Field. Until now the rooftop has only been open during concerts. Starting June 3, anyone can check it out during the club's happy hour -- 3-7 p.m. Wed.-Fri."

JCTwins - regarding club seats being better/worse than the seats below them, it depends. Figure a club level seat will be about 15-16 rows further back and elevated from the first level. Not counting the amenity difference, club level seats will have better view of the entire field (being elevated), but I think Club level seats higher than row 5 will be worse than their lower level counterparts (figure row 21 or so).

Of course, it's a bit moot, as the club level seats require a $1K or $2K per seat membership just for the ability to buy tickets.

For the infield, I would not select a Home Plate Box seat about row 15 or 16 or Club level above row 4 or 5. I'd rather sit in Terrace level row 1 than anything higher in the Club level.

Rick thanks for the great blogs and keep up all your great work. You might already know about this but if not you might find it interesting since you got all the bs about taking pictures of TF. Go to facebook and search New Twins Stadium Progress. I think its from a construction worker and he has some good pictures from inside the ballpark. Thanks again and keep up the great work!

JinCR - Thanks for the suggestion! I checked out the Facebook page you referenced above and it has a ton of great Target Field photos. I would agree that it seems he is connected to the construction of the ballpark in someway.

Would recommend others take a look as well.

Thanks JFH. Actually my group of 6 guys already bought club seats. We're trying to decide on a second pair. Your assessment seems pretty accurate.

The other unknown is how many season ticket holders will drop off after the first year. I would imagine if the team goes through a bad year or two there will be some excellent opportunities to move into better seats, and make a far more informed decision after the park is actually open.

Some updated construction pics from the Twins.

Thanks Mo, Those are the same pics the Twins supposedly sent to all season ticket holders last week via e-mail. I know a few of you didn't get them though...interestingly my buddy did.

JCTwins - I suspect there won't be significant seat upgrade options for at least 5-6 years unless a vast percentage of folks that doubled up this year drop extra seats. 4 and 5 year season ticket holders that wanted Home Plate Box seats were surprised to see what little they had to pick from early this week. Anyone that bought seats since then will end up with worse seats than they have now.

The new ballpark halo will last a couple years, plus you have the possibility of the All Star games in 2014. If the Twins make the postseason in the next two or three years, that will further extend things.

I'll predict that you'll get a row a year improvement beginning in 2013 if you have been a STH for less than 7 years. For every year the Twins make the WS, add two years to the start year.

The only way I see to significantly improve seats is to (a) buy LC memberships from someone who wants to sell in the next couple years (b) hope the Twins finish way out of it for the next 2-3 years (and I'm not a big fan of that option.

The Twins stacked the deck against new season ticket holders. I just hope that move doesn't backfire on them in a few years.

There's not much buliding material left on the playing field. They've moved everything off the infield today.

Glory, Hallelujah, I'm seeing green on the TCF Bank Staidum webcam. Turf installation must be going just as planned.

They say the installation of the turf will take about four weeks. What would take them so long? They use the same stuff at The Dump, and they can switch the turf, retract or pull out temporary seats and all the other preparations in less than four hours.

Why so long to install turf at TBS??

i think it's more of a process. It needs to be laid down so it drains well, and I think they add the 'fill' after that, then it needs to be wetted and packed and groomed to the right consistency. But yes 4 weeks seems like a long time.

Won't be long until there's green at TF!

I just emailed DSP some random questions I had. He got back to me right away.

1. There was talk of having a portion of the lower concourse open during non-game times, which would function as part of the public sidewalk system for train commuters. Is this still in the plans?

THIS WAS A TOPIC HEAVILIY DISCUSSED BY THE BALLPARK IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE. THE SPECIFIC OPERATIONAL ISSUES – MAINLY SECURITY – ARE YET TO BE RESOLVED. STAY TUNED FOR MORE DETAILS ON THIS FRONT.

2. I noticed that the small decorative roof over the stairway from Target Plaza to section 240 hasn't been built yet. Is that still in the plans? A SMALL ROOF CANOPY WILL STILL BE ADDED TO THAT PARTICULAR STAIRCASE

3. Does the party deck atop the administration building connect to the upper concourse, or how is it accessible? There are many party/bar/suite areas. Which ones are for season ticket holders and which ones are open to the regular fan?

THE ROOF DECK WILL BE ACCESSIBLE VIA ELEVATORS AND/OR STAIRS FROM MULTIPLE CONCOURSES. IN REGARDS TO CLUBS/RESTAURANTS – ACCESSIBLITY WILL BE AS FOLLOWS:

· TWINS PUB - OPEN TO ALL FANS

· TOWN BALL TAVERN - OPEN TO ALL FANS

· TERRACE LOUNGE - OPEN TO ALL FANS

· ROOF DECK - OPEN TO ALL FANS

· METROPOLITAN CLUB - OPEN TO ALL SEASON TICKET HOLDERS

· LEGEND'S CLUB - OPEN TO LEGEND'S CLUB TICKET HOLDERS

· CHAMPION'S CLUB - OPEN TO CHAMPION'S CLUB TICKET HOLDERS

I have read a couple blog entries about their recent tour of Target Field and read that Rick was there. I cannot wait to read your thoughts. Here is the list of other bloggers that were so lucky to have the tour:

Free Alonzo

Greet Machine

What Jeff Thinks

After reading these entries I still do not understand the Twins no picture policy, even on taking exterior pictures. Come on, are you serious Twins. Shouldn't the Twins be trying to excite a fan base by showing them what a wonderful facility this will be or are you trying to push fans away and alienating them from what what they deserve. Its not about the organization, its about the people, the fans who are keeping this new ballpark and franchise alive.

If this no picture policy stays, it will be very, very dissappointing to say the least.

Sorry for my litte vent. Have a happy and safe memorial weekend everyone!

I don't understand the no piture policy or their general PR regading TF (see previous thread). It's possible the Twins have taken the "if we build it, they will come" attitude, and, so far, it seems to be working. They have had great success selling the premium seats in the LC and CC areas and it certainly looks like full season ticket sales are ahead of projections.

The fans are already coming to TF (and committing to buying tickets) regardless of the current policy.

i am glad that i can admit i was wrong about the twins not being able to follow up their 20 run outing against the white sox with another offensive showing. they are killing the drunken sconnies right now.

kiss my white ass wisconsin!

Kevin in AZ - where were your seats for Friday nites game against the Brewers? Me and my bro were in Sec 225 row 21.

It was a great game, and a great follow-up to the 20-1 against the Sox. Man, all of a sudden in two games, the Twins got their groove back and outscored their opponents 31-4. Go figure.

Thanks for the tour description Rick. You do a great service for those not in the immediate area that do not get to watch this stadium take shape. I wish the Twins would realize that your photos do not take from the fan's future surprise but if fact they whet the appetite for future visits. Keep up the good work.

Thanks for the TFC video link Eric.

And thank you Tom for the screen grab from FS North with the logo being installed.

I hate when they try to fake HD television. As much as I hate Fox and everything they stand for, their HD telecasts are amazing (minus the sound, they've got a crew of idiots doing the broadcasting). The colors are always bright and everything is so crisp on my LCD TV. If you want really bad picture, check out the Mets games on WCNY. It's what the world would look like if you took a swim in a pool of chlorine and bleach without any goggles.