Very nice. Can't wait for my next trip to Minneapolis to see it for myself.

I like the flashing Twins win idea.

this mite be a dumb question but is that twins sign going to light up? or is it just going to be getting its light from the lights above?

From the Penn Ave perspective, that stadium looks HUGE.

was down there today too... place was crawling with Twins fans after the game... got to hear the construction workers hassling the Sox fans as they passed.

very nice pics.

There are a few new photos of the "Twins" logo on the facebook site also... and a really cool shot from inside the canopy.

Ahh yeah!!!

That looks awesome, it makes me so glad that there's not a Target Field sign up there, it really lets people know that this is OUR house. Unlike Citi Field where you can barely find Mets logos anywhere, you know who wears the pants in that relationship.

Is it me? I still don't see a difference between the logo on the TF scoreboard and the current one.

it's very subtle. the only thing noticable is the "s"

haha! suck on that "no photo policy"!

this is getting good. this is getting real good... nicely done, rick!

This ballpark is just more and more amazing by the day.

Target Field definitely resembles little bits and pieces of other ballparks while it will form its own true identity with the canopy, administration building, etc.

For example, when you see the "Twins" script logo above the scoreboard, you think of Jacobs Field.

The limestone makes me think of PNC Park and Petco Park.

The outfield pavilion in Right Field reminds me of Fenway Park.

Those exhibition games on April 2 and 3 cannot come soon enough, same goes with the April 12 opener.

Good pics, Rick!

Thanks Rick. Great pics! Also, your little note at the end of the update about there being no need to prepare Target Field bathrooms for sleazy Iowa football fans = PRICELESS!!

Can't stand Hogeye fans. They are almost as bad as mouthy Becky Badger fans.

BTW - Any offense to Iowa Hogeye or Becky Badger fans on this board was FULLY INTENDED!!

Ski-U-Mah....GO GOPHERS!!

:-)

Beta....

I know what you mean, Rick. I see the subtleties in the logo too. It looks like in general the letters are "squished" together a bit more....but I could be wrong, I do live in AK (though not for much longer). Also, in your panoramic picture from Penn Ave do I see what looks to be louvers on the 7th St side????

Great pics!

Lastly, does anyone know if any more planters can be added to the plaza? It doesn't look like there is enough.

Nice pics...."Twins" looming over the horizon!

And both Iowa State and Gopher fans can enjoy the Hawkeye dig.

I see that they plan on adding about 300 seats above the administration building where the Budweiser sign will be. This will be a cool look to the ballpark, kinda like the rooftop seats around Wrigley Field.

It's beautiful. I get almost teary-eyed looking at it. The stadium of my dreams is coming to life!

the trees in Center field, reminiscent of Coors Field.
Home Run porch layout a bit like the one at the Rangers' park.
Lights on the sun canopy - a la Safeco Field.

Grass, dirt, bases and stands, similar to Shibe Park...

ballpark geek here, i took a drive from different vantage points just to see how the scoreboard looked. really nice sight coming in on eastbound 394 with target field on the horizon.

As a typography nerd, it looks like the logo changes are:

1. The "s," obviously.
2. Slightly smaller, more finessed serifs.
3. Tighter tracking (space between letters), although that could just be a byproduct of the physical sign.
4. Thicker strokes, but that could be a trick of the photographs.

A nice update. Makes me want to drive in from the west just to get that view.

whoever mentioned it is right, and it's a no-brainer, but "twins win" with the alternating flashing of that big logo after a win will be an awesome sight. now we just need dsp to come through with our beloved "twins" shaking hands across the river. c'mon dsp!

Driving in this morning on my normal commute on 394 to downtown was quite a moment. I realized that as long as I live on the west side and work downtown I will see that Twins logo above the canopy in all its glory.

The Twins and HOK had to have thought of that during the design progress, because as as shown in the pictures, it is perfectly sitting right above the canopy for drivers to see. People will never be asking "What is that?" or "Where is the stadium?". What a way to lure 'em in!

I also love the Twins/Win alternating flash. Leaving the "Win" lit after the game could be like the flags at Wrigley and PNC indicating a win...

this is a question to rick or anyone else who has been inside the stadium, not to sound negative but we went around the outside of the ballpark and we never realized how small of a place this is, fom the target field side it almost looks like the scoreboard is in center field, obviously its not but it just looks so teeny. we are from the east coast where we are used to the stadiums having some bulk to them, and im woried this one is so very small. so for the guys who have been inside does it give of that feel as well? thanks

i meant to say target center side apologies

you're right, site is small, but look at those outfield bleachers, we'll be literally on top of the action, not set back at a distance. smallest amount of foul territory outside of wrigley so bring a glove.

cool, i cant wait to see it, its nothing like we have out east at all, im a life long twins fan, and i want this to be amazing

Is it just me, or does it look as though the infield section of the playing surface has been completely cleared out?

A good article that relates to the garbage burner.

That scoreboard looks amazing, I have no problem with the script they used its Twins no matter what era it is.. it looks great made me change my desktop .. and i agree with mike it reminds me of jacobs field

where did it say that they are adding 300 seats on top of the admin building?

Here are a couple tidbits from the Minnesota Ballpark Authority May monthly meeting. Click my name for the entire meeting.

Demolition of the bridge parapet along 7th is complete. Populous and the City are reviewing the lighting plan for uniformity. Ramp A elevated walkway columns are being built and installation will occur on June 15th during which time 7th Street and 3rd Avenue will be closed. The plaza extension is continuing at a rapid pace as deck structure for the walkway is being set from 1st Avenue towards 2nd. The Plaza stairs to the skyway will be complete once the opening to the skyway is made. Northstar received their Certificate of Occupancy from Mortenson four months ahead of schedule.

Mr. Mehls reported that the project on schedule. Critical activities ahead are completion of exterior and interior spaces before the winter months. The substantial completion date is March 3, 2010. The structural steel will be completed June 5th with a luncheon being planned that day. Enclosure is on schedule to finish end of June including stone wall panels and brick. All nine topiaries have been installed on the plaza. Construction of the roof deck bar on top of the Twins Administration Building has begun. The playing field is being graded in preparation for sod installation in August. The sod will be harvested August 15th in Colorado and installed within 36 hours in Minnesota. Presently there are 800 workers on-site.

I know a lot of people are disappointed that the jerseys will not be the 60's style, but almost exactly a year ago (6-4-08) I emailed Matt Hoy about using the old style. I posted his response if you wanna look at the date in the archives. I was not surprised because of his respose.

Here is the post (the whole uniform debate is under "Construction Update-May 29) :

As far as the new uniforms go, I did send an email to Matt Hoy VP, and I also attached the pictures of the 3 uniform designs. Here is what he had to say in his reply:

Tom, I am a little confused as the attached files are not accurate representations of any of our current or contemplated uniforms…

matt

Here are the uniforms I attached in the email to Matt Hoy (Click)...

Wondering if anyone has heard about when the admin building will be ocupied by Twins officials. Reason I ask is that the Mets completed and moved into their offices at Citi in September of 2008 (click my name), a full six months before the ballpark oficially oppened. Any chance of that happening here (especially with all the talk of Target Field being on-time to ahead of schedule)?

Moose

I heard something, might have been in that old guy interview, I think sometime this summer is expected, though I'm not sure if that's for the Twins entire operations or not, might just be the Ballpark Authority.

Moose - I'll try to dig it up (unless someone beats me to it), but I thought I read that the ballpark has to be occupant-ready by March 1. Work will still be going on, but I believe the park must be completed enough to where the Twins can start occupying offices by March 1.

I'll see what I can dig up.

on that Penn Ave panoramic - it looks really neat how "Twins" is above the ballpark. Better than "Best Buy" or "Stanley" or some other ad.

Does anyone know what the back of the scoreboard is supposed to look like (if anything)? I live in the north loop and the back of the scoreboard is very visible. It would be cool if they put a twins logo on the back like the TCF bank scoreboard.

Thanks!

luke - i don't think there was ever any plan to put anything other than a twins team logo on the top of the scoreboard regardless of sponsor.

According to the model, the back of the scoreboard is finished and has a large logo on it.

On the changes to the model as a result of Target Plaza, the back of the scoreboard had a Target Field logo instead of the Twins logo. See the link in my name for the pictures from annoying customer on March 31, 2009.

thanks rational actor. i do like that it looks like they are doing the rest of the scoreboard in the same material as the canopy. really like the look & texture of it!

I love what you're doing here Rick! Keep it up! I'm addicted to your site. Things are getting better by the day. I can't wait!

BTW I found the Iowa statement hilarious in spite of the fact that I'm a big Hawkeye fan.

And by the way, to those of you who hate Hawkeye fans so much, I'm also a Twins season ticket holder and I have this to say to you: Scoreboard. ;-)

Looking through Twins Territory's pics, there was a shot of the glass going in on the playing side of the Admin building. Does the team need to be worried about long foul balls breaking the windows? Have they mentioned anything about what their plans are?

Does anyone else hate the numerous target logo's that dominate the floor of the plaza?

The 300 bleacher seats are going to be added to the Budweiser roof deck on top of the administration building, which will include bleacher seats, standing room, a full bar, and a giant fire pit...sounds to me to be one hell of a rooftop party. Twinsbaseball.com has a quick article on the rooftop seating on the target field page. I also notice that seats are beginning to be installed down the upperdeck right field line. Can't wait.