thanks rick! great work as always. man, do i hate the multi foods tower. it really is too bad that its location has to somewhat ruin what would be an other wise pristine view of beautiful wells fargo tower. oh well, what can you do.....

great update!

went to willams arena last night for the game and TCF stadium is a monster!!! its so fricken hugelooks 3 times the size of TF... it looks pretty good and with all of the sports arenas/stadiums all within a block it really will add the the big ten feel!....(except the baseball field)

thanks for the idea Kev, the boy had a blast last night!

Thanks for the update Rick, you answered a lot of questions. It's nice having some light shed on the 6th street plaza link, but I'm lookin forward to uncovering the rest of that mystery.

I wish they'd blow up the metrodome as soon as the Twins left. It would be neat to use some of the old teflon roof for banners on the side of the garage.... or something.

I would like to see that rock airlifted over the metrodome and dropped right on top. The dome pops and the rock is back in its rightful place where it never should have been removed to build that toilet.

Kevin - nice idea...lol. what would the Vikings do then?
mazaratirick - of course TCF Stadium is three times the size of TF. They had more space to work with, and they're playing football there!

not sure about this comment: "I think there are some people involved in the process who might want to see it disappear in the long-term. But right now it actually serves as a rather nifty gateway. Just step beneath it and..." personally i hope they dont get rid of the skyway. if in fact they do have Twins Fest at Target Center - when its 46 below zero...those skyways will be nice.

and will create a very photogenic shot of the ballpark when it's out of commission for the winter.

so rick, are you planning on doing one of these when the Vikings build their stadium? you've done an awesome job.

luke, after the vikings' effort in the 2nd half today, they should be inside the dome when the boulder is dropped.

after what AP did last weekend, no don't hear his name ONCE during the last 2 offensive series. Childress needs to go, YESTERDAY!

thanks luke, i was confused i thought tcf stadium was built for curling...

Another rough football weekend for Minnesota...both the Vikings and Gophers were leading at halftime, to only fall into disappointment in the second half.

Luke,

I wasn't aware that TFC Bank Stadium was being built for football, thanks for the clarification!

correction from previous post...TCF Bank Stadium

The one concern I have about the plaza is the massive bottle neck near the Target Center. Depending on the size of the crowds it could take a long time to get all the way to 1st ave.

andrew wrote: "The one concern I have about the plaza is the massive bottle neck near the Target Center. Depending on the size of the crowds it could take a long time to get all the way to 1st ave."

oh no! you might have to interact with some fellow human beings for a little while. how horrible!

sorry couldn't resist. just breakin' your balls man, just breakin' your balls......it's late

Thanks Rick. I'm loving the photo tour.

I have to say I'm bummed about the trees. I really liked how they softened the plaza and made a pleasant entry way...and also how they would reflect the seasons. Can you provide any further details as to the new plantings?

Otherwise, I love the plaza. I love how it's wonderfully integrated, open, and connects with down town.

Thanks for your wonderful work.

Without trees, I'd like to see some sort of trellis or other structure that could be green with vines and other plantings, yet still tall enough to visually break up the space and provide some shade. Green is key, as that plaza needs some plants to soften it up a bit.

This morning there were tons of welders working on the center field and left field steel structure - seemed like more than usual. I wondered if Mortenson isn't "picking up the pace" before it gets colder and more difficult to work outside. (?)

The Twins have a pretty unique opportunity if they are given carte blanche to cover the parking ramp wall as they see fit. Since Target is kicking in, they'll have the cash to do something cool and "iconic". We've been debating what the "ICON" of this park is that it will be known for...this give the Twinks another opportunity.

Nice pics, Rick.

can you see homeplate from inside the 6th street skyway?

Update from the ballpark authority about the circulation ramp covering:
This Update is the 72nd in a series of informational alerts to let you know about the construction going on related to the Twins Ballpark.

Monday, November 17th and Tuesday, November 18th (7:00 am to 3pm), a Ballpark contractor will close the north lane (the one closest to the Ballpark) of the 7th Street Bridge and the sidewalk by the Ballpark to start building steel framing that will support large wood louvers at the South Pedestrian Ramp.

Wood it is!!

That skyway could go away if it's OK to make people walk outside. Build some steps from the plaza up to the parking ramp. You wanna go from here to there? Walk down the steps, across the plaza, and back up some more steps.

The skyway is like HERC. Here to stay...

actually TCF Bank stadium could also be used for soccer, should Chicago win the bid for the 2016 Olympics. TCF Bank Stadium is in Chicago's bid book.
I too am concerned about rushour bottle neck around Target Center, especially after those Thursday 12:15 starts. But, as accessible as this park seems to be, with the Light Rail, 394, 94, the new Northstar Line, the Cedar Bike Trail, highway 55 not far away - it might not be too bad. we'll have to wait and see.
And yes, I agree...after yesterday, the Vikes should be in the Dome when the rock is dropped.
Hey, an idea for ramp right next to the park (Ramp B I believe)...I think I big ass video board should be installed across the entire thing.
Or a big flashing Target logo - a la the Citgo sign, visible just beyond the Green Monster at Fenway...lol.

Rick, do you have any influence over Hines development like you do the Ballpark Authority? Why not use the back of that giantass scoreboard to put a big video board that broadcasts twins games out to the surrounding Dock Street and North Loop area? People could sit in "Overpass Park" in the summer and watch games.

Anyone else notice that the webcams have't been updated since 11 am this morning?

Moose

I noticed that, Moose - I wonder if they're moving them?

click my name for the webcams. looks pretty flaming dark for 11AM.

More likely that they just ran out of storage space for the photos or something. Click link to see the live shots. That would mean they are not currently being moved.

click my link for something really fun...

what's the circulation ramp for?

I'd suggest, as someone else has on this site, that the parking ramp be covered with various plantings, like they do on the entire sides of some new buildings in Europe. Think about it a minute. Different planings, some flowring, some not, would add a lot of color and natural beauty to the Plaza. In the fall, when they turn to various shades of red, orange, and gold, the wall of the ramp would look spectacular, and help to soften the appearance of the concrete plaza. With a southeastern exposure, it would all get plenty of sunlight and would give the ballpark some added, distinctive beauty.

You had to assume we were due for another one...that's right, another Nick Coleman anti-stadium article in the Star Tribune.

He does make some good points, but there is always two sides to a story and he fails to mention how the stadium construction is actually CREATING jobs in this current market.

nick coleman is a small-minded twit....ignore anything written by him or fat pat reusse. usually nothing but recycled mindless drivel. neither has a clue what they are even talking about.

im sure they will slap some best buy logos on that ramp.... you know it will be somehting they can make money on

Nick Coleman is one of the most uneducated writers in this city...how can he simply "shoot from the hip" and make crazy accusations and prejudice assumptions in nearly every article he writes and have a job? 3 years ago I wrote the Strib to cancel my subscription based solely on writers like him being coddled there. I can't stomach that kind of garbage.

While the scoreboard does block the Minikahda Building, mplsgreg's idea about broadcasting the games right outside the park is fabulous. It's much like the Oakland A's plan to construct a double sided video screen.

I hope the Twins feel compelled to team up with Hines (although feelings might be a little strained) as well as the 2010 Partners to try to make the area outside the park welcoming. It will ultimately add value to the club and the park.

how long ago was it that the schedule was painted on the CCO building? i think that was before my time.
or, if they're bringing the flagpole back to pay homage to the Met, maybe they should take the "Blue Monster Hefty Bag" from the dome, and place it across the ramps.

schedule was painted on the CCO building when i was a kid.. im 33 now ..

The double sided scoreboard is an interesting idea, but only if there's a place to watch the other side of the scoreboard. Minikhada Mini Storage does not count. The other spot that would have a great view of the scoreboard? The 394 on ramps. Thanks, but no thanks.

I think a board like that would be nice on the plaza.

On another note, does it feel like they are taking a really long time getting the stadia supports installed?

Maybe put an external video board on top of the skyway, facing downtown, since you cant see the park anyways.

I would prefer a second video board somewhere inside the stadium so all fans can view the replays, highlights, etc. Personally, right now, a video board outside the stadium is a big waste of money.

how about a dramatic book reading of each half inning on the plaza?

Anything other than decoration on the plaza doesn't make much sense. The plaza is relatively small, and will be a funnel into the stadium. Putting something functional on the plaza itself would be a waste of money as it cannot be seen from anywhere other than the plaza. The back of the scoreboard on the other end might end up being a giant ugly empty canvas just due to its massive size. Do you think the interpretive dancers could hang off of it and twirl around and stuff?

how about some food vendors on the plaza? only problem though, most stadiums don't allow outside food to be brought into the place.
and hey, where's the picnic area going to go? come on, it can't be Twins baseball without a picnic area!

luke - That may be one of the biggest misconceptions out there. I don't know how many MLB parks you've been to (I've been to about 2/3 of the current MLB parks), and only a couple I can think of do not let you bring in outside food. Sure, there are limits, but you can bring in, say, soft-sided coolers up to 16"x16"x8" filled to the brim with whatever you want at PNC; A clear plastic bag full of, say fried chicken, at Yankee Stadium (no word on New Yankee Stadium - but I'll bet New Yorkers will be quite upset if the policy changes); peanuts sold right outside the ballpark at Jacobs, er, Progressive Field; similar policies to Yankee Stadium at PetCo, Tropicana, AT&T, SafeCo and Kauffman, and on and on...

Click on my name for the Metrodome/Twins A-Z page, where you can find this policy:

PROHIBITED ITEMS
Bottles, cans, and other beverage containers are not allowed into the stadium, except for non-alcoholic beverages purchased on the Plaza. No bags larger than 16"x16"x8" will be allowed into the park. All bags meeting this criteria, including purses, are subject to search. Fans may bring food items into the dome, provided they are in small paper or plastic bags.

The Vikings - and for that matter, the NFL - are a different animal. While food is not directly addressed on Vikings.com, there is this note:

Cans & Bottles: A stadium ordinance prohibits all beverage containers from being brought into the stadium.

Moose

how about nothing on the plaza. keep the traffic flowing. i don't need to keep running into morons that are looking off to the right or left, standing in front of me when I want to walk forward.

God bless ya kev in az! God bless ya! love the classic one-liners.....

yea you can bring just about any food into the dome.. just no drinks... i had a hard time getting baby bottles in once when my son was a baby... but its easy to have a pint of capt morgan in ur pocket... makes those 5 bucls sodas all the more worth it !

of course thats when the kids are @ home......

since we're on the topic of the plaza, i would like to know how the plaza at tf compares to the plaza at the dome. since most will arrive at tf via the plaza, is it just me or does the plaza seem too small? (it's smaller than the dome's, isn't it rick?)

I think it might be a little smaller but also EVERYBODY starts the pregame @ the plaza at the dome, the LRT loads and unloads there also... Rick said before that Tf will have many other points of entry and exits than the plaza... of you take the LRT you will exit thru the LF or CF gate not the plaza,,,

this plaza won't be as crowded because people will be entering target field from multiple points. people emptying out of lrt trains will enter the park itself first and take the wrap-around concourse if they want to get to the plaza. there will enough activity all around the facility that the plaza won't be the epicenter like the dome's plaza is. everyone who goes to an event at the metrodome basically bunches up on it's west side before going to their respective gates.

is there a echo in here?

I think the popularity of the Domes plaza has alot to do with the fact that fans simply don't want to enter the dome until it almost game time. They'd much rather sit outside under the sun than the roof of the dome.
Alot more fans will enter the ballpark earlier at Target Field.

when i went to both safeco and petco, everyone went inside right away to watch BP, get food, wander around, etc. right now at the dome, we avoid all of these because no one wants to go inside, especially on a beautiful summer day.

it will be really nice to be able to walk all around the park on a nice day before the game.

Also, I can't recall ever going into the Metrodome early enough to watch batting practice. I feel I've timed my entrance just right when my ticket gets checked and I can hear the national anthem being sung. Now with Target Field I will go early to many games to take in the atmosphere of pregame activities like batting practice etc. Even a simple thing like the sound of the bat hitting the ball (without an echo) will be thrilling.

The plaza is too small....There won't be any trees....not enough art, there aren't enough doors on the pro shop, the shitstack is ugly, the wrong type of evergreens are used in the batters eye, the 2nd webcam sucks, since the hot stove season started, the only contracts Billy Smith has signed is an extension for their manager and horrible radio play-by-play announcer.....aw hell, let's just blow the place up and start over again!!!

I agree, the plaza is too small. Make it bigger, Target!

Here's a link I found today discussing the expansion of the plaza!

Gotta wholeheartedly agree John Gordon sucks. But then I got spoiled with five years of Marty Brennaman and Joe Nuxhall before I moved back to MN.

While the plaza will be important for "hang out" time, food, vendors (?) before games, many fans may be arriving near the transit center by train, bus or LRT. Could the pregame festivities possibly take place in a couple different areas?

Agreed, Rick. Especially for the first season or two, people are going to be anxious to get into the park.

This "spending time at the plaza" discussion reminds me of the first time I went to Miller Park. We parked in the lots where you have to walk across the bridge over Miller Park Way.

If there were food concessions, or even festivities, going on in their plaza area, I have no recollection because I wanted to see the inside of the stadium so badly.

Looking at the google map of Miller Park... I know that Selig used to own the team, but do they really have to name a street "Selig Drive"? Have they no shame?

maybe mazaratirick can bring a match-box car to pretend he's tailgaiting on the plaza...

OG:
Thankfully, I never do this:
BS
2.) The manner of talking nonsense and doing things to piss people off.
For the record: I'm not a Delmon hater. I just think the Twins coaches can't stand the guy and have convinced Billy to trade him away for anything from anyone, especially after Span's year.

kev,
I can't believe you left out the beautiful exterior of the Target Center on your rant. The shame...

that would be so swell locker... i could bring a go cart.. and a tiny weber and go to town!... then the twins Security guards would kill me... im serious, i have been nearly beaten by a few of them.. they really love the white police shirts they wear with the twins logo... they are real tuff guys!! at the dome.

I have heard also for the last few months about delmon and his basic unwilling to learn anything from the twins... and they want to trade him.. i hope they dont cuz i think when they do he will be a slugger like the rest of them that leave... we are begging casy blake to come back for godsake!... maybe the "twins way" is just starting to mean to a young player that "keep bunting and moving runners to 2nd and you wont ever get a good contract"

John Gordon is awful. He's getting on in years. believe me, he's no Harry Carry thats for sure. man, I miss Harry. It's been like ten years already hasn't it? I think he died in 1997.
I think the press box at TF should be named in honour of Herb Carneal now that I think of it.

and for all you Harry fans out there..."and a one, and a two and a Take Me Out to the Ballgame..."

Good heavens, Mazaratirick, what did you do to incur the wrath of the Twin's security guys?

luke,
Harry Caray was certainly entertaining, especially the last 10-15 years he was working, however, it's been much longer when he was a good announcer. I've had the pleasure of listening to Vin Scully in LA for the 7 years I lived there. Herb Carneal was good, Halsey Hall was an absolute riot on the radio. John Gordon just plain sucks. I'm so sick of listening to bats cracking and fans cheering and not knowing what the hell just happened because Gordon won't get off his stupid rant about some minor leaguer...SHUT UP AND CALL THE GAME! You can get away with being a babbling idiot on TV, just ask Ken Harrelson in Chicago. Viewers can still see what's going on during one of Hawk's rants, but on the radio, no way!