Locked him up.....

[Moonboots]

Still not sure why there isn't a retractable roof on there.  They do plan on playing through October, and it is in Minnesota, right? I understand wanting to avoid the sterile nature of a dome and keep some open air, but there's going to be many a postponement I feel like.

[SaintPaulWarrior]

Still not sure why there isn't a retractable roof on there. 

$$$$

[reinko]

$$$$

I get what you are saying, but what about all the lost revenue for every home game from April and May a few years down the road the shine of the new stadium has worn off.  Sure, years 1 and and most likely 2, fans won't care, but yikes after that.

[Benny B]

I get what you are saying, but what about all the lost revenue for every home game from April and May a few years down the road the shine of the new stadium has worn off.  Sure, years 1 and and most likely 2, fans won't care, but yikes after that.

When I lived in Rochester, I went to Twins games all the time (5-10 games/year).  We always bought tickets in advance and planned for the games knowing that baseball would always be played.  Granted, Rochester is just a bit over an hour away (longer if you stop in Coates   ), but with Target Field opening I certainly wouldn't buy tickets in advance for any April/May games and may even wait until the day of or before to commit to buying tickets for a game (and by then, I may already have other plans).  Who wants to risk driving 2-3 hours for nothing, especially if you have kids in the car?

Miller Park has drawn 3M+ fans partly due to the fact that they've had a decent team on the field the past couple years but mostly due to the fact that they are drawing people in from all over the state who buy tickets knowing  that baseball will be played that day.  Maybe MSP is different.  Maybe the majority of their ticket-buyers are in the metro-area.  Maybe Twins fans just don't care what the weather is going to be like.

The Target Field honeymoon won't last forever, and if the on-field production drops off, I wouldn't be surprised if the Twins are drawing Marlin-esque crowds for three months (half) of the season.  That no-trade clause may come back to bite Jimmy P in the behind.

[SaintPaulWarrior]

I get what you are saying, but what about all the lost revenue for every home game from April and May a few years down the road the shine of the new stadium has worn off.  Sure, years 1 and and most likely 2, fans won't care, but yikes after that.

I agree...they raised the county tax for the new park and there was only so much they could do before it was too much and the people said no...on the same note the billionaire owner(s) would not pony up the extra $$$ for the moving roof.

In the mid '90's they were lucky to have 3,000 people at the games.

[MU B2002]

When I lived in Rochester,... (longer if you stop in Coates   )

Is the K.O.D. in Coates?

[SaintPaulWarrior]

Is the K.O.D. in Coates?

Inver Grove Heights.......the city closed down the club in Coates.

[MU B2002]

Inver Grove Heights.......the city closed down the club in Coates.

That's right.  I should know that as I used to work on S Robert Trail

[Benny B]

Inver Grove Heights.......the city closed down the club in Coates.

It's been a while since I was up that way.  Suffice to say, I don't miss it.

[mu_hilltopper]

In the mid '90's they were lucky to have 3,000 people at the games.

Really?  I mean, the official attendance average for 94-95-96 ranges between 14-17,000.  If only 3000 were showing up, that's an unbelievable amount of no-shows.

Target field will do fine. 

[SaintPaulWarrior]

Really?  I mean, the official attendance average for 94-95-96 ranges between 14-17,000.  If only 3000 were showing up, that's an unbelievable amount of no-shows.

Target field will do fine. 

To clarify...I should have said the games in late August and September of the mid to late '90's there were about 3-4,000 actually at the game.

They have already sold 2.6 million tickets of the 3.2 million available for the upcoming year.

[Jay Bee]

Inver Grove Heights.......the city closed down the club in Coates.

Perv.  Are you going on Saturday?  (To the Gophers ballgame, not KOD or some other smut shop)   I still have not toured the new ballpark.. might have to wander over.

I think we might have another wild one this year with your ChiSux and the Consensus Twins in a late September and/or October battle.. should be fun.  

I hope to be at many games this year, mostly to b1tch about the weather and secondarily to try out Senor Smokes.

[SaintPaulWarrior]

Perv.  Are you going on Saturday?  (To the Gophers ballgame, not KOD or some other smut shop)   I still have not toured the new ballpark.. might have to wander over.

I think we might have another wild one this year with your ChiSux and the Consensus Twins in a late September and/or October battle.. should be fun.  

I hope to be at many games this year, mostly to b1tch about the weather and secondarily to try out Senor Smokes.

Honestly never been to KOD but have been to Coates a long time ago.  Definitely going to the game on Saturday for $2.  Park opens 4 hours before gametime.

And it looks like the Sox are the Consensus:

Chicago White Sox  +150     
 
 Cleveland Indians  +800     
 
 Detroit Tigers  +350     
 
 Kansas City Royals  +1500     
 
 Minnesota Twins  +175 

 

[tower912]

As a huge Tigers fan, congratulations to the Twins on holding on to Mauer.   Keeping the hometown hero is huge.    The hometown discount helped some, sure, but they really had to sign him.   The PR impact if he had left for NYY/NYM/Bos would have been immense.  And I think it will be a 3 team race.   I despaired when Polanco/Granderson/Jackson all left, but the youngsters are coming along, Damon will have a very positive influence in the clubhouse, and the starting pitching looks healthy.   With MU done, I am counting down the days until opening day.   

[Jay Bee]

Just got back from the Target Field Open House aka Louisiana Tech thrashing of the Gophers.  I liked the overhangs on the lower level - it affords an opportunity to stay out of the dreadful sun... had to stop at Senor Smokes to... two beef tacos for $5 was reasonable priced (relatively speaking) but not very good.. beans in the taco?  c'mon.. it was beans, a little beef, a lotta cilantro. 

The park looks good.. can't wait for the big boys to start playing... A basic draft beer was $7... was hoping it wouldn't be $8 so I can't complain.  Grill dog with onions and chips ... $5.25

Seats face the field nicely throughout.. and seem just a little larger than the Dome... in the outfield, there is some bench (with backs) seating... hard to tell, but with a full house it seems like it might be a little tight..

SPWarrior - I was standing in a beer line and saw a guy walking the concourse with a Sox hat.. 'Grumpy's'?  on the sweatshirt... could have been some other weirdo Sox fans in attendance, but I bet that was you...

[SaintPaulWarrior]

SPWarrior - I was standing in a beer line and saw a guy walking the concourse with a Sox hat.. 'Grumpy's'?  on the sweatshirt... could have been some other weirdo Sox fans in attendance, but I bet that was you...

Not me.....no hat (I don't own a Sox hat) and a Guinness sweatshirt.  Park is beautiful but those seats in the upper deck are way up there.