At the ballpark

Posted at 12:38 PM on January 4, 2010 by Bob Collins (9 Comments)
Filed under: Sports

It's done. Today, the Minnesota Twins are the proud owners of a new ballpark, thanks to the people of Hennepin County.

Rick Prescott, who writes the excellent Ballpark Magic blog reports that scalpers are getting -- or at least asking for -- $7,000 per ticket for opening day, and that parking is going to be a pain in the neck:

There's gonna be congestion and confusion in these ramps come April, the likes of which hasn't been seen in these parts since, oh, let's say the Carter Administration. (Feel free to point out that Timberwolves fans have figured this all out and, if you want a fight, that Twins fans are smarter than Wolves fans. But I don't think it matters.)

The Twins have installed a piece of art -- a wind veil -- from artist Ned Kahn. Prescott's video looks like a chain-link fence...

... which is not to say it's not art, of course.

The opening of the new ballpark also means the end of Kirby Puckett Way. The new Twins' address is 1 Twins Way, which invites some to note that 1 Twins Way is to barely make the playoffs and then lose to the Yankees in the first round.

Opening day at the new yard is April 12. Here are the recent high temperatures in Minneapolis on April 12:

2009: 57
2008: 37
2007: 46
2006: 72
2005: 54
2004: 46
2003: 64
2002: 63
2001: 50

Outdoor baseball will require us to get back into the habit of checking the forecast before deciding whether to take in the game. In the meantime, veterans of the old Metropolitan Stadium are obliged to share their keep-warm strategies.

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Comments (9)

"Feel free to point out that Timberwolves fans have figured this all out..."

That's an irrelevant comment. Target center sells out at around 18,000 seats. The Twins have averaged over 20,000 a game since 2001. So even if Wolves fans (insert snide comment about the dwindling number here) have figured it out there will be more than twice as many for that opening game and many others through the summer.

Posted by JackU | January 4, 2010 1:55 PM

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Of course, we must remember that getting out of the parking garages around the Metrodome was no picnic. I used to park at the first garage off of I-94 and I'd stay for an hour after gametime and there'd still be a line in the garage to get out and onto the on-ramp for 94 east.

I'm a partial season ticket holder for the Wolves and nowadays, I park at the garage near Orchestra Hall ($4 on non-event night) and take the skyway over to Target Center.

I see little reason in needing to park near the venues, especially in the beautiful summertime.

Posted by Bob Collins | January 4, 2010 2:21 PM

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I'm just glad I could help out, for those couple of years I lived in Hennepin County. I think I'll go check out the new ball park just so I can see which brick has my name etched on it.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to dig through this pile of second-hand clothes to see if I can find anything new to wear to work..

Posted by Brian F | January 4, 2010 2:53 PM

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Come on, people, it's not rocket science: Take light rail or a bus and dress in layers, or whine about parking and weather while you watch on TV.

Posted by Tom | January 4, 2010 3:54 PM

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The parking "issue" cracks me up. There are 6750 spots in those ramps, which is quite a bit of parking right smack next to the stadium. If you're a carpooler into downtown Minneapolis, you can register, and pay $20 a month.

http://www.abc-ramps.com/carpooling.aspx

Posted by Jason DeRusha | January 4, 2010 5:27 PM

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Is that the big garages behind Target Center? When we first moved here, I parked in there for a Wolves game and, ended up pretty high up. I still kick myself that in the time it took a traffic jam to clear, I didn't bother to learn a new language.

This, as you might expect, was many, many years ago in Timberwolves years.

Posted by Bob Collins | January 4, 2010 5:38 PM

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Jason (and Bob,) I think the parking issue is just another manifestation of what happens when you have a state whose population is overwhelmingly native and (mostly) hasn't ever lived in any truly congested urban area. Ever been to a Red Sox game? You can't get near the ballpark in a car within hours of gametime, and if you somehow manage to, you and the car will still be trapped there several hours after the final pitch.

The lingering weather/roof complaining is another example of the same problem. The months that cold weather is likely to be an issue are April and October, during which MSP has virtually the same average weather conditions as Boston, Cleveland, Detroit, and Chicago, ALL of which have open-air parks. But there seems to be no shortage of Twins fans anticipating an annual weather apocalypse due to our unthinkable decision to attempt outdoor baseball...

Posted by Sam | January 4, 2010 5:44 PM

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We are Minnesotans, we love the outdoors, its time to get outside. If Chicago can do it, I'm certain we can handle it

Posted by Myles | January 4, 2010 5:44 PM

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I would think if the ballpark really is to enhance the economy downtown, the parking shouldn't be THAT convenient. Walk a few blocks to get to the car, maybe you stop at a store or restaurant.

The only down side of open air will be for the people who drive three or four hours to take in a game, only to have it be rained out.

Aside. A few years ago, I drove down from the Berkshires to Yankee Stadium to take in a game (3 hour drive) and just about the time I was to get off the Deegan Expressway, they announced the game was postponed because it MIGHT rain.

Seems it was "getaway" day for both teams and they didn't want to risk missing their flights if the game MIGHT have been delayed by rain.

It turned out to be a lovely day and we spent it at the Bronx Zoo instead.

But, rest assured, should a game at the new stadium ever be "it might rained out," there'll be hell to pay.

Posted by Bob Collins | January 4, 2010 5:50 PM

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