What are the Vikings to do?

Hopefully we've all had a chance to relatively recover from the worst snowstorm in almost 20 years. And, the biggest casualty of the storm seems to be the Metrodome and the Teflon-coated fiberglass roof.

This has happened before. A lot. The dome deflated shortly after crews inflated it for the first time while the stadium was under construction. In 1982, a snowstorm took the dome down again. In 1986, a severe thunder/wind storm tore a hole in the roof, leaking rain and wind on to fans watching a Twins game (I remember the news reports from that day).

Oddly enough, the roof never caved in under the 28 inches of snow left by the Halloween blizzard of 1991. Of course, back then, the Dome wasn't even ten years old. Now, almost to its 30th birthday, it might be time to do something about it. And, this may have been the motivation needed for the Legislature to finally push a bill through.

Click the title of this post to go to an article I wrote (in fun, of course) about what could be done about the Dome.

Black is back for the Wolves

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

I had said in my last post that the Timberwolves needed some serious marketing help to promote yet another re-building team. They did one marketing move (which I had heard little about, until a few days later), and that was to unveil a new "alternate" jersey.

Many teams have three or more jerseys. There's a standard home jersey, and a standard away jersey. In the last few years, many teams find it fun to unveil a third jersey that is very different from the usual.

Sometimes the alternate jerseys look better than the standard ones. Sometimes the alternate jerseys are so unwelcomed by fans, that the team ends up scrapping them. One such instance was the NBA's Dallas Mavericks a few years ago. They had released an alternate jersey that had a very droll color scheme; and the fans showed their discontent in no uncertain terms. The team wore the jerseys once, and never wore them again.

The Wolves re-vamped their entire uniform a couple years ago. They had shortened "Timberwolves" to just "Wolves" on the front of the home jersey (from their early franchise days), and on the road jersey, exchanged "Timberwolves" for "Minnesota."

Just recently, the Wolves unveiled a black jersey. Everyone loves black. Black is a slimming color, and complements many other colors nicely. This is the second time in franchise history the Wolves have donned a black jersey. I liked the old black jersey better than the new black jersey.

Several years ago, the border on the jerseys was a black border with green pine trees, similar to the primary logo. With the latest uniform re-design, they scrapped the pine trees, and eventually took all the green out entirely. With the new black jerseys, a little green might improve things a bit.

At this link: http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/pressrelease_Wolves_Unveil_New_Black_Alternate_Uniforms_2010_11_23.html
you can see what the new jersey looks like. Personally, I think it's just a little too bland. Instead of complementing the colors, I think the black intermingles with them. There's no contrast.

Maybe that's in tune with the whole team's attitude, though. The Wolves have been nothing short of bland the last few seasons. Attendance has dropped, players come and go, there's more losses than wins. If the Wolves were looking to generate some excitement with this latest marketing ploy, I think they came up a bit short.

Kermit the Frog once sang, "It's not easy being green." In this case, a little green might help.

Thanks for reading.

Wolves need some serious marketing help

I have to admit, I've lost all interest in the Timberwolves. I can't even remember the last time I actually paid to go to a game. The last game I went to, I had received free tickets from the Timberwolves promotions department.

If you've watched any of the pre-season games on TV, there's empty blue seats everywhere. Not like it was when Kevin Garnett was here, there wasn't an empty seat in the house.

I was reading Patrick Reusse's column in the Star Tribune today (click post title to read full article), and he believes the T-wolves need some serious marketing to go along with the new shooters that are part of a team that seems to be in a constant state of re-building.

They've done their best in the past couple years in the area of branding: re-designed jerseys, a re-designed logo (which looks awful) and a new Target Center court. They've done some new things in the ticketing department as well. Last season, according to Reusse's article, the T-wolves had an abysmal season ticket base of 5,000.

When Garnett played here, I remember it being almost impossible to get a seat in the lower seating bowl of the arena. The lower level at Target Center seats about 8,300 people (total capacity is just shy of 20,000). What's even worse, is the team expected to lose another 10 percent of that base from last season.

It may not be the team, however. People still are loving the Minnesota Wild on the other side of the river; even though the Wild's consecutive sellout streak at the Xcel Energy Center has come to an end. And, let's not forget all the hype about the Twins this year with Target Field opening and the overall excitement that was re-generated for the Twins. An excitement, only to be squashed away in three games against the Yankees.

The T-Wolves started things off late last season when they decided to cut season ticket prices. I don't remember too much about that particular campaign, and I can't remember whether ticket prices were cut across the board, or just for new season ticket accounts. Even before that, the team has touted a season ticket up in the far reaches of the arena, that goes for about $300-some-odd a season.

And, apparently, it's worked. The Wolves, instead of losing another 10 percent of their season ticket base, have actually GAINED about 2,000 season ticket holders. Well, that helps, but for the most part still leaves the Target Center well below half-capacity.

If you have 7,000 season ticket holders (banking on the fact that they'd all show up for every game), and 3,000 unlucky fans decide to walk up to the ticket office ten minutes before the tip-off to snag a ticket, that's only 10,000 people. Which leaves the remaining 10,000 or so seats unoccupied.

Granted, the Wolves surprisingly had a decent pre-season. But, that's happened before. I remember getting so excited one year when the Wolves went 7-1 in the preseason. Hardly did anything after that, and to my recollection, didn't even win 35 games that season.

In seasons since Garnett's departure, it's felt very much like the expansion year of 1989 all over again. Only problem was, in 1989, people were so excited to have NBA basketball back in town after an almost 30-year absence, they didn't care how bad the team was.

Now, 22 years later, people do care, and they seem to be proving it by placing their allegiances elsewhere. Even Reusse commented that the one replica jersey he saw in the stands at the Target Center the other night was an Adrian Peterson Vikings jersey. But, if this Wolves team is really as good as it seems, or as Reusse postulates, then the Wolves need to get some serious marketing work done to make these lower ticket prices pay off.

Pepsi, Snickers, Vikings?

The Vikings merchandising department is trying something different: installing a vending machine at the Mall of America.

Interesting concept, to use something that most people associate with pop and candy to sell team merchandise. Of course, it isn't unusual either. The Minnesota State Lottery for instance has vending machines around the Twin Cities for its scratch-off tickets.

The Minneapolis Business Journal says that the team is doing it to better track automated merchandise sales. It is a first-of-its-kind merchandising ploy in the NFL, and if it is successful here, could be a model for other markets.

Best Buy also has used vending machines to sell Apple products, like the iPod.

But, if you want to go buy a Favre jersey, wouldn't you rather see it in person to check out the size and color, rather than have it dispensed to you from a vending machine?

The team however, believes that it is a "viable and economic" means of selling merchandise with the purple and gold on it.

We shall see.

T-wolves and Lifetime Fitness

Well, I think I've just about done the Target Field review thing as far as it can go. Now, I think it's time to get back to the main focus of the blog, sports and marketing.

The latest issue of the Twin Cities Business Journal had an article about an expanded partnership between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lifetime Fitness. Lifetime has been a sponsor of the team for some time, as well as had its name on the Target Center's fitness club since 2006.

This latest phase of partnership will put Lifetime's logo on the team's practice jerseys, as well as other areas within the team's practice facility, which is within the in-arena health club, including the court, backboards and media backdrops.

Lifetime will also have naming rights of the practice facility.

Team members will wear the jerseys in post-game interviews, which will create more visibility for Lifetime Fitness. Coaches will also wear Lifetime apparel during post-game interviews.

This is a good, solid partnership for a team that hasn't performed very well either on the court or at the front gate.

Lifetime also has had some ticket promotions with the Timberwolves that have included a pass to a local Lifetime Fitness.

Standing Room Only

I decided I’d take in one more Twins game this season, and take them up on the latest ticket offering: standing-room only.

I went on Friday night, the day after the Twins unexpectedly swept the Chicago White Sox. I also went into the game thinking, ‘the Twins just swept the White Sox. Logic dictates, they’ll lose a game to the lowly Oakland A’s.’

It sounded like a fun thing to do, to have a ticket for the game and just be able to walk around our brand-new ballpark. A couple of the ushers told me that it’s very likely they could easily sell 1,400 standing-room only tickets.

I also wanted to be able to scope out different views of the stadium that I had previously not explored; predominantly out in the left field and center field area. I had started out in the main concourse before the game started. And my plan was, by the end of the game, to be as close to the main gate as possible, to promise a quick exit.

A note of caution if you decide to go the standing-room only route: avoid the main concourse. It is incredibly crowded and very noisy down there. I had my fill after about the second inning, and I went searching elsewhere. Also, with many of the standing-room locations on the main concourse, you will not be able to see the video board, as the club level overhang will block your view.

However, over between sections 101-103, you will get a much more open view of the action on the field. Of course, you’ll miss things, with people sitting in front of you and walking up and down the aisles.

The upper level was quieter, but the view isn’t incredible. One fun location was the Twins Pub, an enclosed “warming house” if you will. It’s a good place to get warm (or stay cool, depending on when you go). You get a relatively good view of the field from up there. It wasn’t a bad location.

The Twins Pub is also where the ballpark’s organist, Sue Nelson, sits.

The plaza out in right field is an OK spot to be. This is where Fox Sports Net does its pre-and post-game shows. I did catch a glimpse of Roy Smalley (and took his picture) getting ready for the broadcast. But, this is also where 85% of the people enter the ballpark. So, you’ll be pushing your way through quite a bit.

I spent a good chunk of the game up in the Batter’s Eye, which is in center field. It also is much quieter up there, as there aren’t many seats. You do get a nice view of the field and the game. Down below is another story. One level down is the big wall in center field, and you can stand back there, but you will find yourself peeking over the wall to get a glimpse of the action. Good place to pull aside and eat your hot dogs and cheese curds, but probably not to get a great view of the game.

Although I hadn’t planned it, I ended up down behind the Powerball Pavilion out in right-center field. Not a bad place to be. You’re just steps away from the exit, and you do get a very nice and surprisingly close view of the field. You will not be able to see the scoreboard from this location; however, there are LCD televisions mounted that have all the information right there.

And, making good on my plan, I actually did end up with a very quick exit from Target Field. It didn't take me more than two minutes, and I was out. Not like the Metrodome where you had to exit single-file out the revolving doors.

I am glad that the Twins added this ticket option for this year. Word to the wise, you'll feel sore by the end of the game. You might regret actually doing the standing-room only option. But for $22 (cheaper for mid-week games), it's not a bad option to get yourself into the game.

Reports are indicating that because of the Twins' great performance this year, and their road to a very good run in the playoffs, tickets could be even harder to come by next season. Especially would that be true if the Twins do in fact win the World Series.

Charley Walters from the Pioneer Press said last Sunday that season-ticket renewal is expected to be close to 100%. And, existing season-ticket holders have first dibs on buying extra tickets before everyone else.

Who knows, next season, standing-room only might be your ONLY chance to get a ticket into Target Field.

Click the title, "Standing Room Only" for pictures from the game.

Sports Day in Minnesota - an idea

Some of us may know that Fox Sports North (FSN), the regional cable sports network here in the Twin Cities, annually sponsors what they call "Hockey Day in Minnesota." FSN broadcasts peewee games, a high school game, a Gophers game and a Wild game all in the same day.

I was thinking the other day, now that Minnesota's sports teams all have a place of their own to play, what if all four major teams and the Gophers, played at home, on the same day?

It could work. It would be an economic boom for the Twin Cities with all those people. The TV networks would love the revenue. Here's how I envision it would work, and who would broadcast what.

We start the day at 11am with the Gophers at TCF Bank Stadium. The game would be carried either by ESPN or the Big Ten Network.

You could have a Wild game at 2pm at the Xcel Energy Center, broadcast by FSN.

It would take some doing with the NFL, but suppose there was a Vikings game at the Dome at about 3pm. Maybe even 4pm. This is where it could get a little interesting. Depending on whether FOX has the Major League Baseball playoffs that year, they might opt to show the World Series instead of a mid-season NFL game.

If Turner Broadcasting had the playoffs that year, just throw a couple million dollars at FOX to broadcast the game.

The overlap with the Wild game wouldn't be too bad.

Then, say the Timberwolves have their home opener at 5pm at Target Center. This one would be broadcast locally on Channel 45, KSTC.

And then, the piece de resistance, the Minnesota Twins play at Target Field at 7pm. For all five of these games to converge like this, it would put this particular day on or around October 28. The NBA regular-season doesn't start until very late October at the earliest.

And, it also assumes that the Twins likely took their season to Game 7 of the World Series that year.

All five teams would be very happy of course. All five are taking tickets, at home, in their own place, on the same day. I envision officials from MetroTransit at each venue passing out balloons, making speeches and throwing rice, celebrating the fact that the light rail systems they built and the commuter rail are working at full capacity.

This day probably would work best after the Central Corridor light rail along University Avenue is completed.

Downtown Minneapolis would benefit the most, as you'd have 40,000 for the Twins game. 63,000 for the Vikings game. 20,000 for the Timberwolves game. Another 50,000 just across the river for the Gophers. And, downtown Saint Paul would see 18,000 for the hockey game.

Restaurants and bars would be crowded. Streets would be buzzing with people. Traffic would be miserable (for those that didn't take mass transit). But, that would be one fun day.

Section 310

Today, I finally got back to Target Field for the game against the Mariners.
And finally, the Twins win a game that I attended!

If you're looking for a good seat for a Twins game, look no further than Section 310 (and 311). These two sections make up the "Our Family Section" at Target Field.

For $24.00, it's not a bad deal. The seats are a lot closer to home plate than they are to first base. And, you get a coupon for a free Twins Dog (a great hot dog choice at Target Field) and a regular soda.

Be aware: alcohol is not sold or permitted in these sections.

I do like the upper concourse at Target Field. It's really no wider (23 feet) than the claustrophobic ones at the Metrodome (or "the other place"), but keep in mind, the upper concourse at the Metrodome services about 34,000 people. The upper concourse at Target Field services about 11,000.

Around this area, it takes a little getting used to, as there is a walkway that serves as an auxiliary concourse for the 300 level. The upper concourse services both the Terrace level (200s) and the Upper level (300s). So, this little walkway makes it a bit easier for those in the 300s to get to their seats.

The view is great. You can see everything from up there. No wondering, "where is the ball?" You can clearly see every hit, and determine whether its fair or an out.

I was very pleased with the number of roaming vendors up in the 300s. At the other place, you were lucky if you saw a few. But, the bright yellow jackets from Delaware North (the Twins' concessionaire) were everywhere up there. A very nice change.

Today was the quickest game I have ever seen at Target Field, just a little over two hours. And, exiting the park was the easiest I have experienced in all the times I've been there.

I have learned by experience, do NOT exit the ballpark through Gate 6. Gate 6 is over on the left field side. You might think it's easier to get out there than traipse all the way through Target Field to get to the main entrance, Gate 34, over on the right field side. Believe me, traipse.

Gate 6 is where the light rail station is. There is a queue area there, that, if you don't take the light rail to Target Field, you'll be caught up in. And, your exit from Target Field will almost double.

From our section, we simply took the walkway until it stopped. Walked through the upper concourse to the escalators down by Section 302. We got out of there in probably less than ten minutes. Even ten minutes might be an overstatement.

I suppose one of the reasons it is so easy getting out of there is because all the gates open with turnstiles moved to the side, allowing everybody to flow out freely. Unlike the other place, there are no revolving doors forcing you to go out single-file.

Today was an interesting game also, as it was the three-year anniversary of the 35W bridge collapse. Flags were flying at half-staff today, per Gov. Pawlenty's declaration. I was somewhat surprised that there wasn't a moment of silence observed; either when the National Anthem was played, or in the seventh inning, when God Bless America was sung.

Ever since the tragedy, the Twins have always played at home on August 1. And, up until today, they have been night games. Usually, per the governor's declaration, a moment of silence is observed at 6:05pm, the exact minute of the collapse. With today's 1:10 start, I thought they might have made an exception. But they did not.

Here's what really bothers me. The Twins just came off of a road trip lasting several days. They came home last Friday for a three-game set against the Mariners. Now, they're going back on the road for 12 games.

I'm sorry, but around here, this is the time to show off outdoor baseball in Minnesota. The summer of 2010 is one of the best summers I can remember; and is a terrific argument to all those who thought we needed a roof on the place.

I suppose it could be possible that Major League Baseball is watching the Twins this year, to see how Target Field plays during a Minnesota summer. What do they have to compare it against? Minnesota ballgames have been played under a fabric sky for 28 years, what does MLB know about Minnesota summers?

Hopefully, the schedule will favor the Twins better in the summer, and we'll see more home games in the summer months.

One comment I made to my brother as we were leaving, "I think the Twins should play all 162 games here." That got a chuckle from a fan behind me.

Thanks for reading. Click "Section 310" for pictures from today's game.

Could Target Field be lonely?

I'm sorry it's been so long since I wrote.

I have been writing a lot of articles at allvoices.com ( http://www.allvoices.com/users/Lrasmussen )

I read an interesting article today about the Seattle Mariners and how their attendance is incredibly low this year for the first time since they opened their new ballpark in 1999.

Of course, they're in last place in the AL West. Seems that low attendance would follow suit.

With the Twins dismal performance as of late, and now that we are at the midway point of the season, could Target Field become a lonely place the second half of it's first season?

And then, throw in the Vikings and the apparent return of Brett Favre, that might pose even more trouble at the gates at Target Field. If the Twins aren't doing well, and September's colder air moves in, there might be a lot of empty seats at the ballpark those last few weeks.

I'm not sure the "honeymoon" period for Target Field is quite over, though. People might still be flocking to the ballpark, for the sake of seeing the ballpark. But, not too long from now, the ballpark will become less and less of a draw, and the bottom line will be putting a competitive team on the field.

It seems many newer ballparks in Major League Baseball eventually get to the half-full point. Ballparks in Detroit, Milwaukee, Texas and other cities have lots of empty seats to look at these days. Ballparks that were once big draws for fans, but now, not so much.

I'd hate to see that happen to Target Field; but the harsh reality is, it probably will and possibly sooner than later.

Twins to sell standing room tickets

The Twins are going to increase capacity at Target Field, sort of.
They aren't adding seats, they're allowing people to stand all over the park.
A couple games ago, the announced attendance was over 40,000 - which surprised some, because the listed seating capacity for Target Field is 39,506.

"We could get 41,000 people in here if we really wanted to," said Dave St. Peter in an article from the Star Tribune (click Twins to Sell Standing room tickets for article).

Target Field does have many places for "standing-room only" around the ballpark. You saw a lot of that during the first few weeks of the season when the weather became less than desirable, especially during the night games.

It clogged the concourses, though. But it seems as though the Twins have worked all the details out and will be selling more standing-room tickets; and will also be installing more "drink-rails" around the stadium to accommodate more standing-room tickets being sold.

The Budweiser Party Deck out in left field, above the Administration Building has two spots for seating: there are more expensive "bar-rail" seats that are around $30-35 per game. Standing-room up on the Party Deck is $10-12.

Most of the seats up there go to groups, though. I believe the Twins were going to have single-game seats up there for select games. I checked with a ticket representative from the Twins; he tells me the single-game seats up in the Budweiser Deck are sold out for the season.

A problem of dishonesty

I couldn't think of another title, to be quite honest.

This morning in the Star Tribune, there is a story about handicapped seating at Target Field being sold, online, to people without disabilities. Click "A problem of dishonesty" for the story.

To my knowledge, new arenas, stadiums and ballparks must have wheelchair accessible seating available in most, if not all price levels. That includes the expensive seats too.

The Tribune reported this morning that ticket brokers buy handicapped accessible seats online and then sell them on other sites, Craigslist, eBay or what have you.

Kevin Smith of the Minnesota Twins was quoted in the article saying that the situation is "terrible" and it "will be fixed."

The Twins do make available to the public, usually on game day, accessible seating tickets that do not sell. I don't have a problem with that. As Smith also said in the article, there is no way to "police" how the tickets are sold, either over the phone or online. "You can't ask them to prove they're disabled" Smith continues. Which is true.

It certainly is a problem when the tickets are being obtained (legitimately or not)before game day, and then resold to people who certainly don't need them, making it difficult, if not impossible for those who do need those seats to get them. There actually was a story written about a disabled woman who had season tickets, and tried to obtain extra tickets for one game in that section for a couple friends. She was told by the Twins ticket office that they were sold out.

People sitting in her row told her, "we got these tickets on the Internet."

I will be interested to see how this situation is handled in the future.

Can the Saints survive?

How many of you remember in 1993, when the Saint Paul Saints minor league baseball club took the field for the first time at Midway Stadium?

I vaguely remember it. Matter of fact, in 17 years, I've been to one Saints game (and having the best seats I've ever had for a sporting event, front row behind home plate). The Saints were a PR marvel back then.

Mike Veeck, son of Bill Veeck - who owned the Chicago White Sox at one point (those electronic pinwheels on the scoreboard at US Cellular Field...Bill's idea) owned the Saints along with funnyman Bill Murray.

They had promotions every night, massages in the bleachers, a live pig as a mascot (who has been replaced several times) among other quirky things. The major draw for the Saints was something the professional team across the river couldn't provide: outdoor baseball.

But, they are no longer the only outdoor game in town. So, can the Saints and their quirky PR stunts continue to get people through the turnstiles at Midway Stadium? According to an article the first week of May in the Star Tribune tickets are selling. The number they quoted in the article was just a little over 265,000.

The big disappointment for the Saints however, is group sales. Derek Sharrer, Saints executive vice-president says that groups "sheepishly say, 'we need to go check out Target Field.'" The early part of May, an exhibition game drew over 4,000 people; and that was with an evening low temperature of 40 degrees.

It might take a couple years, however, to see what the future holds for the Saints. Twins tickets are hard to come by, and people figure they can still see outdoor baseball, much cheaper than Target Field, just across the river at Midway Stadium.

I fear, however, that once the glow of Target Field wears off, and Twins attendance drops, Saints fans might take the chance and opt for the more expensive tickets to the newer ballpark. Financing for a replacement to Midway Stadium has died in the Minnesota Legislature the last couple years.

I also fear the same thing that happened to hockey around these parts could also happen. After the North Stars' departure for Dallas in 1993, the now-defunct International Hockey League awarded a franchise to play in the Saint Paul Civic Center (later replaced by the Xcel Energy Center). The new IHL team, the Moose, drew fairly good crowds in a market that suddenly found itself hockey-less.

The death nail was driven into the Moose, however in June of 1997 when the National Hockey League awarded a new franchise to begin play in 2000. Shortly after that announcement, the Moose headed north to Winnipeg, Manitoba.

I have a nagging feeling that the Saints, in spite of their tremendous PR efforts, might succumb to the Twins' newer ballpark across the river, and depart for another market. We shall see....

Did the Marlins make the right move?

Some of us have heard, and for some, it doesn't matter, but last Saturday, Roy Halladay of the Philadelphia Phillies (Major League Baseball) pitched a perfect game against the Florida Marlins in Miami.

A perfect game in baseball is 27 batters up, 27 batters down. The feat has only been achieved in the MLB 20 times; however, it is the second perfect game this season (Dallas Braden had the other) and the third in the last calendar year.

It's what the Marlins are doing about this perfect game that has me a little confused. The game was played at SunLife Stadium. For those in Minnesota, it's like the Metrodome, without the roof. It's one of the few remaining "multi-purpose" stadiums that also serve as ballparks.

According to the Marlins website (click "Did the Marlins make the right move" for the article), the announced attendance was just over 25,000. To "commemorate" this occasion, the Marlins are selling the remaining tickets, online, for face value.
To me, this is a bad PR move by the Marlins. First, the Marlins didn't pitch the perfect game, the Phillies did.

Second, what is now likely to happen is that these "re-sold" tickets are going to go for a bundle on eBay and other online sites. Instead of creating a scarce memento, the Marlins are essentially crowding the market with tickets that were never used, and never sold for the actual game. If there's 58,000 tickets on the market, and 33,000 tickets weren't even used; it demeans the "rare" nature of a ticket for a rare occurrence.

Third, if anyone should get possession of the tickets, it should be the Phillies. I think the Marlins should have released the remaining tickets to the Phillies, and let them decide whether to resell them or not. Incidentally, because the Marlins are doing this, that will bump up the attendance for the game.
Marlins president David Sampson said this, "Any ticket revenue is part of revenue sharing and part of the local revenue. So it gets reported." So, essentially, they have to report these tickets as sold, even though more than half weren't even used for the game.

The ultimate solution, because a perfect game is such a rare occasion, the Marlins should have destroyed the remaining tickets, or left that decision to the Phillies, so as to put more of a collectible nature on the tickets that legitimately got people into the game; and weren't sold after the fact.

At any rate, there are now going to be 58,000 people who said "I was there when Halladay pitched that perfect game." And, unfortunately, they'll also have the ticket to prove it. What I am not sure of, is because of this, whether or not there was some sort of authentication given to the tickets that actually were scanned at the gates. Sometimes for special events or rare occasions, tickets can be stamped as a verification that they were in fact at the game.

As of right now, I am not sure whether the Marlins did this or not. Sadly, we will probably never know for sure.

Sometimes...it just doesn't work

I've always been interested in the behind-the-scenes workings of sports business. The team sales, new arenas, relocations - that sort of thing. But, lately, I've been thinking about this fact: sometimes a new arena or a new location just doesn't work.

The National Hockey League's (NHL) Phoenix Coyotes are a great example of how both a new arena and a new location don't really work for a franchise.

The Phoenix Coyotes moved from Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1996. When the franchise was the Winnipeg Jets, they struggled in a fairly bad market with a below-par arena. Matter of fact, the Jets almost moved to the Twin Cities as a replacement for our beloved North Stars, who headed south to Dallas a couple years before.

The Phoenix area beat out the Twin Cities for the struggling Jets. The first couple seasons, the newly-renamed Coyotes shared an arena in downtown Phoenix with the NBA's Suns. A couple seasons later, the Coyotes moved west to Glendale, AZ where they have played ever since.

But now, the Coyotes are even struggling in Glendale at the Jobing.com Arena. And, according to the article linked above (click on "Sometimes...it just doesn't work") and others floating around on the Internet, the Coyotes must find a local buyer by the end of this year, or the NHL will allow the team to move backto Winnipeg.

This is not new. You may remember, several years ago, Los Angeles lost not one but both of it's National Football League (NFL) franchises. The Rams moved east to Saint Louis, and the Raiders, moved back to Oakland; where they had left about 17 years prior. The Rams moved into a downtown domed stadium in Saint Louis, and the Raiders moved back to the dingy, old stadium (albeit some renovations) in Oakland they had left behind.

There have been rumors that the NBA's Sacramento Kings might move back to Kansas City, where they departed in 1985, to a more modern, shiny new arena just outside of downtown Kansas City.

There are the relocation successes: Washington Senators moving to the Twin Cities in 1961. Baltimore Colts moving (to the shock of everyone) to Indianapolis in 1983. Houston Oilers moving to Nashville circa 1996; and these are just a few. But, apparently, relocation to a shiny, new arena in another city, sometimes just doesn't work as well as expected.

As for the final fate of the Coyotes - stay tuned.

A Double-Shot Part II

For the second half of my post today, there is another sports story that might need a bit of PR to convince some people that it is a good thing: yesterday, the National Football League (NFL) announced the 2014 installment of the Super Bowl will be held in (drum roll please)...East Rutherford, New Jersey.

This is a first for the NFL. Cold-weather cities do not get awarded the sports world's finest prize very often. Cold-weather cities that do get awarded the Super Bowl have domes. Minneapolis hosted in 1992. Detroit hosted in 1982 and 2006. Indianapolis will host in 2012. As I understand NFL bylaws, if cities bidding for the Super Bowl have an average temperature below 50 degrees in February, the city must have a domed stadium.

New York was considered to host the 2002 Super Bowl, as a good-will gesture after 9/11, but the game went on as planned in New Orleans at the Superdome.

This is an unprecedented move, but, now that New Jersey has actually been awarded the game, who's to say that Chicago, Buffalo or even Green Bay can't bid on the Super Bowl in the future? Still, with tickets topping $1,000 apiece last year in Miami, if ticket prices stay at that level, ticket buyers are going to need some serious convincing that this is a good idea, in a city whos average temperature in February ranges from 25-40 degrees.

The National Hockey League (NHL) the last few years has played an outdoor game, usually on January 1. This annual event, known as the Winter Classic, has been very well received by fans. Chicago, Buffalo and Boston have hosted the Winter Classic. I've sometimes referred to it as the "cold-weather Super Bowl," as it would be unusual to see the event in Dallas or Atlanta.

Is it possible that New Jersey could be a trend-setter, and open up an opportunity for other cold-weather cities to host America's favorite football game? If all goes well, and it is well received by fans, can Seattle, Foxboro or Baltimore have as good of a chance of hosting a Super Bowl as Atlanta, Phoenix or Houston?

Nonetheless, a Super Bowl in New Jersey will need lots of PR behind it, for a game that usually is played in sunshine and 70+ degree weather (except for Super Bowl XLI in Miami, when it rained for four hours straight).

A Super Bowl in New Jersey, a good idea? I need some convincing, too.

Thanks for reading. Click "A Double-Shot Part II" for a USA Today article about the Super Bowl in 2014.

A Double-Shot

Since the Twins are playing half a game today, on top of a regular nine-inning game, I thought, maybe I'd do the same with a new blog post today. So, you'll get 1 1/2 posts, for the price of one.

It seems there's been some issues with the whole rain check policy. The Twins' policy, direct from the website states: Target Field Rain out Policy
In the event a regulation game, as defined by Major League Baseball (i.e. 4 1/2 innings if the Twins are ahead and five full innings if the visiting team is ahead or the game is tied), is not played due to weather, an act of God or any other reason, the following policy will apply:

The game will be:
A. Rescheduled to an open day, or
B. Rescheduled to a split day-night doubleheader (two separate games on the same date)
Fans holding tickets to a postponed game should keep their tickets as they will be required for admission into the rescheduled game. All tickets are valid only for the rescheduled game.

But, reading on another blog site, this Major League Baseball rule was also cited:

Rule 4.12(d)
"Rain checks will not be honored for any regulation or suspended game that has progressed to or beyond a point of play described in Rule 4.10" which apparently is what is happening. Ticket holders for today's regularly scheduled 6:10 game will be admitted to the 4:10 makeup.

In the eyes of the league, last night's game, even though it "ended" in a 0-0 tie, because they called the game at the top of the 6th, the game is complete.

Hopefully, now that this has happened, the Twins will put a little PR money into that policy to further inform fans of this policy. There's maybe a learning curve of sorts for the Twins executive brass, as this is the first time we've dealt with a rain-delayed game.

I probably wouldn't feel too bad about that policy; but I worry about a group from Grand Forks, ND or Duluth that comes all the way down to the game, only to find out, their tickets are no good for the remaining four innings being played at 4:10 this afternoon.

Hopefully, clarification from the Twins will be made, so that in the future, policies can either be altered or put in place to inform fans.

Click on "A Double-Shot" to go to the other blog I was referring to, which has several comments and further explanations of what we saw yesterday.

Section S

Click the title "Section S" for pictures from the game.

The Pioneer Press the other day wrote a huge article about a specific seat in Section S at Target Field. They claim that, because of the Legends Club wall right next to it, home plate was out of view.

So, when I went to the Brewers game on Sunday, I decided to find out for myself. The picture above was taken from that spot. I can see home plate just fine. I'm not entirely sure what all the fuss was about.

I also realize that I've probably done the Target Field review thing to death. So this will likely be the last post on that, then I have some ideas that will get back to the original intent of the blog: sports and PR.

Sections S-V at Target Field are primarily for group sales. They have nice sightlines and a great view of the Minneapolis skyline. Do be careful in the lower numbered seats in each row, as the railing that separates the Legends Club from the Skyline Deck can create an obstacle. Seats higher than 4 or 5 should have no problem.

This level of Target Field seems to be much less congested. Of course, it doesn't seat as many people on this level either, as opposed to the main concourse. It has a much different look than the main concourse, and the entrance to the Legends Club is clearly marked, and also guarded.

I have also learned a lesson or two about exiting the ballpark. It's taken me three tries, but I think I've got it. It's probably your best option to try to get back to the main entrance (Gate 34) out in right field. We exited out Gate 6 yesterday, in left field, and got caught in the throngs of people waiting to board the light rail (which I did not take to the game). It probably took about an extra ten minutes to get to Gate 34.

Of course, and this is a hindsight revelation, if you do exit Gate 6 but didn't take the light rail, or have no reason to get back to the Plaza, you can also turn to your right and walk down 5th Street. But walking along that promenade will be lots of "excuse me's" to get to your ultimate destination.

As for concessions, I can give a hearty thumbs up to the cheeseburger basket. A very nicely grilled burger and very tasty fries, for about 9 bucks.

Thanks for reading. I hope I've given enough information about Target Field for you to consider when going to the ballpark. If anyone does have further questions about Target Field that maybe I didn't cover or you'd like clarification on, please feel free to post a comment.

Row 9

I promised in my last blog post that I might put one together about a potential Vikings stadium. Well, nothing really happened in the final weeks of the MN State Legislative session, matter of fact, a bill that went up that would have put a tax on sports jerseys, hotels, car rentals and a specialized lottery game, died almost as soon as it was introduced in committee.

So, I thought I'd share about my third trip to Target Field on May 6, some new things I've discovered and so forth.

I do like how Target Field looks at night. And, just like it was when I went to the Red Sox game, it was raining, albeit much stronger than it did on that April afternoon. Last night's rain lasted most of the game (incidentally, tonight's game against the Orioles has been officially declared a rain out).

First, a little bit of caution, and an explanation for this particular post's title. I sat in Section 320 Row 9 last night. Here's an interesting thing about row 9, and a caution - if you have aisle seats, you will encounter a railing in front of you. That didn't bother me so much as the night wore on (I got over it pretty quickly, I just didn't realize it was going to be there).

Because of the railing, there are no cup holders in front of you, or affixed to the railing. So, that's just a heads up if you get aisle seats in the 9th row of sections in the 300 level. I got a good deal on the tickets, and overall, they were great seats, so I can't complain.

Also, just a forewarning, sitting there, you will encounter lots of people walking by, as people are coming up from the concourse. No worries though, by the bottom of the second inning, things cooled down substantially in that area.

I decided to try the "Big Dog" last night, which is the replacement for the Dome Dog. I've heard some not so great comments about it, so I tried it myself. As far as a hot dog goes, it tasted OK. About the same as the Dome Dog did. Many people have complained that the temperature of the hot dog is somewhat on the cold side. That was not my experience last night.

A price comparison for you: I purchased a Big Dog and a regular Pepsi for a grand total of $9.25. The cheeseburger and fries without the drink, costs you $9.25.

Later on in the game, I tracked down a "retro vendor" that sells the Dugout Dog. It's a natural casing hot dog, and is slightly longer than a typical hot dog, but not "foot long" size. This particular hot dog has lots of good flavor and a nice, crisp taste. Hands down, the best of the 4 hot dogs Target Field has to offer. The key is, if you can find them. The vendors that sell them wear red and white striped short-sleeved shirts.

Unlike April 14 when I took the bus down, I drove last night and parked in the same spot I usually did for games at "the other place." So, I thought it would be interesting to calculate how exiting the park differed between the two modes of transportation.

Crowd traffic getting out of the park was pretty slow, in my estimation. We ended up taking the stairs down to the main level, which in hind sight was probably a mistake. While the crowds don't exit single file through a revolving door, it still takes a little bit to get out. Traffic entering to I-94 west from 3rd St. was about the same as it would be during rush-hour. Once you're on the freeway, you're good to go.

The upper level concourse at Target Field is probably no wider than the concourses at the Dome. I thought about this the other day..."what then is so different"? At the Dome, the 22-foot-wide upper concourse services about 33-to-34,000 people. At Target Field, the 22-foot-wide upper concourse services about 11,000 people. There are roughly 11,000 seats in the 300 level at Target Field. So, there is a lot less foot traffic.

Looking at the main concourse throughout the night, last night in particular, people were mostly standing at the top of the aisles, standing underneath the radiant heat lamps. Granted, this probably won't be a concern come June and July, but for these early season games, it does create a great deal of congestion on the main concourse. However, while it is congested, you can still move around fairly easily.

So, for the second game experience at Target Field, a great night, all-around.

Thanks for reading. Click the title of the post "Row 9" to see pictures from the game.

Target Field - what a sight Part II

click on "Target Field - what a sight Part II" you will be led to the Flickr site where I posted the rest of my pictures-----

I went today to go see the Red Sox and the Twins. My first real game at Target Field.
Today had a bit of everything: sunshine, a Twins home run, a rain delay, and unfortunately a Twins loss.

It was one thing to be there for the open house; it was entirely another to be there for a game. Via my experience, I thought I might tell you about some more highlights and not-so-highlights of my trip today.

The concourses can get congested. I was down on the 100 level concourse and it moved along, but dodging in and out of people was as much of my experience today as it was at the Dome. However, even though there is gridlock in the concourse, it is wider (about twice as wide as the Dome), so you don't feel like you're stuck. It is probably one of those things that will slowly work itself out.

Exacerbating the situation were slow lines at concession stands. I got my food early, and before the end of the inning. But later on in the game, I went up to the concession stand for a Pepsi. The line was so long, I almost said "forget it". BUT, I looked over to the right, and there was a concession stand over by Gate 14 and the entrance to Hrbek's, just a few steps away that hardly had anyone at all.

I have heard others say that if the main concourse is too busy, you might find better luck on the 300 level concourse.

Food is good here, but expensive, so be prepared. My Dinger Dog (almost a foot-long hot dog), cheese curds (better than the State Fair) and Souvenir Pepsi came to about $14.

While I am on the subject of concessions, a quick note: not all concession stands are the same at Target Field. Example: I went to the Hennepin Grille concession stand behind our section to get a Big Dog (the replacement for the Dome Dog). I was informed that the Hennepin Grille did not sell the Big Dog, and that it could be found at a stand down by Section 105.

Which I probably would have figured out, if I had consulted the Concession Guide that I picked up today. It is a pocket-schedule-sized guide to all the concessions offered at Target Field (information can also be found at http://www.tasteoftwinsterritory.com). But, if I had gone to 105, I probably would have missed out on those cheese curds.

The sound system at Target Field is miles ahead of the Metrodome. However, where we were sitting in Section 110, I felt like I was front-row, main-floor at a Guns N' Roses concert. It seemed to me that the sound system was a bit, too loud back there. The back rows in the lower level sit underneath the Legends Club overhang. So, there are speakers aplenty; and also flat screen TV's.

Walking around on the Plaza, I felt like I was at the State Fair. The people roaming around, the smell of great food, sunshine - it had the feel and ambiance of the Great Minnesota Get-Together. There is lots of room, and if you're going for the first time, you can walk around with the greatest of ease to check out our new ballpark. Gates open 1.5 hours before weekday games, and 2 hours before weekend games.

And yes, we had a rain-delay today. Not much of a delay, 15 minutes at best, there is plenty to do and see at Target Field while waiting out the rain. There are several restaurants within Target Field that are open to all ticket holders. Hrbek's, over by Gate 14 (third base); the Town Ball Tavern on the left field side (inside the administration building) and also the Twins Pub - which if memory serves right, is on the Legends Club level, but is open to everyone.

You can also head over to the Majestic Clubhouse Store to find a souvenir. Beware: prices are hefty but there is a good selection of items.

And, while you're there, don't forget to take a look at the wind veil. It truly is a great piece of work and on a day like today, can capture your attention.

As for the Metrodome? I honestly can't believe we played there for 28 years.

Target Field - what a sight

I was fortunate enough to score tickets from a friend to the Target Field open house last weekend (an event "exclusive" to season ticket holders), and was I ever surprised at what I saw.

Walking up to the ballpark from 6th St. was almost unreal. Slowly, walking by Target Center and over I-394, it started coming into view. The sounds, the people, the huge video board in left field. All the pictures I have been looking at for the last three years was right in front of me.

I wanted to sit in as many price locations as possible, see as much as possible, take as many pictures as possible (250 + to be exact). I'd like to leave you with some of my impressions:

As far as seating, anything is better than the Dome. I do highly recommend the Grandstand. The Grandstand sits between center field and right field. I don't, however, recommend the seats directly below it, the Powerball Pavillion. These seats, to me were very tight and uncomfortable; and I wasn't the only one that thought that. I heard comments from others who felt the same way.

I really enjoyed the Home Run Porch seats out in left field, as well as the left field bleachers. You won't be able to see the big video board as it will be directly behind you (the video board is positioned much the same manner as it is in the Dome). And, be warned, the upper seats in the Porch area are incredibly steep. If you thought the upper level seats at the Dome were steep, your legs haven't experienced anything yet.

It was so nice being able to walk the concourses there and not feel cramped. I honestly have no idea how many people were there that day, but it didn't seem like alot because the concourses are so spacious and wide.

And, buyer beware of the right field bleachers. Those were the last seats we tried (which was about 3pm). The sun had already passed by, so it was very shady and very windy back there. Well, early on in the season, buyer beware. On a July day, they might not be so bad. But, they are aluminum, so they can get cold on a cold day and will be scorching on a hot day.

I am pretty certain I did see seat cushions being sold in the Twins Store, however.

The overall experience was so great. The sound from the PA system didn't seem to carry as much as I thought it would. There wasn't much of an echo, or a 'delayed echo' that you sometimes get from loudspeaker systems outdoors. What really surprised me, was how little I actually heard standing on the plaza, outside the confines of the ballpark.

I knew the sound system was on, they were replaying game 163 from last season on the big scoreboard, but out on the plaza, you could hardly hear it. That is good news for surrounding neighbors, but potentially bad news for folks out on the plaza. There are lots of speakers throughout the concourses of the stadium though, so you will hear incredibly well when you're out getting a hot dog.

And, there are flat screen TV's aplenty at Target Field. Don't worry about missing any of the action.

One interesting note, as I entered the main gate, open house tickets in hand, I had to ask the ticket taker/security guard whether he needed to see the tickets. He didn't even ask me for them. The day before, I heard a story of someone who got tickets the same way I did (through another friend) and was actually stopped at the gate and his name was checked on a list (and he knew it wasn't going to be there).

So, I was relieved I didn't have my name checked against a list (these open houses were for season ticket holders after all); but surprised at the same time upon entering the ballpark and somewhat of a lac luster approach. Granted, when the turnstiles are installed and actual baseball begins at Target Field, things will probably be much better upon entry to the stadium.

It was nice to be there to explore areas (i.e. the club levels and suites) that I wouldn't get to explore without an expensive ticket or season ticket. The only spot at Target Field I missed was the Metropolitan Club, over on the right field side. It had been a long day and it was starting to feel like I had been to the State Fair.

It's only a few short days now until my first ever game at Target Field. Incidentally, I checked out my seats while at the open house. The Twins do warn people on their website that in the lower level, from about row 24 and up, part of the video board will be obstructed because the club level overhangs the lower level by a couple rows.

Well, I have row 24 in an 'obstructed' area. So I was a bit concerned. I could see the whole video board, no problem. One row up, row 25, might have been a different tale.

It was quite an experience.

Twins Ticket buying strategy

Just as I did on March 1...I spent a good twenty minutes in an online "waiting room" for tickets to the rest of the Twins games this season at Target Field. Might I say, buying Twins tickets through their Web site is one of the most infuriating experiences you'll ever have.

I sat with five browsers open, each for a different weekend game. Many times I saw messages telling me the transaction activity was too high or the number of seats I was looking for was unavailable in a particular section.

After much perseverance, I finally did score tickets in the Family Section on August 1 against the Mariners.
Please note, this will be my last time purchasing tickets through the Twins Web site.

However, there are alot of other reputable sites through which to purchase Twins tickets. I'd like to share some of them with you:

http://www.ticketkingonline.com/ - a Hudson, WI-based company who guarantees their tickets. They are pricey however. Tickets for the opening game against the Boston Red Sox are taking in anywhere from $200-$400 a ticket, and that's just in the upper reaches of the stadium. Team performance can sometimes affect the going rate for tickets here, and they can substantially go down during the season.

http://www.stubhub.com/ - A ticket broker service that, if memory serves correctly, is the "official" secondary ticket supplier for Major League Baseball. Note of caution, the "fees" and other charges associated with this particular service are rather high. Buyer beware.

http://www.ebay.com/ - I think everyone knows eBay. eBay is an online auction site, and I've seen several listings for Twins tickets in the last few days. Incidentally, my tickets for the Oct. 4 game last season were purchased via a contact I made through eBay looking for tickets to another game. Of course, with eBay, the highest bid wins, and shipping charges are usually reasonable.

Of course, there's always the old-fashioned way of going to the Twins ticket office at Target Field and purchasing tickets walk-up. Games this year are in very high demand however, and I'm beginning to wonder exactly how many tickets will be available for walk-ups once the season starts.

After two successful but irritating experiences buying from the Twins Web site, I have opted to stick with eBay and a "ticket exchange" group that is being started with members of a blog site I frequent which has been tracking the construction of Target Field since the funding bill was originally passed in May, 2006.

It still promises to be a great season, and I can't wait for my first game on April 14.

Twins ticketing procedures

I'd like to look for a moment at some of the new ticketing and seating procedures you will see from the Minnesota Twins, procedures that are different from what they have been at the Dome for so many years, and how the Twins are informing the fans about them.

The Twins have done a very good job on their Web site informing fans of new things that will be awaiting them at Target Field that have not been existent in the Dome.

First, it must be noted that not all 39,506 seats at Target Field will be the same. Some will be plastic seats, a la the Dome. However, others will be padded, some will have wooden seat backs, and some will be bleacher seats. The Twins put together this page (http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/ballpark/tf_seat_by_section.jsp) on their Web site to show you what parts of the stadium have what kinds of seats.

The Twins also have a 3D seat-simulator on seats3d.com which shows you section-by-section an approximate view from your seat. Just click on a section, and the simulator generates an image within seconds. This simulator can be found here: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/ballpark/seat_view.jsp .

As I noted in an earlier post, the Twins are also informing fans that transportation around Target Field will be much different from the Dome. Target Field has been lauded as being one of the most accessible and transit-friendly parks in Major League Baseball. This portion of their website, http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/ballpark/transportation/index.jsp tells you all of your options.

The team is strongly suggesting mass transit to get to the ballpark. There also is ample parking within just a few short blocks of the stadium. Be warned, rush-hour traffic could be a nightmare after some of those 12:10 starts start letting out around 3pm (my first game at Target Field on April 14 is a 12:10 start. I'm planning on taking the bus). Plan accordingly.

Target Field is a new stadium. Most fans might think, "Obstructed view seats? In a new ballpark? Perish the thought!" Indeed, there are some partially-obstructed-view seats at Target Field.

I must preface this by saying I won the opportunity, along with several other fans, to get first crack at purchasing tickets for the first regular-season series at Target Field against the Boston Red Sox. I was emailed a special password and had to wait in an e-waiting room for my chance to purchase tickets. After about 20 minutes and much patience (and 3 browser windows open) I had my chance. 2 seats, Section 111 Row 24. 62 bucks a pop. But, hey, it's worth it.

My seats, which are closer to home plate than first base are considered "partially-obstructed." Why? The seating level above section 111 overhangs the lower level. Because of that, a portion of the scoreboard in left field will not be visible. Also, because of the angle of the seats further down on the first base side, plays made in the right-field corner will probably be out of sight.

Being there is good enough for me. I won't be too concerned about that. But, I found all that out here: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/ticketing/restricted_view.jsp .

Here is a new one, that I don't think the Twins have dealt with yet, but probably will soon enough. And that is the issue of rain outs. For the last 27 years, we haven't had to worry about rain outs. Now, it could pose a problem. I have seen a prototype of the tickets the Twins will be using this year, and towards the bottom of the stub are printed the words "Rain Check."

I have not heard or seen anything from the Twins in regards to rain/weather procedures. I'm too young to remember how they did it at Met Stadium. You'll probably be able to use the ticket for the make-up game, whenever that occurs, and go see the rest of the game you paid for. Of course, rain outs give us a fun little thing in baseball: doubleheaders.

Of course, it would be prudent to note that, if you have a ticket for Game A, and Game A is rained out and is played in a doubleheader the next day with Game B, you're only entitled to go to Game A, and not both. Unless of course you have season tickets; or purchased a couple games back-to-back. If you stay for Game B and only have a ticket for Game A, be ready to come face-to-face with an angry fan because you're sitting in their seat!

I'm sure within the next few weeks, weather procedures will be worked out.

It is hard to believe that Target Field will see its first Twins game one month from today, on April 2 (an exhibition game against the St Louis Cardinals). The Gophers baseball team will play at the stadium on March 27, mostly as a dry-run for ballpark staff, concession procedures, entry procedures and so forth.

So far, the Twins have done a great job in the PR department, gearing people up for a new experience in Twins baseball.

No More Dome Dogs ??!!??

Continuing my writings on the PR of the Minnesota Twins as they move closer towards baseball at Target Field (it won't be long now), here's an interesting one I heard today, Hormel won't be the hot dog supplier at Target Field.

According to an article in today's StarTribune (http://www.startribune.com/local/85210112.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUr) Hormel is ending a corporate sponsorship with the Twins that has existed since 2001.

Personally, I had thought that Hormel might get the naming rights for the Twins' new ballpark. Hormel Field does have a nice ring to it. And, it is a local company.

If you've been to a Twins game, you see every once in a while promotional items from Hormel, stadium signage, and lest we forget the infamous "Hormel Row of Fame" in-stadium promotion where every fan in one lucky row, in a section picked at random wins a "Hormel hot dog treat," as the song goes.

With Hormel's departure, the Dome Dog will also depart from concession stands at the Dome. I have mixed feelings about that. First, the Dome Dog isn't one of those pre-cooked hot dogs that are placed in tin wrap and stuck in a warmer for three hours, making the bun soggy and the hot dog mediocre. Dome Dogs are placed on a fresh sesame seed bun (I believe the Our Family brand). Not only that, you also get a bag of chips.

While Hormel may not be the greatest hot dog on the market, I will miss the Dome Dog. Ever since its inception a few years ago, Dome Dogs are my meal of choice at the Dome, regardless of the event.

Apparently, according to the article, the parting was an "amicable" one. But, we are now left to wonder who will supply our hot dogs at the open-air Target Field in just a few short weeks. I have also read that the new concessionaire for Target Field, Delaware North SportService, specializes in hot dogs in the stadiums and arenas they service; so, maybe they'll come up with something better than the Dome Dog.

Maybe a hot dog and, cheese curds?

Report from TwinsFest 2010

Spring is in the air - it's time once again for TwinsFest at the Metrodome. 2010 marks the 21st installment of the annual festival celebrating your Minnesota Twins.

This is my second consecutive year going to TwinsFest. I went last year, and thought to myself, "they've done this for 20 years now, why haven't I been here until now?" It's a big enough deal that even this morning's Pioneer Press and Star Tribune newspapers had cover stories on their sports pages about the event.

I decided to do things a little differently this year: I got my tickets in advance, instead of waiting out in the cold at the ticket office to buy them at the Dome. It saves four dollars; advance tickets are $8, "at the door" tickets are $12.

I left for the Dome immediately after work on Friday January 29th, with the gates opening at 4pm, it gave me an hour to get downtown and to the Dome. The lines getting into the stadium (only 2 gates were used for entry, Gate F and Gate H) were incredibly long. And, between folks standing at the ticket offices getting tickets, and those in line waiting to get in - it got a bit confusing.

I got to the Dome at about 3:40 pm and I didn't actually get inside the stadium until 4:15. The line seemed to move quickly at 4, when the gates opened, but then lulled as we got closer to the gate. Years ago, ticket takers at the gate, would tear a small portion off the ticket. Sporting events, concerts, operas - you name it - use electronic ticket bar code scanners these days. Apparently, one of the electronic scanners wasn't working correctly, and slowed everything up.

What really surprises me, is shortly after the Twins departed the Dome, the stadium officials took the turnstiles out of the stadium. You'd think, without the turnstiles, the lines might move faster getting inside. Not so much. I think it took longer for me to walk the 20 feet to the gate, than it did for me to follow the line around the stadium waiting to get in.

Once inside, many things have changed. The Vikings have painted purple all over the concourses. You wouldn't even know a baseball team played there; although the baseball configuration is used for TwinsFest.

Familiar exhibits filled the field including "Down Memory Lane" which this year was a collection of items from the Twins' three ballparks: Met Stadium, the Metrodome and their new ballpark, Target Field. It was a good collection of memorabilia, especially from the days of the Met. The Twins also cancelled some TwinsFest staples this year, namely dugout, clubhouse and press box tours.

Most of my time was spent at the Target Field display. I grabbed all the ticket information, seat charts, pocket schedules and other assorted paraphernalia I could get my hands on. It is hard to believe in just three short months, the Twins will be playing outdoors.

I played a few of the "spin the wheel" games. I put $5 down at one, and ended up winning an autographed Bob Feller bobblehead doll; a bobblehead that sells for $40 at the Bob Feller Museum in Iowa.

I was a bit disappointed to see the lack of Target Field merchandise at this year's TwinsFest. I asked one of the folks in the Twins Pro Shop section if they had any Target Field t-shirts or anything; no such luck. I was tempted however to buy one of the new home jerseys, unveiled a couple months ago, the one that pays homage to the jerseys worn in the early 1960s.

The Metrodome seems to work well for TwinsFest. The Twins have looked into hosting it at a convention center or hotel, according to the Pioneer Press article, but because the event is so large (TwinsFest boasts the largest sports card and memorabilia show in the Upper Midwest), and the Metrodome's capacity to hold large groups of people, the Dome seems to win out.

And, truth be told, for obvious reasons, Target Field would seem out of the picture as well.

Patrick Klinger, director of marketing for the Twins praised the Dome in this morning's Pioneer Press article saying that, "[the Dome is] really a perfect venue for TwinsFest." Yes, it was great to be back in the old place again; but also to look forward to what lies ahead at Target Field.

As a final note, one of the sports card displays set up on the field (if you haven't been to TwinsFest, you would be surprised how many tables and exhibits are set up on the field) had unused tickets from previous Twins seasons at the Met and at the Dome. I looked for those two tickets I lost on my way out of the final game at the Dome last October - no luck.

Saint Paul wants a ballpark now

We have tried this before, haven't we?

I seem to remember a pitch (forgive the pun) the Twins made a few years ago to build a ballpark in downtown Saint Paul - right across the street from the Xcel Energy Center if memory serves correctly. It didn't go over very well.

According to this morning's Pioneer Press, the Saint Paul Saints will be asking for a mere $25 million in state money to aid the construction of a new ballpark in the Lowertown area of Saint Paul. It seems to be a pretty neat location, as the new Lafayette Bridge will seemingly be visible just beyond the center field wall.

Reasons for needing a new ballpark for the Saints are numerous. Their current home, Midway Stadium is in "bad shape" according to the article - everything from a not-so-well operated concession stand to portable toilets outside the stadium are reasons for the Saints asking for state help.

I've been to a Saints game once. Best seats I've ever had for a baseball game, or any sporting event for that matter. A friend gave me tickets and he was one of the first to buy season tickets all the way back in 1993 when the Saints first started. He gave me four seats, front row, right behind home plate.

I can't say, even all those years ago, that Midway Stadium was impressive. It is a minor-league ballpark, after all. I do remember the long concession lines. Mike Veeck, owner of the Saints said in the article that the main problem at Midway is the concession service. "People get in line, and aren't seen for 3 1/2 innings," he said.

Midway has played host to some concerts, and other than Saints games, amateur baseball games. And, for a small concrete slab with bleachers on Energy Park Drive, isn't incredibly impressive, as I mentioned earlier. As for a possible replacement, Veeck said, "[We're] trying to figure out what would make it fun, sexy and first of it's kind...."

Just what on the blue earth makes a ballpark "sexy"? That's a new one to me. Most teams that build new buildings, whatever level of play, whatever sport, usually use words such as "unique," "first-class" and "modern" to describe their new buildings. "Sexy," not so much.

I saw some renderings of what a new ballpark might look like (I tried to find them online, with no luck). Honestly, they didn't get me excited. It looked a little strange for a ballpark. On the other hand, the Saints and strange antics seem to go hand-in-hand. But, nonetheless, the renderings I saw didn't say to me, "unique" or "first-class" or..."sexy;" whatever that means.

Getting to Target Field

While I was going through my emails today, I got a daily email from the Twin Cities Business Journal about a new website the Twins are putting up (the "new" site is embedded within their regular website) informing folks about transportation options to Target Field, come April.

If you are familiar with the location of Target Field, it really is in a very accessible part of downtown. There really is not an absence of routes to get there. The main issue really, is traffic management getting in, and more importantly, out of downtown after a game. Through this new website (http://www.destinationtargetfield.com), the Twins are laying out your options in black and white.

According to the article from the Business Journal(http://twincities.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2010/01/11/daily49.html), Target Field will be the most "transit-friendly" ballpark in Major League Baseball. I-94 accesses the park from the east and west, as does I-394. State Highway 55 runs near the park. Then you have light rail coming from the south, and a commuter rail line coming from the north.

The big issue though, is how to get out after games. And this doesn't apply to just the 40,000 ticket holders, but perhaps commuters that might get snarled up in post-game traffic during those occasional weekday 12:10 starts. This new website is really a good move by the Twins. I am still trying to sort out how I should leave downtown after a game. I have not-so-nice visions of bumper-to-bumper traffic trying to get back on to I-94 westbound.

The Twins do suggest coming early and also staying later. They also suggest using the same mode of parking that you do now for games at the Metrodome.

That's also been a big issue for me, where should I park? I certainly would not suggest parking in the ABC Ramps right there between Target Field and Target Center. You'd have to think many of the available spaces would be reserved for season ticket holders, and whatever is left would be at a premium parking rate.

Personally, I think I'll take the Twins' advice and come early. I'm planning on attending mostly day games in the new ballpark. The lot I usually park in is probably the same distance from Target Field as it is from the Metrodome, just a different direction. I am concerned though about whether or not the lot will raise its rates. And I just hop the light rail to get the rest of the way (especially on those rainy and/or cold days). Oh, I'll just admit it, I love riding that train.

The Twins are pushing for fans to use MetroTransit once Target Field opens. Many bus routes go right by the ballpark. The Hiawatha Light Rail comes in there, as does the Northstar Commuter line. Eventually the Central Corridor light rail from Saint Paul will end at Target Field as will a proposed light rail line that will predominantly use County Road 81 that goes through Crystal, Robbinsdale, etc.

I might end up doing that myself, the bus I would take from my home in North Minneapolis to downtown, stops right in front of the ballpark. And, for a base-fare of $1.75, I can't beat that. I'll just have to try several different options out and see which works the best.

Welcome back Joe!

Happy New Year everyone. I trust all of your holiday celebrations went well - and we all survived the winter storm over Christmas.

Well back to it. The greatest news I heard this entire week was that Joe Schmit, formerly the main sports anchor at KSTP Channel 5, is regaining his position as the main sports anchor, beginning next week.

The reason for Schmit's departure in 2006, is still a mystery to me. I heard some folks say it was because he was old - and they threw him out. And, other reports I heard was that he was merely taking a break from television.

Schmit was also shifted to news desk anchor before he left KSTP. According to an article from the Pioneer Press, Schmit held the news anchor position for "a little more than a year." After leaving KSTP, Schmit went on to a job with the John T. Petters Foundation - a subsidiary of the Petters Group, which, of course was led by Tom Petters. We all know how that turned out.

Prior to leaving 5 Eyewitness News, Schmit had been at KSTP for 20 years. When I heard Schmit was coming back, I was very happy to hear the news. KSTP had a brief little segment about his return on the 10 o'clock news last night. There were hugs all around for Schmit from old colleagues, as well as new friends at the station.

Schmit told the Pioneer Press, "I felt like Brett Favre for a while, I changed my mind a couple of times during the process. But the stars aligned and we were able to work it out that it made great sense to me and the station to come back."

On top of being main sports anchor, Schmit will also be sports director at KSTP. Phil Aldridge, who is currently the main sports anchor at KSTP, will move to the weekend shift - until July, when it is rumored Aldridge will be leaving the station. Schmit will assume the sports anchor position next week.

Welcome back, Joe. You've been missed.

You may read the Pioneer Press article here: http://www.twincities.com/ci_14141361?source=most_viewed