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.

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.

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?

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.

The future of local news

I looked through my daily email from the Public Relations Society of America - Issues and Trends - and found a neat little article about local news, and whether or not it's still proprietary.

The article suggests that though many consumers are now perusing the Internet, and other electronic mediums to get their news, there are segments of journalism that are still perceived as important. The quote du jour seemed to be this one, "The Pew report noted that audiences consider newspapers to be more valuable than before. In fact, news content has slightly increased in popularity during the recent months."

So it seems that journalism hasn't altogether vanished; but the article, written by Barbara Bry for the PRSA Tactics, also states that there needs to be a major change in the way traditional media distributes the news. If you think about how Twitter works, people who regularly use Twitter could find a piece of news, a press release or whatever - possibly quicker than they might be able to find it on a search engine, such as Google News.

Which leads to the main point of the article, that news is no longer proprietary, or exclusive. Bry mentioned bloggers who are increasingly putting forth news on their sites.

For example, yesterday, local news reports here in the Twin Cities brought forth a report about the new Budweiser Party Deck that will be constructed at Target Field - the new home of the Minnesota Twins. I frequent a blog at www.twinsballpark2010.com which, over the last three months or so, through pictures and guided tours from the blog's host, has suggested that something was going to be built out in the left field area of the ballpark.

So, it was really no surprise to me when I saw it in this morning's newspaper, or last night's 10pm newscast. This example seems to prove Ms. Bry's comments - that in order to be relevant, something will need to change in the way local news is presented.

Her full article, can be read here: http://www.prsa.org/supportfiles/news/viewNews.cfm?pNewsID=842348074

Thanks for reading.

One year from now...

Within the next 365 days, the Twins will be relocating to open-air Target Field. After years of struggling to get a new ballpark, the dream will become reality next spring.

I'm still trying to figure out how outdoor baseball will work here in Minnesota. And given that now the last two years, the first couple days of April has brought unseasonable cold, and wet snow, I'm really concerned. I'm part of a generation that doesn't remember Met Stadium, but remembers watching baseball under a teflon roof, played on AstroTurf; making for a guaranteed opening day without fear of cancellation. And, let's not forget about games in late September/early October (or even later if we have a playoff-bound team).

I wish I had statistics on opening days whilst at the Met from 1961-1981. It can be cold, rainy and sometimes snowy during the first week of April in these parts. I've always told myself that Kansas City, Saint Louis, both Chicagos and Boston, just to name a few, can have wild weather this time of year too, and those locales do just fine with open-air ballparks.

Recently on my Facebook account, I posted a muse that someone told me was funny, the way The Onion is funny. Some highlights included:

April 1 - For the third year in a row, snow and cold befalls upon Minnesota. 15 inches of snow to be exact. Therefore, the Twins' home opener at Target Field is delayed. The last time the Twins "delayed" a game was Aug. 2, 2007, after the bridge collapse.

April 9 - A small flood befalls Target Field now because of all the melting snow. The Twins are seriously considering moving to Dallas.

April 13 - The Twins figure that games may not be played at all at Target Field at least until June 1, to allow time to repair all the damage. The Twins drop the Dallas talks and talk about moving BACK to the Metrodome.

April 27 - After lying to everybody about how great Target Field was going to be, the Twins immediately tear off the Inaugural Season sleeve patches in a rousing ceremony at the Metrodome in front of approximately 1,000 people. The Twins lose their "Target Field home opener" 4-2 to the Boston Red Sox.

April 28 - Dave St. Peter scratches his head and thinks to himself, "What in holy heck just happened here?"

Apparently, I'm not the only one who wonders what next year will bring. The Minneapolis StarTribune had a rather lengthy article on April 2, detailing the opening day temperatures for the last 27 years, the number of years the Twins have played indoors. The warmest opening day whilst at the Dome was April 8, 1988 with a high of 77. The coldest opening day was a mere six years ago, April 4, 2003 with a bone-chilling 29 as a high.

And this morning (April 3), in Charley Walters' column in the PioneerPress, the last segment of his column read as follows, "Jerry Bell, president of Twins Sports Inc., asked about the weather if the Twins open Target Field next year at this time: 'The answer is that we won't be playing at home a year from now. We'll be on the road for at least six games. We thought of that too."

So, let's just put that in perspective. The 2009 Major League (MLB) season opens Sunday, April 5, and the Twins "Dome Opener" is Monday, April 6. So, let's figure those six games Bell spoke of: two three-game series', one day to travel to the first city, another to travel to the next, then the last day to travel home. So, we're looking at a nine-day stretch. Which would mean, if this was next year, the Twins would open Target Field on April 15.

Of course, not every April is cold and dreary like that of this year, last year, or even 2003. However, the Twins can't always guess what it's going to be like, and so they might opt to open on the road every year from 2010 on. I read an article a couple months ago (I think it was another Walters article) saying that teams must apply to MLB well in advance, in order to open on the road. So, either the Twins do that, or opt to play the first couple weeks of the season just like the Cubs played all 81 of their home games prior to Wrigley Field installing lights in 1989: play day games.

Enjoy early home openers while you can, I think we're in for some late ones in the years to come.