Field of Dreams

The Best Ballpark in America?
Based on numerous pre-opening tours and visits to the other 29 MLB parks, Target Field, in my opinion, will justify inclusion in the top five modern ballparks (historic Fenway Park and Wrigley Field excluded).

Target Field’s biggest advantage, its setting, is also its biggest demerit. It’s an incredibly practical setting, but a gritty one, lacking the charm of urban ballpark sites such as AT&T Park, nestled on San Francisco Bay, and PNC Park, along the Allegheny River with a straight-on view of the Pittsburgh skyline and river bridges. Target Field doesn’t have Camden Yards’ backdrop of a centuries-old brick Baltimore warehouse, nor Petco Park’s seamless integration into San Diego’s downtown energy and green space.

If I had to rank Target Field today, I would rank it fifth of the 28 modern ballparks for setting and charm. As for interiors and facilities, that’s tough to judge before a game’s been played, but my sense is the ballpark will probably be in MLB’s top three in fan comfort and trail only the billion-dollar Yankee Stadium in “wow”-factor amenities.

Design: The Shoehorn School
Walk around Target Field and you will quickly realize it was dropped into one of the most awkward urban sites available. The grade between Target Center and Target Field (from 1st to 3rd Avenues North) drops several stories. The ballpark literally sits well below most of downtown, though that’s neatly disguised.

The park is hemmed in by the Hennepin County garbage burner, I-394, and North 5th and 7th Streets. The only thing moved to accommodate it was a railroad track. It sits on the second smallest footprint in Major League Baseball and gets wider as it rises, using air rights over I-394 and the BNSF Railroad. It is, in many ways, an architectural miracle. Still, architect Bruce Miller says that with more space the ballpark would have been able to contain now-standard amenities like kids play and family picnic areas.

Since the retro ballpark era (17 new ballparks, built 1992–2009) began with brick-faced Camden Yards in Baltimore, Target Field is only the second ballpark to open with a non-retro aesthetic (San Diego’s Petco Park was first). It’s been reported that the Twins seriously considered a brick-heavy retro design, reflecting the nearby Warehouse District, but its architects encouraged, and management embraced, being on the crest of a new wave instead of again pulling up the rear on an old one.

The park’s interior, particularly the Legends Club atriums and Metropolitan Club, are beautiful, soaring spaces worth a visit, either on a ballpark tour or with a season-ticketed friend. The ballpark is filled with gorgeous small touches, such as finished soffits and ceilings, atypical in stadiums. Target Field may be the most detail-rich ballpark in the country.

Getting There, Getting Home
Access: Target Field is bracketed by North 5th and 7th Streets and sits directly behind Target Center. It is amazingly situated for access and parking, at the terminus of the Hiawatha LRT line and Northstar Commuter Rail. I-394 entry and exit ramps are at the ballpark’s doorstep, and the primary I-94 North on-ramp is a block away. Fans approaching from the east and south, used to superb Metrodome access, are relatively disadvantaged.

Parking: There are 7,000 spaces in the adjacent ABC and Hawthorne ramps, but fans looking for a quick in-and-out would be advised to park a few blocks away and ride the LRT or walk in. Ballparkdigest.com’s Kevin Reichard suggests parking at the top of the A ramp for a fast getaway.

Transit: Metro Transit has told the Twins it intends to provide special inbound or outbound Northstar trains for 53 of the 83 scheduled home games, but details weren’t available at press time. Winter Northstar schedules did not allow for a trip home from most weeknight games or a timely trip in for day games.

Getting In
The Twins have sold approximately 20,000 season tickets for 2010, meaning half the park is pre-sold. Thousands more seats were snapped up in early March when single-game seats went on sale. Target Field will be a tough ticket, and many games are virtual sellouts. Consider stubhub.com or ballparkdigesttickets.com for resale/purchase options.

Ticket Prices: $11–$82. The cheapest single-game tickets are in the upper reaches of the upper deck’s “Field View” section, while the most expensive are “Dugout Box” seats. Games are designated “value, select, premium” depending on anticipated demand, and tickets are priced a couple bucks higher for each tier. The cheapest outfield seat is $17 in the right-field bleachers. Champions and Legends Club seats are not currently being sold by the game, but will likely be available on the secondary market.

Seating: The ballpark’s best seats are on the club level, the perfect mix of elevation and proximity. At-seat drink service is available. Clubs are only sold as season tickets for now, but observers expect some to go on sale individually later on. I bought my season seats in section 324, which seemed the best amalgam of value, view, and skyline.

Will seats be reserved for game-day sale? The Twins put most seats on sale March 13. There is no section of the park or minimum number of seats that will be held back for spontaneous fans. Between unused VIP and player seats and visiting team returns, expect a few seats to be for sale within 24 hours of most sold-out games.

Eating, Drinking, Partying 
If you suffered through the despicable, dispiriting fare at the Metrodome, expect big things at Target Field. Its new food service concessionaire, SportsService, runs all food venues and stands. Almost all food will be cooked where it’s served, instead of being prepped in central
venues and kept warm. (Limited on-site pre-cooking—fair warning, burger lovers—is still in the cards, but dishes will not be assembled until they are ordered.)

Eat: Local faves on offer include Juicy Lucys, grilled Kramarczuk’s sausages ground that morning, Murray’s steak sandwiches, Loon Cafe chili, and J.D. Hoyt’s grilled “Cajun” pork chops. There will be rolling carts offering fans gelato, “farmers’ market”
grub, stir-fry, and things on a stick. The ratio of food service points to fans will be much improved from the Dome.

Restaurants: Hrbek’s and Town Ball Tavern are the venues open to all fans. Hrbek’s will offer “basket” fare, outdoor seating overlooking 7th Street (unfortunately), and Kent’s signature Bloomington onion rings and “Rex” burger stuffed with pepperjack and caramelized onions. Don’t expect Herbie to be around a lot. Town Ball Tavern on the outfield concourse will contain more seating, a full bar, and a different menu of basket eats, including Juicy Lucys. The Budweiser Roof Deck on the upper-level left-field corner is an outdoor bar with fire pit that will close for groups or be open to the public, depending on the game.

Clubs: Several venues serve season ticket holders. The 495-capacity Metropolitan Club, designed to celebrate Metropolitan Stadium and Twins history, will offer buffet stations with “show cooking.” Expect beef tenderloin, shrimp cocktails, salads, hearth-baked pizza, et cetera. An à la carte menu will be offered late in the game and post-game. There’s a full bar, and reservations are recommended. Champions Club is a private club behind home plate where valet parking, food and drink, and personalized at-seat service is included in the price of Target Field’s costliest season tickets. The club offers views into the walkway from the Twins dugout to the team’s clubhouse. The high rollers also get an all-you-can-eat nacho cheese dispenser. Legends Club contains a massive pair of atriums (looking out on the garbage burner) behind the club seating areas, open to club ticket holders and suite guests. The Carew Atrium will offer a buffet of carved meats, salads, and pizzas. The Puckett Atrium will have a show cooking station and prepare foods such as ahi tuna, crab cakes, and steak sandwiches.