by Luke Rasmussen

Created on: June 11, 2010

I admit, I was wrong. A couple years ago, I wrote an article here on Helium about why the Minnesota Twins would need a new ballpark by the year 2030.

I admit that, up until the day I went to Target Field for the first time, I was skeptical about the absence of a roof. However, being that baseball under a roof, played on green carpet was all I knew. In Minnesota, that's the way we played pro ball. 

I have been to Target Field now four times, and I love it. The atmosphere is great; and the fact that there is no roof is even better. It's been fun going to three games there (I also went to the Open House in March) and seeing it rain all three games.  I have watched videos of ballparks from Seattle and Phoenix and Houston (all retractable-roof stadiums) and their roofs closing. It's disgusting. Really.

I watched one from Seattle's Safeco Field, and it looked like a huge, flying saucer was docking over the stadium.

This of course is not to say that Target Field is without its hangups. There is still a debate about whether or not its a pitcher's park or a hitter's park. The Twins probably claim that it's a pitcher's park because they are being outhomered by their opponents. It's a lame argument though, if your opponents can hit home runs, why is it any different for the Twins?

People have discovered that there are, believe it or not, obstructed view seats at Target Field. But, they built a ballpark this time, not a cavernous stadium. The Twins have done everything they can to inform fans on their Web site where the restricted view seats are.

And, players have discovered there is a little bit of glare off the windows on the skyscrapers. Twins catcher Joe Mauer says it's the worst in the later parts of those 3:10 pm starts.

Nonetheless, Target Field is in a great part of downtown Minneapolis. It reminds me a little bit of the placement of Coors Field in Denver. Right at the edge of downtown. It proves to be a point of revitalization in that part of town. I complained in my first article about the footprint (build-able space) for the ballpark - 8.9 acres. The fact that Target Field was built in such a tight space is actually part of its uniqueness. Who knows, it might even be lauded as the next Wrigley Field.

And, the issue of the HERC (Hennepin County's garbage burner) being behind the ballpark is really not an issue at all. The Twins built a nice promenade area on that side of the ballpark. Along the fence are reproductions of baseball cards from former Twins players. And, on the wall of the ballpark and all the way around, are banners commemorating the team's championships in chronological order.

With the opening of Target Field, the passion for Twins baseball seems to have returned. People are excited to go to the games, and hopefully that feeling will last long after the honeymoon period for Target Field has passed. As far as Twins fans are concerned, they love that baseball is back outdoors, they cheer when it rains at games, the atmosphere on the adjacent plaza almost has the feel of the Minnesota State Fair.

I have a feeling that Target Field will be the home of the Minnesota Twins for a long time. And, well beyond 2030. I was happy to be in attendance at the Twins' final regular-season game at the Metrodome. Hopefully, I won't have to see the final regular-season game at Target Field - it's going to be around for a long time.

So, I hereby retract statements in my original article, "Why the Minnesota Twins will need a new ballpark by 2030."

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