MINNEAPOLIS -- Outdoor baseball is less than 60 days away. So what better way to beat the winter blues than to take a tour of Target Field. Things really are coming together at the new Twins ballpark.
"First thing I do when people walk in is I show them the city and the space... and it was actually probably the number one reason why I picked to work here... was the proximity to the baseball stadium," said John Grudnowski, of FWRD Digital Marketing in Minneapolis.
The view from Grudnowski's office on the top floor of the Ford Center peers over Target Field's left field corner, and into what is now a snow-covered stadium. But when the grass turns green, Grudnowski's office is just a long foul ball away.
"We bought four seats, and nothing quite like meeting at 5:00, get it done at 6:00, and head on down to the promenade, down there and hopefully there's going to be something going on and catching a game at 7:00, so we're actually very excited about it," Grudnowski added.
So are many other businesses surrounding the Twins' new home. Many people in the Twin Cities have seen the new stadium, across from Target Center in Minneapolis, taking shape. But what most people have not seen is under the bleachers, through the main doors, and behind the Twins' dugout.
"It's 1300 square feet larger than just the locker room area of the Metrodome. The ceilings are higher, it's much more wide open," said Kevin Smith, the Twins executive director of public affairs. "We wanted to keep a team atmosphere in here, a place where guys couldn't hide, be away or not be seen... there are six 50" TVs in here they can watch."
You will find wood trim, carpet with a logo, and every locker has plugins for the web and electronics.
"From Joe Mauer, to Joe Nathan, to Denard Span, to Justin Morneau, this is a big-league feeling clubhouse," added Smith. "Everyone to a man thought it was fabulous."
The coaches and manager Ron Gardenhire's offices are tucked away. Adjacent to the clubhouse is a place no ticket holder can visit.
"This is players only. No media, no public. A private area for players to enjoy," explained Smith. "A nice place for them to download and decompress after a game; and what's nice about it is they have their spot."
In the shower room you will again find the team's logo.
There's a steam room. And players also have an expansive, personalized weight room, a state-of-the-art training room with hydrotherapy pools, and a sprinters track directly behind the dugout.
Around the corner, you will find batting cages and a pitcher's mound. It is right next to the Champion's Club seating area. People with tickets for that area will be able to walk up to a window and watch players work out.
Under the centerfield bleachers, you will find the grounds crew lockers, and a man hyper-focused on Target Field's most important day.
"April 1, it's the day the players will probably show up for their first workout, so the field has to be ready by then," explained Larry DiVito, the Twins head groundskeeper.
Feet away, is the bullpen, for both home visitors. Both are in full view of the fans, although the Twins have not decided, yet, which pen they will occupy.
For fans, the stadiums seats are wider and have more legroom. And visitors will find 219 more restrooms than are at the Metrodome. There are loads of food choices, including a bar and grill manned by Twins' legend Kent Hrbek. The skyboxes are named after lakes, and 48 of the 54 are sold for the season. Two of them can be rented by the game.
"It's a spectacular building, no doubt about it. In fact, I'm very proud of it," said Earl Santee, the senior principal architect at Populous, the architecture firm for Target Field.
Santee is not the only proud person. So is the man who has been behind the push for a new park since 1996.
"The time that we spent doing this was agonizing and at times painful, but now that I walk through here, standing in the Twins clubhouse, it was worth it, it was definitely worth the wait!" exclaimed Jerry Bell, President of Twins Sports, Inc.
For the rest of us, the wait is less than two months away. The ultimate judge will be the fans, who will begin deliberating April 2 and 3, when the Twins host the Cardinals for two home exhibition games. The regular season home opener is April 12 against the Boston Red Sox.
Season tickets still are available, and single-game tickets go on sale March 13, by phone, online and at Target Field's box office.
(Copyright 2010 by KARE. All Rights Reserved.)
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