Sorry in advance, this is gonna be a long response. My first chance to comment on things.
Lets see Target Field seems to have taken Frank Llyod Wright approach to the right field entrance but those on the left field line will experience Garbage Burner and the Garbage waiting to be burned. Those seats in the left field corner should sell for a discount if you can stand the stench on a hot summer day or evening.....Minneapolis is trending toward becoming filthy city. Good Luck Twins Fans.
I hope the Twins wold have been forward thinking enough that you wouldn't be bothered by the smell of the garbage burner at all the games.
Seriously though "trending towards becoming a filthy city"? Taken from
http://secondward.blogspot.com/2008/12/violent-crime-rates-down-again.html
"Violent crime in Minneapolis is down 13 percent citywide so far in 2008 when compared to 2007 and down 24 percent compared to 2006. Homicides are down 22 percent from last year and down 39 percent from 2006. Robberies decreased 18 percent, aggravated assaults are down 8 percent, and juvenile crime dropped 17 percent in 2008."
Minneapolis is trending the opposite direction that you have indicated. It seems like you have just always thought Minneapolis is a filthy city and you have an axe to grind against it or you are making something up to prove your point you like TCF better. TCF, by the way, will be located in Minneapolis too which makes me think you just don't like the downtown area.
Basically what you are saying is that Hennepin County should fork out an additional 200 million so YOU can attend Twins games. And I am the one being self absorbant? Have you ever been to a baseball stadium with a retractable roof? None of them existing has ever been mentioned as a great baseball stadium. The loom so large over the field that the intimacy of the stadium is all but eliminated.
I don't think he is justifying 200 mil in extra expenditures just so he can see twins games, but more for all the people in similar situations as him.
I think the intimacy at baseball parks has to do with the fans proximity to the field. Thats why multipurpose stadiums suck so much. All the old circular structure parks whether outdoor or indoor sucked because of this and I would much rather attend a game in Milwaukee or Houston than say in Oakland where you are so far removed from the field. I think the retractable roof stadiums aren't considered great because you don't feel the stadium is linked to its environment at all.
I also am NOT in favor of the retractable roof. I just dont like when people say that out-state Minnesotans have no point in suggesting that it might be a good idea to have one.....Why are we different from Detroit, Chicago, Kansas City, St. Louis, Colorado? Ill tell you: All of them get cold, but it is way, way colder in Mpls in April and September/October. Colorado is the only one which comes close but only because of their unpredictable storms.
Despite this I still think a roof is not the best idea.
thank you...here is an interesting fact I am from out state minnesota and i dont want a retractable roof..wow imagine that your generalization that all out state people want a roof is wrong, please dont use that out state arguement because it is crap.. a lot of people in the metro also want a roof so the stadium can be used for stuff in the winter too. But skoal is right retractable roofs arent real outdoor stadium, sure you can see the sky but its not the same. also whoever said earlier that the twins dont get any revenue on out state walk up ticket sales...maybe one of the dumbest comments ive read on here...for people who are affraid of having a trip ruined because of rain, i hear weather reports are helpful
since out-state minnesota is not paying for any of the construction of target field their ability to whine and desire to "have a voice about how it is built" gets to the point of annoyance for those of us in the metro who are. My response to them is: "feel free to come watch games there if you want, but shut up already and don't tell us how to build the GD thing!"
C'mon now isnt the Twins slogan, This is your State, this is your Team, this is Twins Territory? I am in Hennepin County, and I wouldn't have minded a retractable roof if it wasnt so much extra in cost to taxpayers.
For what its worth I've been 4 of the 5 retractable roof stadiums to Milwaukee, Toronto, Houston and Arizona (roof closed due to 120 degree temps) and have yet to visit Safeco in Seattle. Ive also been to many other baseball games that were in open air stadiums and I didn't think the retractable roof games were any less of an outdoor baseball game because of it. In fact when the roof was open at those stadiums I felt no different then when I was at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Yankee Stadium or pick a tin can park(Three Rivers, Veterans, Riverfront, or the old Busch Stadium) Call me a pussy, but I sure as hell was thankful the roof was closed when I visited Chase Field(Bank One Ballpark at the time).
The best fields to visit seem to be the scenic ones that mesh nicely with their surroundings. PNC Park, AT&T Park, Camden Yards, Petco Park, Comerica Park, and the new Busch Stadium. I think that Target could fit right in there with those stadiums with the way it is being built into downtown.
It doesn't look like campus has MUCH of an advantage in number of crimes, but near the Target Center and new ballpark there have been more shootings.....HOWEVER, Target Field is right across the freeway from the busy bar scene of downtown.....The light rail extending out and the field itself being there will spur growth - restaurants, shops, bars, etc. It will be revitalized a little....That won't stop me from attending both as much as possible.
I havent checked the link yet, but I am curious if they have on the link when the crimes are committed. Because I bet a ton of crimes that happen downtown happen after bar close. With new businesses coming in and the area being revitalized by the stadium if you leave a game at 10pm on weeknights I don't think you will have many problems with crime.
Side Note: Even when going to stadiums that people consider to be in seedy neighborhoods you don't have any problems when you stick with the crowds.
There isn't a chance that there will be enough season tickets to sell out the stadium--even the most successful teams in the league don't have 40,000 season tickets.
The most successful teams in the league don't have 40,000 season tickets to sell, but I bet a few have the ability to sell 40,000 if they were to open it up to that. I am willing to bet Boston could sell out all of their seats to season ticket holders, but then again you are limiting yourself to having only season ticket holders at games and not allowing other fans to ever buy a ticket from you to see a game live. Less revenue made on team apparel, and ultimately less fan interest. If I had to watch every twins game on tv and wasnt able to buy tickets from the twins ticket office or had to pay double the regular price of admission from stubhub, ebay or craigslist I certainly would be a lot less interested in the Twins.
