Note: Apologies to fans across Twins Territory for my delinquency in updating this blog. The work on Target Field is fast and furious - as is the pace across the Minnesota Twins organization. With the World Series heading toward conclusion my intent and hope is to continue to share an "insiders" view of all aspects of the development of Target Field. Thanks for your support. - Dave St. Peter

CONCRETE TURNS TO STEEL

Any fan checking out the NEW Target Field webcam understands that construction of Minnesota's ballpark is now in overdrive. It's Halloween week and fittingly the "skeleton" of a ballpark is starting to take shape. It's taking shape largely thanks to a significant transition. A transition from concrete to steel.

For the past 12 months the ballpark construction site has been all about concrete. Thanks to work crews who endured last winter's frigid temps before thriving on this summer's splendid weather, that concrete work is ahead of schedule. In fact, the final elevated concrete pour of the Terrace Level is scheduled to take place next month - some two-plus months before it was originally planned.

Meanwhile, today's ballpark site is quickly becoming all about steel. The outfield's steel foundations continues to evolve while an absolutely beautiful sight emerged in the last few days. That was the sight of the "champagne" colored steel raker beams being installed on the Terrace Level. Moreover, last week's steel milestone included the initial erection of the roof canopy framework. The overall height of the ballpark is now evident as the roof canopy begins to become reality. That's exciting news for the design team as countless hours were spent in order to ensure the roof canopy becomes one of the ballpark's signature features.

Target Field Notes: Upcoming construction milestones include the installation of the first "stadia" section (November); the selection of the actual ballpark seating types (November); unveiling of final Target Plaza design (December) ...

Much has been made in recent days about the potential for challenging weather for possible World Series games at Target Field. What am I missing here? Didn't anyone watch the fans and players bundle up when the 2006 World Series visited Detroit's Comerica Park? How about the recent frigid temps during postseason games at Boston's Fenway Park or Cleveland's Progressive Field? How many empty seats did you see for those games? Yes, like other northern climates weather could play a role in our historically unpredictable climate. Why does the media continue to fixate on the weather in relation to Minnesota's mover to outdoor baseball? ...

With the Target Field Daktronics scoreboard package now announced, the project team now turns its collective attention to the video production equipment. In other words the cameras and backroom equipment which makes those beautiful HD images possible ... The Twins have commenced the search for Target Field's first head groundskeeper. Once hired, it will mark the first time the Twins have employed a groundskeeper since the team played at Metropolitan Stadium.

Win Twins!

Dave St. Peter

Since it became reality in May 2006, one of the most often-asked questions regarding Minnesota's new ballpark revolved around what the facility would be called. Months and months of incredible speculation were answered earlier today when the Minnesota Twins and Target Corporation announced agreement in principle on an a historic new partnership that includes naming rights for Target Field - the new Hennepin County ballpark scheduled to open in 2010 -- along with Target Plaza, which connects the ballpark to downtown Minneapolis.

Today's announcement is the latest sign of tremendous momentum for the return of outdoor Major League Baseball. It also marks the culmination of a long-term team strategy and approach in relation to the naming of Minnesota's new ballpark.

While many franchises conduct what may as well be called an "auction" for naming rights, I think it's safe to say the Twins employed a somewhat non-traditional approach. For many years - even in advance of the necessary government approvals - at the urging of the Pohlad family the Twins contemplated what Minnesota's new ballpark should be called. To that end, the team considered a variety of options - some corporate and even going with a non-corporate name. The bottom line was this: Minnesota's new ballpark was going to be given a name which fans across Twins Territory could embrace.

Over time, the team engaged in discussions with several local and national companies each expressing interest in a ballpark naming rights relationship. The team was especially encouraged by the number of Minnesota legacy companies who showed interest in the ballpark project. As those discussions evolved, the most important elements for the team when considering potential corporate naming rights partners were as follows:

o   LOCAL

§  Minnesota based, strong regional heritage, local leadership

o   FAMILY FOCUSED

§  Brand consistency, Values

o   CIVIC ACTIVATION/STEWARDSHIP

§  Plaza, Ballpark District, Downtown Minneapolis, Region

o   COMMUNITY/PHILANTRHOPY

§  History of giving back

That's where Target Corporation comes into the picture. Minnesota-based Target and the Twins have enjoyed a 20-plus year sponsorship relationship. With that existing partnership as a foundation, the Twins and Target engaged in serious discussions regarding opportunities surrounding the new ballpark and ultimately reached the agreement we are announcing today. Simply put, the Pohlad family and Twins organization is incredibly proud to have found what we consider to be a perfect naming rights partner.

As the Twins and Target announce this agreement, it's clear that the partnership is about more than naming rights to Target Field. It's about creating the ultimate fan experience; it's about philanthropy; it's about creating public gathering space (i.e. Target Plaza); it's about building something iconic for downtown Minneapolis and the region; it's about two Minnesota heritage brands combining resources and ideas.

While this agreement is clearly significant, it's only the first in what promises to be a number of sponsorship related announcements surrounding Target Field. The team remains in serious discussions with many local and national companies about the next tier of sponsorship. The team expects to finalize up to four FOUNDING LEVEL partnerships - with various ballpark entitlements - in the near future.

Stay tuned for details as Opening Day 2010 at Target Field is less than 19 months away.

Win Twins!!!!

Dave St. Peter

President, Minnesota Twins

As another spectacular summer of Twins baseball continues, the team's new home is quickly taking shape in downtown Minneapolis. With more than 500 workers at the ballpark site each and every day, Jerry Bell, Bill Smith and I were recently privileged to provide a variety of the club's  uniform personnel with their first look at their new digs.

Ron Gardenhire and his coaching staff along with current Twins Justin Morneau, Joe Mauer, Joe Nathan, Nick Punto and Denard Span all recently made the 10-block trip from the Metrodome to the North Loop Neighborhood to visit the future home of Twins baseball. While we have addressed hundreds of questions during the many tours conducted for internal staff, select ticket holders, corporate partners and public officials, I found it interesting to see the coaching staff and players tour the site while gleaming information beneficial to their trade. Examples include:

·        Field/Groundskeeper - Not surprisingly all personnel expressed interest in the state of the playing field. While the grass is currently being grown at a MLB-approved sod farm in Colorado, the players were particularly interested in the infield dirt, the warning tracks, etc. They also were curious as to our plans to hire the groundskeeper - a position which will be filled prior to spring training 2009.

·        Dimensions/Outfield wall height - The players seemed pleased with the planned outfield dimensions which are almost identical to the Metrodome. Included in that discussion was the height of the outfield walls - 8 feet in left and center and 23 feet (same as the Metrodome) from right center to right. Needless to say Mr. Morneau is intrigued by the placement of "The Overlook" which extends eight feet over the right field wall.

·        Wind/Sun - With an American flag flying high on a pole placed on the future site of the pitcher's mound the wind direction was immediately evident. That led to discussion regarding the various wind studies which have been inconclusive. In addition, the group noticed the high sky and sun location at a time representative of a standard day game. I could see Denard Span pay particular attention to the location of the sun as we walked from centerfield. The bottom line is we will not fully understand the impact of wind and sun on game conditions until the ballpark construction is complete and the roof canopy is in place.

·        Bullpens - All were pleased with the plan for "stacked" bullpens in left centerfield. Much of the discussion focused on which pen the Twins will use - the lower or upper version. The team is yet to decide as both locations have theirs pros and cons. My sense is we will look for Gardy, bullpen coach Rick Stelmaszek and even Joe Nathan to be consulted on this next summer when the bullpens are fully in place.

·        Clubhouse - Of course much our time on site was spent reviewing the plans for the Twins clubhouse. The manager, coaches, players and staff spend countless hours here and all seemed excited with the proposed layout. Among the highlights were the strategically located batting tunnels, the weight room and the training room - complete with state-of-the-art hydrotherapy.

·        Dugouts - Understanding the Twins dugout (first base side) is now constructed, it was interesting seeing the players gravitate to this space. Much of the discussion was focused on the type of flooring, the type of bench and the type of fencing along the front of the dugout.

·        Parking - Like all employees, the group was curious as to their route to the ballpark and where they will park. Ironically, the player parking area - located south of the ballpark -- will be paved in the next few weeks. All seemed quite pleased with the spacious area which will allow for adequate parking for spouses on game day.

Win Twins!!!!

Dave St. Peter

President

Over the years, the Minnesota Twins have enjoyed a reputation across the world of sports as being one of the most innovative teams in terms of promotions and fan giveaways. From bat day to bobblehead day, from cap night to fan appreciation day, Twins fans have long enjoyed some of the most complete promotional calendars in all of Major League Baseball.

Can you believe it? Yes, Monday (May 26) marks the second anniversary of Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty signing the Twins-Hennepin County ballpark legislation into law.

What a difference two years can make!!! The spring of 2006 marked the conclusion of a decade-long struggle aimed at finding a workable ballpark solution. Meanwhile, the spring of 2008 finds America's best ballpark fully under construction and building anticipation for Opening Day 2010.

With that juxtaposition in mind, I couldn't help but think of Representative Brad Finstad (Comfrey) as the 2008 legislative session drew to a close last week in St. Paul. Yes, it was refreshing to watch the annual session-closing negotiations take place knowing the ballpark was no longer an issue up for discussion. However, I found myself focused on one of Southwestern Minnesota's finest legislators - Brad Finstad.

Savvy Twins fans may remember that Rep. Finstad served as the author of the Twins-Hennepin County ballpark legislation. He did what so many before him could not do. He did what so many of the experts said could not be done. He ran the gauntlet and ensured the successful passage of a workable ballpark bill. From the hundreds of hours spent in committee to the floor debate to the late-night negotiations, Rep. Finstad was unflappable in his effort to resolve the ballpark debate and build a new world-class facility for the region's fans.

While Rep. Finstad provided leadership on so many important issues - all of which much more important than baseball - the new downtown Minneapolis ballpark will certainly be an important part of his legacy. You see, as the 2008 legislative session drew to a close, the curtain also dropped on Rep. Finstad's political career. He has decided not to run for re-election in the fall - and at least for the time being - step away from public service.

Millions of baseball fans across the region should stand as one to salute Rep. Finstad for his courage, leadership and determination in making Minnesota's new ballpark a reality. He along with our Senate author Steve Kelley, Governor Tim Pawlenty and of course - Hennepin County Commissioners Mike Opat, Peter McLaughlin, Mark Stenglein and Randy Johnson - will forever be remembered as the leaders who preserved Twins baseball for future generations.

Best of luck to you and your family Rep. Finstad. We can't wait to see you on Opening Day 2010!!!!

Twins Ballpark Notes: The first week of May represented a huge milestone on the Twins ballpark project when HOK Sport delivered "Bid Pack 7" to M.A. Mortenson. Said "Bid Pack" will serve as the basis for roughly $100 million worth of ballpark work to be awarded over the next few months including interior finishes, technology, scoreboard and graphics ... The team now has sold 70% of the 3,400 Legend's and Champion's Club seats in the new ballpark ... Look for a second New Ballpark Webcam to be installed in the weeks to come ... Twins fans were among the big winners with the recent legislative approval of the Central Corridor. It won't be long until fans will be able to jump on a LRT train in downtown St. Paul and travel to the doorstep of the new ballpark ... Mortenson and the team will soon award the bid relating to installation of the playing field. The grass making up the playing field will be planted soon.

This week the Minnesota Twins announced one of the most important partnerships in the history of the franchise. As we all know, food and beverage as well as merchandise operations, are critical aspects of the overall game day experience. To that end, the team was thrilled to announce a new long-term partnership with Delaware North Companies Sportservice to serve as the exclusive concessionaire for the new downtown Minneapolis ballpark.

Understanding that no fewer than eight national firms expressed interest in this business, keys to the Twins decision to partner with DNC Sportservice were as follows:

• Family Ownership - The Jacobs family, which has operated Sportservice since 1915, has cultivated a business philosophy and culture within DNC quite similar to the Pohlad family operations. Beyond the concessions business, the Jacobs family owns the NHL's Boston Bruins and operates Beantown's TD North Bank Garden.

• Midwest Focus - DNC Sportservice has established an impressive resume of Midwest teams as clients - including the Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians,  St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers. That Midwest focus isn't new as Sportservice was the concessionaire at Minneapolis' Nicollet Park (for the Minneapolis Millers) and St. Paul's Lexington Park (for the original St. Paul Saints).

• Quality - Sportservice overall ability to deliver a quality food/beverage operation stood out from the field. Among the joint objectives for Sportservice and the Twins is a blend of local fares within the ballpark as well as the development of "signature" food items.

• Service - DNC Sportservice is committed to providing a high level of customer service - highlighted by the company's market leading GuestPath benchmarking program.

• Community - DNC Sportservice will soon become a major employer within the Twin Cities with 1,000 to 1,200 people working on a Twins game day. In addition, the company is committed to maintaining the role of volunteer groups working designated concession stands - helping raise thousands of dollars for Upper Midwest charities.

• Innovation - DNC Sportservice is among the leaders in concessions technology including the push toward touch screen kiosks, loaded tickets, etc.

• Sustainable Operations - Understanding the Twins focus on sustainable design and operations of the new facility, the team is quite intrigued by the Sportservice program known as GreenPath.

• People - In a word, the DNC Sportservice is PASSIONATE about the opportunity partner with the Minnesota Twins and establish a stronger presence within the Upper Midwest.

The Twins are thrilled to have DNC Sportservice as a partner and feel strongly that they were the right choice for fans across Twins Territory. It's a critical partnership for the team and our fans as few relationships - if any - will have a more direct impact on the overall game day experience. Welcome aboard Sportservice!!!!

Win Twins!!!

Dave St. Peter
President, Minnesota Twins

A sell-out crowd of more than 48,000 will converge on the Metrodome for tonight's 2008 season opener featuring the Minnesota Twins versus the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. All those in attendance will not only cheer on the Twins for the start of another season, but they will be on hand for the start of the official "countdown" to Minnesota's new ballpark scheduled to open in 2010.

Starting with tonight's game, the Twins will feature an interactive display adjacent the Samsung Home Run Porch which will countdown the number of games remaining in the Metrodome. The number will switch in the sixth inning - once the current game becomes official. Tonight, Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew will be among the group changing the number from 162 to 161 games.

Speaking of Opening Day, you could almost predict the forecast for a snowy sloppy day across Twins Territory. Undoubtedly, the crummy weather and pending return of outdoor baseball will be common discussion points for Minnesota baseball fans and media. Let's just keep Monday's weather in proper context.

The reality is ALL northern climate baseball communities - Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland, New York, Boston, etc. - have challenges with April weather. Most of those cities have dealt with this issue for more than 100 years. Things are no different in Minnesota. While things are bit more unpredictable this time of year, come late April or early May, our climate is quite comparable to other northern baseball towns. That said, the Twins remain confident in our ability to work with Major League Baseball to ensure we open the season on the road - a factor aimed at helping ensure better weather for the season opener.

Nationals Park Opens to Solid Reviews
The Twins front office watched last night's Washington Nationals-Atlanta Braves game with great interest as the team's played the first-ever game in National's Park. From all accounts the District of Columbia and the Nationals franchise deserve kudos for the design of a wonderful baseball venue. I had the chance to tour the facility during construction and look forward to getting a glimpse of the finished product in the near future. The similarities to the new Twins ballpark are plentiful, highlighted by the following:

• Sustainable Design - Like the Twins ballpark, Nationals Park is seeking LEED certification from the US Green Building Council. The certification provides environmental guidelines for the sustainable construction and operation of new buildings.

• Front Door - Like the Twins ballpark, the "front door" of Nationals Park is in the outfield. While the primary entrance to the Twins ballpark is in right-field (6th Street Pedestrian Bridge and Plaza), the main entrance to the Nationals Park is in left-field.

• Stone - Watch a game at the Nationals Park and it won't take long to notice the signature "federal building" buff-colored stone which is prevalent behind home plate and throughout the facility. Those stone elements remind me of the plans to use the Minnesota-native Kasota Stone throughout the exterior and interior of the Twins ballpark.

• Landscaping - Since the Twins unveiled the schematic ballpark design last year, thousands of fans have expressed their satisfaction with the plan to feature a series of Minnesota-native fir trees just beyond the centerfield fence. Likewise, Nationals fans love the series of signature DC Cherry Trees which have been planted beyond the left-field bleachers.

• Scoreboard - The Nationals Park video board is quite similar in size and shape to the board contemplated for the new Twins ballpark. The National's board features a 4,532-square-foot high-definition video screen. Meanwhile, the current Twins ballpark design is calling for a 5,000+ square foot board.

• Views - Both ballparks provide fans with memorable views of their respective home city. While the downtown Minneapolis skyline will be prevalent in the new Twins ballpark, Nationals Park gives fans (particularly those sitting in the upper deck) a spectacular view of the Capital dome.

Win Twins!!!

Dave St. Peter
President, Minnesota Twins

This week’s Hennepin County Board committee meeting once again demonstrated the Pohlad family and Minnesota Twins commitment to build America’s best ballpark. During that meeting it was announced that the team had agreed to cover $22.4 Million worth of ballpark upgrades – raising the $390 Million project budget to $412.4 Million. That $22.4 Million expense is in addition to the incremental $15 Million contributed by the team to supplement the County’s original $90 Million infrastructure budget. Do the math. The Twins current ballpark contribution now totals $167.4 Million ($130M + $15M + $22.4M). Don’t be surprised if that total continues to rise considering the team’s ongoing commitment to ensure quality and a legacy project.

The good news for Twins fans is these enhancements are almost exclusively aimed at ensuring a superior fan experience. Among the elements included in these enhancements are the following:

·         Full Roof Canopy Soffit – Largest in baseball

·         Scoreboard Upgrade – High Definition board at least 102 feet long and 57 feet high.

·         Warming Shelters – Located on the Terrace Level

·         Mankato Limestone – 100,000 square feet of exterior stone

·         Restrooms – Incremental women’s restrooms

·         Concessions – Incremental concessions locations and enhanced operations

Stay tuned for more detailed information on the elements outlined above. We think these enhancements are critical and a huge win for the team – and most importantly – our fans.

Twins Ballpark Notes: A group of Twins officials visited Cisco’s San Jose headquarters this week to better understand how emerging technology can enhance the fan experience at the ballpark. The Oakland Athletics new home – Cisco Field – is slated to open as early as 2012 … Last week’s construction milestone featured the initial placement of part of the promenade which covers the BNSF track. With that piece in place, last week marked the first time a BNSF train would pass “under” the ballpark … The Twins will officially launch the sale of Club Seats (3,000 Legend’s Club seats and 400 Champion’s Club seats) during the week of February 25 … To date, 43 of the planned 55 private suites have been sold. That early sales success may lead the team to decide to increase the total number of private suites to 60 … The Twins will soon finalize a definitive agreement with a well-known baseball concessionaire to handle all food and beverage services within the new ballpark … Look for a “Countdown to the New Ballpark” element to be incorporated during home games at the Metrodome during the 2008 season.

Win Twins!!!!

Dave St. Peter

President, Minnesota Twins Baseball Club

During the coming weekend, tens of thousands of Upper Midwest baseball fans will flock to the Metrodome for TwinsFest 2008. A staple of Twins baseball since 1989, TwinsFest serves as the primary fundraiser for the Twins Community Fund, and has grown into the largest team-run fan festival in all of baseball. But more important to so many great Twins fans, is the reality that TwinsFest signals spring is on the horizon and that we are only a couple weeks away from pitchers and catchers reporting to Fort Myers.

Undoubtedly, one of the most frequently asked questions at TwinsFest will revolve around the long-term future of the event.  With the new Twins ballpark slated to open in the spring of 2010, the team will no longer call the HHH Metrodome home. Moreover, the future of the Metrodome remains very much in question as the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission continues its efforts to build support for a new facility to house the various community events, future NCAA Final Fours and Minnesota Vikings football.

Despite that uncertainty, fans across the region should know that the Twins are committed to maintain the tradition of TwinsFest for future generations of fans. The event has become a Minnesota sports staple and a critical funding source for so many Twins Community Fund programs. With that commitment in mind, the team is keeping the following in mind as it shapes the long-term TwinsFest strategy:

·         Future of the Metrodome – As long as possible, the Twins would like to hold TwinsFest in the Metrodome. As the home of the Twins from 1982-2009, the Dome defines Twinsbaseball for a generation of fans. The event is confirmed for the Metrodome through 2009. However, it’s feasible that the facility may not be available to host TwinsFest as soon as January 2010. Certainly, it would appear that TwinsFest 2011 and beyond would be in jeopardy assuming a new football facility is eventually constructed at the current Metrodome site.

·         Other Venues: Some may assume the event will eventually be held in the new Twins ballpark. However, understanding the new baseball facility is of the open-air variety, the new ballpark will provide somewhat limited interior space. While some northern climate clubs do host their off-season fan festivals in their ballpark (i.e. Detroit Tigers), the team is also very likely to consider the following:

o   Minneapolis Convention Center – Largest venue; has hosted NFL Experience.

o   Target Center – Synergies based on proximity to new Twins ballpark.

o   RiverCentre/Xcel Energy Center – Perhaps the event rotates between Minneapolis and St. Paul.

o   Mall of America – The team held TwinsFest at MOA once before.

o   TBD Hotel – Many teams hold events of this nature in hotel ballrooms (i.e. Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox).

o   New Vikings Stadium – Assuming the stadium has a roof, it may be the best venue for the annual mid-winter baseball festival.

Rest assured, the Twins front office is already hard at work to ensure TwinsFest continues for years to come. The location may change but the TwinsFest traditions of autographs from current and former Twins, kids and family interactive and sports/Twins memorabilia will continue for years to come.

Win Twins!!!

Dave St. Peter

President, Minnesota Twins Baseball Club

One of the most talked about sports stories of the recent holiday season was the NHL’s outdoor game played between the Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins at Buffalo’s Ralph Wilson Stadium. More than 70,000 people braved frigid temps and snow to watch outdoor hockey and the game posted better-than-normal television ratings across the country. A successful event on all fronts. Successful enough to ignite discussions across the country about which northern climate facility should host the next outdoor hockey spectacle. Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, all have been mentioned.

The event’s success and accompanying buzz has led people throughout the State of Hockey to suggest it will soon be time for Minnesota to host an outdoor hockey extravaganza. Yes, we currently lack an adequate outdoor facility. However, the construction of TCF Bank Stadium and the new Twins Ballpark will change the dynamic in the near future.

There is no question that TCF Bank Stadium -- complete with its horseshoe design, 50,000 seats and artificial playing surface – is a likely venue for such an event. Moreover, the U of M’s vision for a tripleheader of sorts – games involving the Gophers men, Gophers women and the Wild – is quite solid.

At the same time, many have inquired whether or not the Twins would have interest in hosting such an event in the new downtown Minneapolis ballpark. The answer to the question is a definite YES.

Long before outdoor hockey was suggested, the Twins had considered constructing an ice skating rink in center field for the winter months. That rink could become a wintertime destination for thousands of Minnesotans, much like the rink which currently sits in downtown St. Paul adjacent the Landmark Center.

In regards to hockey, the new 40,000-seat Twins ballpark would offer more intimacy than a football facility. My sense is more fans would have optimal sightlines in the ballpark. Moreover, the thought of showcasing hockey in the region’s largest city has definite appeal.

The primary challenge to events of this nature in the Twins ballpark is the natural grass playing field. Like concerts, ice-related events can have quite a negative impact on a playing surface – something that is quite concerning to the ballclub. It’s compounded by the calendar and the reality that Minnesota’s weather does not provide your playing field sufficient time to recover for Opening Day?

Needless to say, the playing field challenge will be studied with hopes of finding ways to mitigate the negative impact. Assuming we are successful, one never knows when we may see the likes of Mauer and Morneau on skates in downtown Minneapolis. Lets Play Hockey!!!!

TWINS BALLPARK NOTEBOOK: M.A. Mortenson remains on target to pour the first main concourse slab on or about January 23 … As of today the Twins have confirmed commitments for 40 of the 55 private suites … The team hopes to begin marketing club seat product (Champion’s Club and Legend’s Club) in early February …

More than 70% of the ballpark project has been bid … The 6 by 6 scale model of the ballpark – along with the latest in 3-D computer animation – will be on display at TwinsFest January 25-27. Don’t miss this opportunity to see first-hand the vision for Minnesota’s new ballpark.

Win Twins!!!!

Dave St. Peter
President, Minnesota Twins Baseball Club