Target Field

[DSFastball55]

I think there's a topic somewhere about Target Field, but I couldn't find it. I was able to go to the home opener on Monday and thought I'd post my impressions and a few photos. I absolutely loved the stadium, and thought it was extremely well done. Other than the fact that there is no roof (which of course is huge) I thought it was every bit as nice as Miller Park, maybe better. I especially loved the location right downtown, and that it was really not difficult at all to find parking. I paid $13 to park in a ramp about three blocks away. We were lucky in that we were sitting very near where the pennant flags were being raised before the game, and got to see and guys like Harmon Killebrew, Rod Carew, Jack Morris, Frank Viola, etc. Plus my sister ran into Paul Molitor and got a photo with him. Very cool.

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh204/danslama/b3.jpghttp://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh204/danslama/b2.jpghttp://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh204/danslama/b1.jpg

[RobDeer 45]

I live in Mnpls and am going to the game on Sat. Pretty excited and from everything I've seen and heard it looks like a winner. I love Miller Park and think it's great but a wide open stadium is much more pleasing on the eye. I'm interested to see how that effects attendance over the long run but I have to say I like that feel much more. It might not be practical but congrats on what looks like a great place.

[hawing]

slobberknocker, your sister looks like she's trying to calm herself down...which is probably what I'd be doing if I were photographed with Paul Molitor. Thanks for sharing!

[Tedaldtada]

It's very tough to beat a downtown stadium. I still wonder what it would have been like if that Potawatomi deal had gone through. A DT or lakefront stadium in Milwaukee would be pretty cool.

[djoctagone]

i went to the exhibition game on 2 april. i've been living in minneapolis for ten years, and two years in st. paul prior to that, so i've suffered through many indoor games.

 

the most marked improvement is the widened concourses. i move pretty quickly through crowds (which forces others to yield to me) and i could do so quite easily at target field.

 

second most marked improvement is the handling of loading people on to the light rail platform when the game ends. extremely efficient and organized. it probably helps that there's only one platform (for trains headed east).

 

biggest thing i wasn't prepared for: the glare of the sun reflecting off the shiny buildings.

 

biggest thing target wasn't prepared for: not having their logo prominently displayed on the backside of target center. if you think it's ugly from first avenue and block e, try looking at its rear end. i'm confident target will be negotiating with hennepin county to get some branding on the backside of target center.

[Tedaldtada]

I believe that those rights belong to Minnesota Timberwolves actually. I just heard that on the news actually. I'm not sure what the wolves plan to do with it.

[joepepsi]

Other than the fact that there is no roof (which of course is huge) I thought it was every bit as nice as Miller Park, maybe better.

I've grown to like Miller Park quite a bit over the years, but when it first opened I was underwhelmed. So much went into the roof and panels that there's not much interesting architecturally speaking.

 

I thought it was kinda dumb building an open air stadium in Mpls, but that afforded them the opportunity to build a beautiful place from the looks of it. And really, is the weather in April and October that different than in Chicago?

[jerichoholicninja]

That looks like the best view of downtown in baseball. Even better than PNC. If there was one thing I could change about Miller Park it would be to have it downtown.

[jimmyjeromehardy7]

And really, is the weather in April and October that different than in Chicago?

According to MLB Insiders Magazine the average April temp is 46 degrees in Minneapolis and is just 2 degrees cooler than Denver and Detroit and 3 degrees less than Boston, Chicago and Cleveland. And has just 10 rainy April days fewer than those cities except Denver.

 

 

[djoctagone]

And really, is the weather in April and October that different than in Chicago?

lake michigan is much farther away.

[berniebrewer4life]

And really, is the weather in April and October that different than in Chicago?

Not really, the difference is negligible.

[Bikeage77]

My friend went to the game today, and apparently as a light rain started, the crowd errupted with applause when it started.

I'm sure 3 years from now people won't be in so much excitement, but I'd think they'll know to bring warmer clothes, rain coats, etc.

[Patrick425]

That looks like the best view of downtown in baseball. Even better than PNC. If there was one thing I could change about Miller Park it would be to have it downtown.

I am so glad they didn't build Miller Park downtown. What a traffic headache that would have been. With Miller Park, I can go to a packed house, stay to the last out, and be back to my home in Waukesha literally within 20-25 minutes after the last out.

 

Paul Molitor is starting to look more and more like Neil Diamond.

 

[Ennder]

Yeah I think I would probably go to 50% fewer games if it were downtown.

[Tedaldtada]

Not that this is indisputable, but the local news here in TC said the traffic was actually much better then they had planned for. I believe the quote was, 'zero congestion and backups.' I'm sure the traffic backed up a bit right after, but the public transportation options available greatly reduced the amount of car traffic.

[SoCal Brew Crew Fan]

I am a much bigger fan of the downtown city parks that I have been to versus the big parking lot outside of town parks like Miller. However, I think each park has to fit the personality of the city...people in Wisconsin love to tailgate and too many of them dislike going downtown. I don't agree, but who the heck cares what I think...I live in Los Angeles.

[davemakovec]

They put in a new light rail stop for the stadium. From what I have heard the only congestion is people on foot waiting to get on the next available light rail.

[pebadger]

My dad has a season tix package for the Twins. Looking forward to seeing a game with him in the new park this season. It looks great.

 

That said, given how everything is going so far for the Crew this season, and with there seemingly being not a lot of optimism on any front at all with respect to this team, it's just another kick to the head that this thread is even here on the Brewers forum. I enjoy baseball and I like the Twins as much as anybody in the AL, but they're still a rival of sorts and today's game, seemingly just another brick in a wall of failure, has me in a dark mood.

 

Carry on.

[TwinsBrewersWorldSeries]

Weather not withstanding, i would put Target Field in the Top-5 in baseball...

 

Target Field, PNC Park, Pacific Bell Park, Camden Yards are my personal favorites. That said, Miller Park is very practical and "blue-collar" like, and i think that fits the personality of Milwaukee perfectly.

 

If I want to grill out with the guys, drink a bunch of beer, and beat the crap out of the sCrUBS, we go to Miller Park

If I want to dress up a bit, see a good game, and then go out on the town, Minneapolis is much better than Milwaukee

 

Overall, the Brewers and Twins are much much better than the crap in that state that is beneath us

[Warning Track Power]

I really have an appreciation for Miller Park. The stadium inside and out is gorgeous and the field and dimensions of the park are perfect. I personally don't like the roof but understand the necessity for it. I just prefer the rainouts, doubleheaders, rain delays, etc...Roofs for baseball and football aren't the way the games were intended to be played in my opinion. Although, with where Miller Park is located, you wouldn't exactly get the beautiful visuals of a PNC Park or Dodgers Stadium.

 

After the Marlins stadium opens in 2012, the only two teams in the NL without stadiums built in the past 15 years are the Dodgers and Cubs. And of those new stadiums, Coors Field and Turner Field are the oldest. Amazing.

[Invader3K]

I just prefer the rainouts, doubleheaders, rain delays, etc..

 

You must live in the Milwaukee area. As someone who lives about an hour and a half (figuring decent traffic) from Miller Park, I appreciate knowing that if I have tickets, I'll get to see a game one way or another. Driving nearly three hours round trip and not seeing a game would suck.

[CheezWizHed]

And really, is the weather in April and October that different than in Chicago?

Not really, the difference is negligible.

Yeah, but that doesn't mean its a good thing... I remember freezing while sitting at a County Stadium game in April (free Kool-Aid game if you remember those) and seeing ~8,000 fans on a Sunday afternoon. And when you drive from a good distance away, its nice you know the game will be held...

 

Maybe the draw of open air will draw more people during the nice weather instead of going to the dome. But I've got to believe most April seasons with cold/rainy weather will draw worse compared to a park like MP...

[Warning Track Power]

You must live in the Milwaukee area. As someone who lives about an hour and a half (figuring decent traffic) from Miller Park, I appreciate knowing that if I have tickets, I'll get to see a game one way or another. Driving nearly three hours round trip and not seeing a game would suck.

Southern California actually. We know nothing of rainouts.

 

I live an hour from the Dodgers, Angels and Padres stadiums so I do agree with you about the appreciation of knowing you will get to see the game. I look at Petco Park, AT&T (or whatever phone company is sponsoring the Giants stadium this week) Park, PNC Park, now Target Field and even Great American Ballpark and do have to admit to a little jealousy from their beautiful sightlines.

 

Despite my being a native Californian, I still claim Miller Park as my own and not any of the three local stadiums.

 

 

[CheezWizHed]

As a country bumpkin (and lived in Milwaukee, Chicago area, Munich Germany), I've never understood the "beautiful skyline" of a city comment. Take me to the Rockies or Alps and I'll show you a beautiful skyline. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

 

But even so. If MP was in Minneapolis, you could still see the skyline with the roof open. Less of it for sure. But not like its covered completely. The sheer height of the left field bleachers must be at least as high as the walls at MP...

[logan82]

As someone who lives about an hour and a half (figuring decent traffic) from Miller Park, I appreciate knowing that if I have tickets, I'll get to see a game one way or another. Driving nearly three hours round trip and not seeing a game would suck.

 

Same here. Without a roof, I would probably have only gone to half the games if that over the last few years.