| Target Field Minneapolis, Minnesota |
Tenants: Minnesota Twins (AL 2010)
Groundbreaking: August 30, 2007
First scheduled American League Game: April 12, 2010
Playing surface: Grass
Architect: Populous
Cost: $522 million
Owner: Hennepin County
Seating capacity: 40,000
Dimensions:
LF foul line: 339 ft
LF alley: 377 ft
Center field: 404 ft
RF alley: 367 ft
RF foul line: 328 ft
Outfield wall height:
8 ft from left field foul pole to right center field; 23 ft from right
center field to right field foul pole.
Groundbreaking: August 30, 2007
First scheduled American League Game: April 12, 2010
Playing surface: Grass
Architect: Populous
Cost: $522 million
Owner: Hennepin County
Seating capacity: 40,000
Dimensions:
LF foul line: 339 ft
LF alley: 377 ft
Center field: 404 ft
RF alley: 367 ft
RF foul line: 328 ft
Outfield wall height:
8 ft from left field foul pole to right center field; 23 ft from right
center field to right field foul pole.
History
Target Field will be a 40,000 seat ballpark in the Warehouse District north of Downtown Minneapolis between 5th and 7th Streets, near the Target
Center. The architect is Populous (formerly HOK Sport) with Bruce Miller as principal lead. The firm is responsible for other stadiums such as Oriole
Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, PNC Park in Pittsburgh, and AT&T Park in San Francisco. Mortenson Construction of Minneapolis is the
construction firm building the stadium. Target Field will bear resemblance to these projects. The Twins have opted for a "neutral" park which
favors neither hitters nor pitchers; the current Metrodome with its white teflon ceiling is often said to be a "hitter's park", favoring the offense.
Fan amenities are anticipated to be designed after those of the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, the last major sports venue built in the area, which
opened in 2000. Although earlier proposals called for the park to be built with a retractable roof, the current version of the park has neither a roof
nor provisions to install one.
Current estimates put the stadium cost at $390 million, while infrastructure and financing costs would bring the total to $522 million. Work on the
site began on May 21, 2007, with the official groundbreaking for the stadium taking place August 30, 2007, delayed from the original date of August
2 due to the I-35W Bridge Collapse. The first concrete slab was poured on December 17, 2007. The Twins have targeted 2014 as a year to host the
Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
The Minnesota Twins's 2010 home opener is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, April 12, against the Boston Red Sox, according to a draft schedule
for the season sent to MLB teams in July.
Target Field will be a 40,000 seat ballpark in the Warehouse District north of Downtown Minneapolis between 5th and 7th Streets, near the Target
Center. The architect is Populous (formerly HOK Sport) with Bruce Miller as principal lead. The firm is responsible for other stadiums such as Oriole
Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, PNC Park in Pittsburgh, and AT&T Park in San Francisco. Mortenson Construction of Minneapolis is the
construction firm building the stadium. Target Field will bear resemblance to these projects. The Twins have opted for a "neutral" park which
favors neither hitters nor pitchers; the current Metrodome with its white teflon ceiling is often said to be a "hitter's park", favoring the offense.
Fan amenities are anticipated to be designed after those of the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, the last major sports venue built in the area, which
opened in 2000. Although earlier proposals called for the park to be built with a retractable roof, the current version of the park has neither a roof
nor provisions to install one.
Current estimates put the stadium cost at $390 million, while infrastructure and financing costs would bring the total to $522 million. Work on the
site began on May 21, 2007, with the official groundbreaking for the stadium taking place August 30, 2007, delayed from the original date of August
2 due to the I-35W Bridge Collapse. The first concrete slab was poured on December 17, 2007. The Twins have targeted 2014 as a year to host the
Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
The Minnesota Twins's 2010 home opener is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, April 12, against the Boston Red Sox, according to a draft schedule
for the season sent to MLB teams in July.
| -------------------------------- Source Credits MMIV www.ballparktour.com MMX |
Early plans
Plans for moving the Twins out of the Metrodome began to take
serious shape in the mid-1990s. By 1995, the Twins had found a
new site just north of the Metrodome, on a large piece of land
next to the Mississippi River. Located in the old Mills District, the
stadium would have sat next to the current Guthrie Theater; the
cleared land for the stadium eventually became Gold Medal Park, a
public park, in 2007. During the 1995 Minnesota legislative session,
the proposed Mississippi River-sited stadium would have cost $300
million less than the proposed ballpark which eventually passed the
legislature eleven years later.
The Twins underwent turbulent times in the late-1990s and into
the new century: in 1997, owner Carl Pohlad almost sold the Twins
to North Carolina businessman Don Beaver, who would have moved
the team to the Piedmont Triad (Greensboro - Winston-Salem -
High Point) area of the state. The defeat of a referendum for a
stadium in that area and a lack of interest in building a stadium for
the Twins in Charlotte killed the deal.
Saint Paul, under the leadership of Mayor Norm Coleman, made
several attempts to woo the Twins across the Mississippi River.
The closest any of these attempts came to success was in 1999,
when Saint Paul voters rejected a referendum which would have
raised the city sales tax by 0.5% in order to fund a stadium in
downtown Saint Paul.
In 2001, the Twins, along with the Montreal Expos (who eventually
became the Washington Nationals), were identified as a target for
MLB "contraction" (elimination) by Commissioner Bud Selig after a
vote by MLB owners. The contraction plans were shelved after the
Minnesota Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling requiring the
Twins to play baseball in the Metrodome in 2003; however the
pressure did spur the Minnesota House to vote in favor of some
stadium legislation as well as garner support from then-Governor
Jesse Ventura.
Plans for moving the Twins out of the Metrodome began to take
serious shape in the mid-1990s. By 1995, the Twins had found a
new site just north of the Metrodome, on a large piece of land
next to the Mississippi River. Located in the old Mills District, the
stadium would have sat next to the current Guthrie Theater; the
cleared land for the stadium eventually became Gold Medal Park, a
public park, in 2007. During the 1995 Minnesota legislative session,
the proposed Mississippi River-sited stadium would have cost $300
million less than the proposed ballpark which eventually passed the
legislature eleven years later.
The Twins underwent turbulent times in the late-1990s and into
the new century: in 1997, owner Carl Pohlad almost sold the Twins
to North Carolina businessman Don Beaver, who would have moved
the team to the Piedmont Triad (Greensboro - Winston-Salem -
High Point) area of the state. The defeat of a referendum for a
stadium in that area and a lack of interest in building a stadium for
the Twins in Charlotte killed the deal.
Saint Paul, under the leadership of Mayor Norm Coleman, made
several attempts to woo the Twins across the Mississippi River.
The closest any of these attempts came to success was in 1999,
when Saint Paul voters rejected a referendum which would have
raised the city sales tax by 0.5% in order to fund a stadium in
downtown Saint Paul.
In 2001, the Twins, along with the Montreal Expos (who eventually
became the Washington Nationals), were identified as a target for
MLB "contraction" (elimination) by Commissioner Bud Selig after a
vote by MLB owners. The contraction plans were shelved after the
Minnesota Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling requiring the
Twins to play baseball in the Metrodome in 2003; however the
pressure did spur the Minnesota House to vote in favor of some
stadium legislation as well as garner support from then-Governor
Jesse Ventura.
In the 2006 session, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed the bill that would allow the team and county to go around the referendum.
The Minnesota Senate also passed a version of the bill, but their version would also build a stadium for the Minnesota Vikings and fund transit
projects. The two bills spent most of the legislative session in conference committee. The bill was passed by a 71-61 vote in the House and a 34-32
vote in the Senate. A ballot referendum, called for by many Hennepin County residents, was deemed infeasible due to the time-critical nature of
the bill (a referendum would have to wait until the November general election, while dates for the Twins to play in the Metrodome in 2007 needed
to be applied for by July 1). Under the legislation, $392 million in public subsidy is provided through the Hennepin County sales tax increase for the
$522 million project. The ballpark is scheduled to be open for the 2010 baseball season, the Twins' 50th season in Minnesota. The final bill was
approved on May 21 and was signed by governor Tim Pawlenty before the Twins' May 26 home game against the Seattle Mariners. The final version is
substantially identical to the House version, with language relating to both the transit tax and the Vikings stadium stripped.
The County Board approved the ballpark plan 5-2 on June 20, 2006 (Commissioner Gail Dorfman, previously an opponent of the park, switched sides,
stating that the park was a done deal and the focus now was on implementing it in the most responsible way possible).
In mid-February 2007, funding and acquisition ran into a snag because the purchase price had not been previously negotiated when the State bill
was passed and the current owners of the land were asking for a higher price than was expected. On April 4, 2007, Dave St. Peter, Twins president
and the head of the team's ballpark committee, announced that an agreement had been reached that would have the Twins paying a portion of the
difference between Land Partners II's asking price and the county's budget for the land. As a result, after a four-month impasse, the Hennepin
County board voted on April 10, 2007 to use eminent domain to acquire the land with the Twins helping to cover acquisition costs beyond the
county's previous $13.5 million offer. Before construction could begin, the Twins also reached a related agreement with the Burlington Northern
Santa Fe Railway, which owns property adjacent to the site. With the issue over land moving forward, the Twins presented the official design of
the new stadium on April 12; it had been delayed due to the land dispute.
The Minnesota Senate also passed a version of the bill, but their version would also build a stadium for the Minnesota Vikings and fund transit
projects. The two bills spent most of the legislative session in conference committee. The bill was passed by a 71-61 vote in the House and a 34-32
vote in the Senate. A ballot referendum, called for by many Hennepin County residents, was deemed infeasible due to the time-critical nature of
the bill (a referendum would have to wait until the November general election, while dates for the Twins to play in the Metrodome in 2007 needed
to be applied for by July 1). Under the legislation, $392 million in public subsidy is provided through the Hennepin County sales tax increase for the
$522 million project. The ballpark is scheduled to be open for the 2010 baseball season, the Twins' 50th season in Minnesota. The final bill was
approved on May 21 and was signed by governor Tim Pawlenty before the Twins' May 26 home game against the Seattle Mariners. The final version is
substantially identical to the House version, with language relating to both the transit tax and the Vikings stadium stripped.
The County Board approved the ballpark plan 5-2 on June 20, 2006 (Commissioner Gail Dorfman, previously an opponent of the park, switched sides,
stating that the park was a done deal and the focus now was on implementing it in the most responsible way possible).
In mid-February 2007, funding and acquisition ran into a snag because the purchase price had not been previously negotiated when the State bill
was passed and the current owners of the land were asking for a higher price than was expected. On April 4, 2007, Dave St. Peter, Twins president
and the head of the team's ballpark committee, announced that an agreement had been reached that would have the Twins paying a portion of the
difference between Land Partners II's asking price and the county's budget for the land. As a result, after a four-month impasse, the Hennepin
County board voted on April 10, 2007 to use eminent domain to acquire the land with the Twins helping to cover acquisition costs beyond the
county's previous $13.5 million offer. Before construction could begin, the Twins also reached a related agreement with the Burlington Northern
Santa Fe Railway, which owns property adjacent to the site. With the issue over land moving forward, the Twins presented the official design of
the new stadium on April 12; it had been delayed due to the land dispute.
On May 1, 2007, Hennepin County officially took control of the land after placing $13.75 million into a court escrow account; although the court
would still need to officially determine the price of the land in the condemnation process, the Twins agreed to pay any costs beyond the amount
deposited. The action assured that the construction of the stadium would begin on June 1, 2007. In late August, a three-member condemnation
panel ruled that the parcel was worth $23.8 million; developers had claimed that the fair market value was $65 million. On October 15, 2007, the two
sides reached a negotiated settlement of just under $29 million, ending the dispute; as a result the County noted it would have to cut back on some
improvements to the surrounding streetscapes, though it also revealed that the Pohlad family had committed another $15 million for infrastructure.
Naming rights
On September 15, 2008, the Twins and Minneapolis-based Target Corporation announced that the Twins' new ballpark would be named Target Field.
Financial terms of the naming rights agreement were not disclosed. The company's investment will also build a pedestrian bridge from the ballpark to
downtown, Target Plaza, more seating, new canopies and public art. Target has retail stores in 49 U.S. states
would still need to officially determine the price of the land in the condemnation process, the Twins agreed to pay any costs beyond the amount
deposited. The action assured that the construction of the stadium would begin on June 1, 2007. In late August, a three-member condemnation
panel ruled that the parcel was worth $23.8 million; developers had claimed that the fair market value was $65 million. On October 15, 2007, the two
sides reached a negotiated settlement of just under $29 million, ending the dispute; as a result the County noted it would have to cut back on some
improvements to the surrounding streetscapes, though it also revealed that the Pohlad family had committed another $15 million for infrastructure.
Naming rights
On September 15, 2008, the Twins and Minneapolis-based Target Corporation announced that the Twins' new ballpark would be named Target Field.
Financial terms of the naming rights agreement were not disclosed. The company's investment will also build a pedestrian bridge from the ballpark to
downtown, Target Plaza, more seating, new canopies and public art. Target has retail stores in 49 U.S. states
Legislation and funding
A state law passed in 1997 requires that anytime a county seeks to
raise its sales tax, the question needs to be put before the voters.
The law also allows a county to seek permission from the state to
enact the tax without a voter’s referendum. The Minnesota
Legislature did not act on the bill during the 2005 session.
On April 26, 2005, the Twins and Hennepin County announced that a
deal had been reached, in which the Twins would pay roughly 1/3 of
the stadium's cost ($125 million), with the rest being paid for by a
0.15% Hennepin County sales tax. The deal would need to be
approved by the Hennepin County Board. After delaying the vote
one week, on May 3 the Board voted 4-3 in favor of the stadium
deal. Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak (DFL) had already weighed in
favor of the stadium. The plan passed its second hurdle on May 9,
2005 when a House committee of the Minnesota Legislature
approved a bill to get around the referendum to be sent to the floor
on a 17-5 vote. This legislation languished before the full Legislature,
during a particularly gridlocked session, and was placed on the back
burner, pending resolution of "more pressing" legislation. Naming
rights belong to the Minnesota Twins.
A state law passed in 1997 requires that anytime a county seeks to
raise its sales tax, the question needs to be put before the voters.
The law also allows a county to seek permission from the state to
enact the tax without a voter’s referendum. The Minnesota
Legislature did not act on the bill during the 2005 session.
On April 26, 2005, the Twins and Hennepin County announced that a
deal had been reached, in which the Twins would pay roughly 1/3 of
the stadium's cost ($125 million), with the rest being paid for by a
0.15% Hennepin County sales tax. The deal would need to be
approved by the Hennepin County Board. After delaying the vote
one week, on May 3 the Board voted 4-3 in favor of the stadium
deal. Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak (DFL) had already weighed in
favor of the stadium. The plan passed its second hurdle on May 9,
2005 when a House committee of the Minnesota Legislature
approved a bill to get around the referendum to be sent to the floor
on a 17-5 vote. This legislation languished before the full Legislature,
during a particularly gridlocked session, and was placed on the back
burner, pending resolution of "more pressing" legislation. Naming
rights belong to the Minnesota Twins.
Design
Populous, the lead architectural design firm, tried to avoid creating
a replica of the old-style brick Camden Yards or modern urban design
of the new Nationals Park (both also designed by Populous).
Instead, the design for the new Twins Stadium employs local
limestone, Minnesota fir trees outside the outfield, heated viewing
areas and a heated field. The stadium does not have a roof, rather a
canopy. The stadium will be adjacent to the Minneapolis Intermodal
Station on the Hiawatha Line light rail system with the Minneapolis
terminus of the Northstar Commuter Rail line leading from the
northwest.
The approved design does not include a retractable roof, nor
provisions for one in the future, though it was considered initially.
A retractable roof was cited to add $100 million to the total budget
and none of the parties (Twins, Hennepin County or the State)
were willing to pay for that cost. Much like other northern cities
with outdoor professional baseball (i.e. Milwaukee, Chicago,
Detroit, Boston, Cleveland, New York), the weather in Minneapolis
during a 162-game baseball season and playoffs can vary from
early-spring snow to rain and hot, humid weather. The Metrodome
is climate-controlled, and has protected the baseball schedule
during the entire time that it has been the venue for the Minnesota
Twins. However, many Twins fans and baseball purists argue that
this same sterile, climate-controlled environment creates a
less-than-desirable atmosphere for watching baseball. The financial
impact of adding a retractable roof is the other main reason that a
roof will not be included in the new ballpark, and probably the
decisive factor. The architect is also testing the feasibility of
heated seats.
The small size of the ballpark (about one million square feet) has
been criticized. The site is about the same size as that of Fenway
Park, though it will have roughly 3,200 more seats.[citation needed]
There is also logistical concern for the estimated 5,000 people that
will arrive every game via the Hiawatha Line LRT, because rather
than unloading onto a broad plaza like that at the Metrodome,
passengers will arrive and leave the ballpark in a space about 23 feet
(7.0 m) wide, roughly the width of a double garage. An 8-foot (2.4
m) high wall along the light-rail line will keep pedestrians from
crossing North 5th Street near the ballpark. Additional traffic
concerns come from the intermodal station with the Northstar
Commuter Rail and the re-routing of the bicycle-pedestrian Cedar
Lake Trail.
The Minnesota Ballpark Authority and the Twins plan to apply for
LEED certification of Target Field as a "green" building once
construction is complete. If certified, the ballpark would be only
the second LEED-certified professional sports stadium in the United
States, after Nationals Park.
Populous, the lead architectural design firm, tried to avoid creating
a replica of the old-style brick Camden Yards or modern urban design
of the new Nationals Park (both also designed by Populous).
Instead, the design for the new Twins Stadium employs local
limestone, Minnesota fir trees outside the outfield, heated viewing
areas and a heated field. The stadium does not have a roof, rather a
canopy. The stadium will be adjacent to the Minneapolis Intermodal
Station on the Hiawatha Line light rail system with the Minneapolis
terminus of the Northstar Commuter Rail line leading from the
northwest.
The approved design does not include a retractable roof, nor
provisions for one in the future, though it was considered initially.
A retractable roof was cited to add $100 million to the total budget
and none of the parties (Twins, Hennepin County or the State)
were willing to pay for that cost. Much like other northern cities
with outdoor professional baseball (i.e. Milwaukee, Chicago,
Detroit, Boston, Cleveland, New York), the weather in Minneapolis
during a 162-game baseball season and playoffs can vary from
early-spring snow to rain and hot, humid weather. The Metrodome
is climate-controlled, and has protected the baseball schedule
during the entire time that it has been the venue for the Minnesota
Twins. However, many Twins fans and baseball purists argue that
this same sterile, climate-controlled environment creates a
less-than-desirable atmosphere for watching baseball. The financial
impact of adding a retractable roof is the other main reason that a
roof will not be included in the new ballpark, and probably the
decisive factor. The architect is also testing the feasibility of
heated seats.
The small size of the ballpark (about one million square feet) has
been criticized. The site is about the same size as that of Fenway
Park, though it will have roughly 3,200 more seats.[citation needed]
There is also logistical concern for the estimated 5,000 people that
will arrive every game via the Hiawatha Line LRT, because rather
than unloading onto a broad plaza like that at the Metrodome,
passengers will arrive and leave the ballpark in a space about 23 feet
(7.0 m) wide, roughly the width of a double garage. An 8-foot (2.4
m) high wall along the light-rail line will keep pedestrians from
crossing North 5th Street near the ballpark. Additional traffic
concerns come from the intermodal station with the Northstar
Commuter Rail and the re-routing of the bicycle-pedestrian Cedar
Lake Trail.
The Minnesota Ballpark Authority and the Twins plan to apply for
LEED certification of Target Field as a "green" building once
construction is complete. If certified, the ballpark would be only
the second LEED-certified professional sports stadium in the United
States, after Nationals Park.
Upgrades
On February 12, 2008, the Twins announced $22.4 million in upgrades to the original design. The upgrades increased the Twins ownership stake in
the new ballpark to $167.4 million, bringing the total ballpark cost to $412 million. The upgrades were mainly based around increasing fan experience
and comfort. The upgrades included a full roof canopy soffit (the largest in baseball). This will protect the fans further from the elements despite
the stadium not having a roof. The Twins also upgraded the scoreboard from standard definition to a high definition screen measuring 101 feet long
and 57 feet high. When installed, the scoreboard will be the fourth-largest in Major League Baseball. Other upgrades included warming shelters,
changing 100,000 square feet of the exterior surface to "Mankato Limestone", increasing the number of restrooms, and increasing concessions areas.
On February 12, 2008, the Twins announced $22.4 million in upgrades to the original design. The upgrades increased the Twins ownership stake in
the new ballpark to $167.4 million, bringing the total ballpark cost to $412 million. The upgrades were mainly based around increasing fan experience
and comfort. The upgrades included a full roof canopy soffit (the largest in baseball). This will protect the fans further from the elements despite
the stadium not having a roof. The Twins also upgraded the scoreboard from standard definition to a high definition screen measuring 101 feet long
and 57 feet high. When installed, the scoreboard will be the fourth-largest in Major League Baseball. Other upgrades included warming shelters,
changing 100,000 square feet of the exterior surface to "Mankato Limestone", increasing the number of restrooms, and increasing concessions areas.