Target Field - Minnesota Twins
- Lloyd Brown
- Jul 29
- 5 min read
Photos by Lloyd Brown and Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71
Target Field 1 Twins Way Minneapolis, MN 55403
Year Opened: 2010 Capacity: 38,649
A Ballpark You’ll Definitely Want to Target
The Minnesota Twins have played in the Minneapolis area since 1961, when they relocated from Washington, DC. They have called three stadiums home since moving to the Twin Cities… Metropolitan Stadium, the Hubert Humphrey Metrodome and their current home at Target Field, which opened in 2010. The stadium is one of the smallest in the MLB as far as capacity, with 38,649 seats.
Food & Beverage 4
Target Field offers a wide range of both baseball standards and Midwestern favorites as a part of its food and beverage programs. It offers a value menu of baseball standards, including hot dogs ($3.99), pretzels ($4.99), popcorn ($3.49), peanuts ($2.99), bottled water ($3.99), Pepsi brand sodas ($2.49) and Miller Light beer ($5.99).
The prices on the non-value priced items are somewhat higher. These prices include Sheboygan brats ($10.49), Kramarczuk’s sausages ($13.49), corn dogs ($8.99), Cuban sandwiches ($15.29), ice cream helmets ($12.19) and draft beers ($13.30 and up).
Some of the more unique concession stands at Target Field are the Soul Bowl (Caribbean foods), Tony O’s (Cuban sandwiches), Kramarczuk’s (Polish sausages). There are also stands that offer gluten free or vegetarian options. The Town Ball Tavern features Midwestern specialties, including Juicy Lucy’s and cheese curds, while Draft’s at 34 offers a wide variety of Minnesota based brews.
There are several sit-down food service locations in Target Field. These include Truly on Deck, the Cutwater Cocktail Bar at Minnie and Paul’s, the Carbliss Clubhouse, Hrbek’s, Pryes Home Plate Taproom, and the Town Ball Tavern.
Atmosphere 4
Target Field is a very pleasant place to enjoy a ball game. Its relatively small size of 38,649 will not overwhelm you, and it is very easy to navigate. There is easy plenty to do here, as there are lots of statues around the park saluting various Twins players of the past (i.e. Harmon Killebrew and Kirby Puckett), a great selection of food stands and among the friendliest fans you will ever meet. Target Plaza features a variety of games and other entertainment prior to each game, and the team stores are above average for a smaller market.
Neighborhood 4
Target Field is in Minneapolis’s Warehouse District, which is in the North Loop neighborhood. There are several hotels within walking distance of thew ballpark via the city’s system of skybridges. Nearby hotels include the Lofton Hotel Minneapolis, the AC Hotel Minneapolis, and the Element by Marriott Minneapolis Downtown.
Also nearby are the Target Center, the home of the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA and the Nicolette Mall Shopping District. Restaurants in the area include Capital Grill, the Red Cow and Cuzzy’s Grill and Bar. Modist Brewing, Cowboy Jack’s and the Mill City Museum are other sites in the neighborhood that are well worth a visit.
Fans 3
The Twins fans are amongst the friendliest you’ll find in baseball. They welcome visitors with their Midwestern charm and are proud to share their city with you. There is no reason to be afraid to wear the visiting team’s colors at this ballpark. Despite their team’s infrequent visits to the playoffs, they continue to show up and support the home team.
Fans can stock up on their Twins gear at the New Era Team Store near section 102 or the Twins Clubhouse Store located near Gate 29.
Younger fans can visit T.C.’s Clubhouse, a play area located inside the park. T.C. Bear, the Twins mascot, visits the Clubhouse in the 3rd inning to pose for photos with the kids.
Fans need to remember that Minnesota weather at the beginning and the end of the baseball season can be rather chilly, so it is a good idea to bring a jacket or dress in layers for nighttime contests.
Access 4
Target Field offers easy access via public transportation, personal vehicle and even on foot. It has its own light rail station on the METRO transit system (www.metrotransit.org), which offers access from such major Twin City destinations as St. Paul, the Mall of America and the Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport (MSP). The ballpark is also easily accessed from both I-94 and I-394 (Exit 9C). The Twin Cities is also known for its expansive system of bike trails and bike lanes, so bike corrals are available at Target Field. Downtown workers can reach the ballpark on foot via the many skybridges in the Minneapolis area.
Once at the ballpark, there are five major entry gates. Each gate is named after a famous Twins ball player, which includes Harmon Killebrew, Kent Hrbek, Tony Oliva, Kirby Puckett and Rod Carew. Gates at Target Field open one hour before the first pitch on weeknight games, 90 minutes before Friday night games and two hours prior to the first pitch on Friday/Saturday games.
The rideshare pick-up and drop-off zone at Target Field is located on Twins Way between 7th and 10th Street. The nearest stadium gate to this location is Gate 29.
There are three parking decks (A, B and C) attached to Target Field by skybridges. In addition, there are three hotels near Target Field linked by skybridges, allowing you to walk directly to the park with no traffic worries. These include the Hampton Inn and Suites Downtown and the Cambria Hotel Minneapolis Downtown
Return on Investment 3
Target Field uses a dynamic pricing model for its tickets. This means ticket prices can vary based on the opposition and the days of the week. Popular opponents and weekend dates will have higher priced tickets, while less popular opponents and midweek games will be at a more discounted level. In general, the tickets will be cheaper than you would pay for at any other MLB ballpark.
The Twins value menu is hard to beat, with most items costing less than $5.
Parking in Ramps A, B, and Hawthorne Ramp costs $20-$25 depending on demand. There are more than 7,000 parking spaces available within a few blocks of the ballpark. However, the best deal in town is to purchase an all-day METRO pass which costs only $4 for adults and $2 for seniors and youth. This gives you the freedom to visit other areas of the Twin Cities for remainder of the day at a fraction of the cost, with a METRO Station right outside of the ballpark.
Extras 4
Target Field prides itself as being one of the “greenest” ballparks in the MLB. All concession items are either compostable or recyclable. Organic/Recycling bins are located throughout the ballpark.
The main videoboard at Target Field was recently replaced. Its replacement measures 57 feet high by 178 feet wide… more than 76% larger than its predecessor. This allows it to provide much more vivid replay images and other game-related information.
Another unique feature is the light up billboard in center field, which features the original logo of the Twins. It features two ballplayers, one from Minneapolis and one from St. Paul shaking hands across the Mississippi River. When a Twins player hits a home run, the logo lights up and the players’ handshaking movements are activated.
If the schedules work out, try to visit the St. Paul Saints minor league ballpark (CHS Field) while you are in the Twin Cities. The Saints offer some of the zaniest promotions this side of the Savannah Bananas.
Final Thoughts
Target Field offers friendly fans, reasonable prices and easy access from almost any area in the Midwest. What more could you ask for?
