Baseball in the Midwest (Minneapolis, MN)

It’s my favorite time of year! It’s summertime and that means it’s baseball season!! This week we’re talking all things baseball with not one, but two blog postings! Today is all about the Minnesota Twins or just Twins, and later in the week we’ll talk about another Minnesota team.

I’ve been going to baseball games for as long as I can remember, and I’m a huge Twins fan! My dad is a big sports fan (all sports really, but especially baseball!), and he passed his love of baseball on to me.

I try to get to at least two or three games a year. A few weeks ago, I went to my first Twins game of the season at Target Field in downtown Minneapolis. Come along as I give some history, share my experience, and provide some pointers for your next visit.

If you don’t really follow baseball, let me give you a little bit of history and information about the Minnesota Twins:

The Twins are Minnesota’s professional baseball team, and their home stadium is Target Field located in Minneapolis. Since April 2010, Twins fans have enjoyed watching games outdoors at Target Field. Prior to Target Field the Twins played at the Metropolitan (Met) Stadium (1961 – 1981) and the Metrodome (1981-2009). Baseball at the three different stadiums provided a unique experience, especially the Metrodome with its indoor baseball, white dome, and grass turf – it was definitely quirky! The Metrodome is where the Twins won both of their World Series Championships – 1987 and 1991!

I absolutely love Target Field! It’s an outdoor stadium and there’s nothing like watching baseball in the fresh air – even if it’s in the city. I usually purchase my single-game tickets online on the Minnesota Twins website, but I’ve also used the MLB Ballpark App to purchase tickets. The app is kind of nice because your tickets are right on your cell phone and can be scanned in when you arrive at the stadium. No worries, there are staff members at each entrance to assist you with scanning your ticket – yes, I speak from experience. 😊 Also, you can buy accessible seating on the Minnesota Twins website by checking, “Yes, show me accessible seating.” I’ve purchased these tickets before when I attended a game with my parents, and they were great! Be sure to review the Accessibility Guide for Guests with Disabilities to see how the Target Field was designed and constructed to meet or exceed the most up-to-date federal and state accessibility requirements governing assembly occupancies. The guide will also give you all the information you need about parking and where to enter the stadium.

Because Target Field is in downtown Minneapolis, getting there may be a little tricky. I encourage you to check out the transportation information on the Target Field website for ways to get there. I usually drive with the group I’m going to the game with, and we park in Ramps A, B, or C as they are close to the stadium. The current price for parking in these ramps is $14.

The policy on bringing bags into the stadium is something that a lot of people wonder about. Here is information from the Target Field Information Guide:

“Single-compartment bags (maximum size of 16”x16”x8”) are allowed into Target Field. These include purses, clutch purses, single-compartment tote bags, clear bags, drawstring bags, diaper bags, single-compartment soft-sided coolers, fanny packs and bags containing medically necessary items. Backpacks, multi-compartment laptop bags, duffel bags or any bags over the size requirement are not allowed into the ballpark. To expedite entry into Target Field, the Twins recommend that guests come without bags whenever possible.”

Do you plan on eating at Target Field or want to buy Minnesota Twins merchandise? Be sure to leave your cash at home! Target Field does not accept cash anywhere in the stadium, so you will need to make payments with a debit or credit card. Other options to buy food and merchandise include, Mobile Ordering or Twins Pay with the MLB Ballpark App. This includes the concessions stands and the Twins Team Stores.

Target Field has a number of concessions stands with every kind of food you can possibly think of including different ethnic foods, Specialties, and of course stadium hotdogs and hamburgers. Target Field also has gluten free and vegetarian options. Beverages at the stadium include pop (yes, I said it, pop – not soda – this is the Midwest! Ha!), water, hot chocolate, Minnesota brews, and other non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages. Of course, there is also a number of snacks and desserts too! There are some really cool Target Field Bars & Restaurants you can check out before, during, and after the game as well. Even with all these amazing foods and neat places I usually end up with a cheeseburger, fries, and pop. I’m not sure why, but the concessions stands make the best burger! The chicken fingers and pizza are pretty awesome too! Oh, and I want you to know before you go that the prices can be a bit on the higher side, so please keep that in mind. However, I tell myself that I don’t come often enough, so spend a little extra and enjoy it!

Would you like to come early and take a pre-game tour of Target Field? Check out the schedule and set up a time to tour before the game (or another time that best fits your schedule)! Target Field tours are wheelchair accessible, with complimentary wheelchairs available upon request. Specific tour routes are established each day based on events and activities in the ballpark. Therefore, all sites on the tour are subject to current availability. I’ve haven’t toured the Target Field yet, but it’s definitely on my list of things to do!

What I’m most excited to tell you about is Friday Night Fireworks! At every Friday night game from June to August there are postgame fireworks presented by Securian Financial. I usually go to a Friday night game, of course to see the game, but also for the fireworks! They are so amazing! Minnesota Twins also have Twins Theme Nights. Theme Nights offer a great opportunity for you and your friends to enjoy a game while connecting with others who share your special interests. These events also grant you access to exclusive items and/or fan experiences only available to fans that purchase these special ticket packages.

So, are you interested in going to a Minnesota Twins game this season? Check out the Minnesota Twins website for tickets! Unfortunately, the Twins lost the game I attended a few weeks ago, but I look forward to seeing them win next time!

Take me out to the ballgame – take me out to the crowd! I look forward to visiting all the baseball stadiums in the Midwest. However, I may have to wear my Twins jersey when visiting the American Family Field (Milwaukee Brewers) or the Guaranteed Rate Field (Chicago White Sox). After all they are the Twins’ rivals! Ha!