| After 37 years of sterile, indoor baseball the | | | | The $412 million stadium will be a cozy, compact |
| Minnesota Twins are preparing to move into their | | | | ballpark seating 39,000 fans. The Twins have |
| new outdoor baseball home, Target Field. As a | | | | shoehorned this project into a downtown location |
| long time twins fan and a long dome dome | | | | that is the hub of a new commuter rail system to |
| sufferer (except when it is cold and rainy, then I | | | | the northern suburbs, a light rail metro system |
| LOVE the dome), I am counting the days until | | | | and behind Target Center, home of the Minnesota |
| baseball is outdoors again in Minnesota. | | | | Timberwolves. Three large parking ramps will hold |
| It has been a long, torturous journey to get to | | | | 7700 cars and the surrounding area has a wide |
| this point. The Twins have been sold, threatened | | | | assortment of bars, cafes and restaurants. The |
| to be sold again and moved, offered by the team | | | | Metrodome was located in a barren part of town |
| owners to be "contracted" (a great way of | | | | surrounded by hospitals, shelters and utility |
| saying "we'll shut down the team if you give us a | | | | stations. If nothing else, the view is better at |
| house full of money"), denied public funding by a | | | | Target Field! |
| variety of taxing organizations and ignored as a | | | | April 12 is the home opener against Boston. |
| dome tenant due to the Minnesota Vikings. Finally, | | | | Baseball fans, and even some non-fans, will get a |
| the most consistently successful franchise in | | | | serious case of spring flu that day. It might be a |
| Minnesota pro sports will have its own home | | | | tough day to work in Minnesota. |
| (thanks to Minnesota taxpayers). | | | | |