Mary T.
Yelp
Target Field is where the Minnesota Twins play baseball. Target's headquarters is located in Minneapolis, so it does makes sense that you have Target Field and Target Centre, with the latter being the home of the Minnesota Timberwolves for basketball.
If you are a tourist, you could get these two places confused because they are fairly close in proximity in downtown Minneapolis.
When I lived in Minnesota, I attended my first and only Twins game at the old Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. I was sweaty and uncomfortable sitting there on a hot summer day. On top of that, the Twins lost!
My introduction to Target Field has nothing to do with summer or the Twins. I went to see the Minnesota Wild play against the St. Louis Blues at the Winter Classic, an outdoor hockey game. Over 38,000 fans took in an outdoor game clocking a temperature of -23°C, with a windchill making it feel like -32°C. It was the coldest temperature in the Twin Cities at this point this winter and the coldest Winter Classic ever.
Were we all nuts to watch an outdoors game in frigid conditions? Yes. Diehard fans? Yes. Was it worth it. Definitely, yes!
The closest parking lot is ramp B. I was about to turn right to enter the lot when a parking guy said to try ramp A. I was not impressed. I actually spent another fifteen minutes cycling back to another entrance into ramp B and got in. I found a spot towards the top level of the lot. I was thankful.
This man caused such a delay to my plan. I got there an hour before the game started and still managed to miss the players skating onto the ice. The security check was super slow, likely because the policy at Target Field allowed you to bring a small purse and a blanket. At the Xcel Energy Center, you can't bring a small purse, let alone a blanket.
The signage was straightforward getting from the ramp to gate 34, which is the main gate. There are escalators, elevators, and shallow ramps to get you over to Target Field. It was a short walk over. It was all indoors, which was helpful on this cold day.
I got to the vicinity where my seat was when the American national anthem had started. After it was over, the signage confused me. Section 139 pointed to a row of seats. Section 140 was everything above this row of seats. Huh?
I asked a couple what seats they had. They were kind to let me know and that information guided me to the right place. I was in the second row, which required a set of stairs to the left of this couple. The setup was a bit odd to me.
The removal of a star in my review is a combination of the snow not being cleared in the stadium and how dangerous it can be accessibility-wise. Trying to get past beer-drinking, layer-wearing, huge people in seats without any rails in front and snow on the ground was pretty scary. Luckily, I made it past everyone, brushed off the snow on my seat, and sat down.
I came with some experience watching a game in frigid conditions. I attended the 2006 Grey Cup game in Winnipeg. I will say that it was much colder at this Winter Classic than Winnipeg in November.
What I wore and brought with me that kept me warm were the following:
- Hat that covered my ears, scarf, and mittens (you want all your fingers together for warmth, rather than gloves)
- Hand warmers (slip them in your mittens and boots)
- Top layers (sweatshirt and Wild jersey)
- Bottom layers (corduroy leggings under joggers)
- Blanket (wind-resistant on one side with the other keeping me warm)
- Boots (mid-length with lining that keeps your feet warm)
- A warm jacket
I was warm throughout the over three hours that I spent watching this game. The Wild sadly lost to the Blues, but this experience was amazing and unforgettable. I am still thinking about it and it was over two weeks ago.
I used the washroom after the game before I headed to my car. I waddled over to it. I now understand why penguins waddle. It was too cold to exert more energy than necessary! The washroom was clean and spacious.
After the game, I thawed out in my car before I felt warm enough to head back to the hotel. Everyone was civil and polite letting others into the lineup and down the ramp. It was impressive.
I can see Target Field being an ideal place to see a baseball game. There isn't a bad seat in the house. I still managed to see everyone playing on the rink where I was. I wouldn't mind seeing the Twins again. Target Field is more spacious, especially with seating and legroom.
A friend asked me whether I'd attend another Winter Classic here. If I do attend another one, I hope it's much warmer!
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