How about that outdoor baseball??

[fishin58]

For all of you that think that the Twins don't need a retractable roof go stand outside in the parking lot of the dome for three hours tonight. Should be fun.

[maros91]

It will only be for the first 2-3 weeks than everything will be fine. They will have a big road trip to start then open it up in the middle of April. Of course I would rather have a high of 70 on opening day but this is Minnesota and will have to deal with it. Snowing on opening day, only in Minnesota and other select cities.

[Team Otter]

To not have a retractable roof is typical for a MN sports team to think that it will be fine. It's ridiculous.

[Gary Crichton]

Yes that is what we need to do each year, start the season on the road and in a couple of weeks, you can play in the new stadium. Wonder what our record will be each year starting on the road.

Also does anyone have the final seating capacity, of the new stadium.

[bassNspear]

yes, we need the roof, and i have a feeling that there figuring that out just by the weather today. Maybe pohland will pay for it.

[Eric Wettschreck]

No retractable roof means I'm not buying tickets in advance and I know quite a few people with the same mindset.

I've driven to many games. I'm not driving 4 hours one way just to get there and have a rain out.

No roof is dumb.

[Scott K]

 Originally Posted By: Bass N Spear

yes, we need the roof, and i have a feeling that there figuring that out just by the weather today. Maybe pohland will pay for it.

The problem is, the stadium they are building isnt capable to have a roof, and there isnt any room for one where they are building it!

[Fishing_High]

Totally agree.

[DonBo]

 Originally Posted By: Bass N Spear

Maybe pohland will pay for it.

Ha Ha. Thats a good one. For a second there, I thought you were serious.

[DonBo]

 Originally Posted By: garyc

Also does anyone have the final seating capacity, of the new stadium.

40,000

[walleyes12]

ya what a joke, I also can't afford to buy tickets in advance. drive 3 hrs and end up driving back due to the weahter.

[SledNeck]

We'll sure attract those high dollar latin free agents now!

[Gary Crichton]

That is it. Does that mean we can't hold the All Star game again. I thought they had to have a larger capacity (seating wise.) Did they not have to rework some of the seating in order for us to hold an All star Game in the Dome.

[Coach1310]

One of the biggest issues(other than cost) for the not having a retractable roof is the site of the new park was not big enough to build the sections of the roof and install them...as is typical practice at the other venues. I think it is really unfortunate....not even so much for the rainout factor, but the inability to use the big money stadium from November-March... I have a feeling you could host quite a few things in venue like that, other than baseball if you had a roof.

[PierBridge]

The Twins want nothing to do with a roof, all that would do is make he stadium available for other uses.

Again the retracable roof ain't walking through the turn-stiles anytime soon so get over it quickly.

It's baseball its meant to be played outside we have 81 home games a year and we'll be just fine......were lucky to have a new stadium at all.

[PerchPounder]

I am more than willing to trade the roof to keep baseball in state. If anyone ever wants to trade opening day tickets because of the cold weather I would be willing to make that deal.

[maros91]

 Originally Posted By: garyc

That is it. Does that mean we can't hold the All Star game again. I thought they had to have a larger capacity (seating wise.) Did they not have to rework some of the seating in order for us to hold an All star Game in the Dome.

Fenway held the All Star game a couple years ago and their capacity is like 37,000.

[zamboni]

I sat at a Royals game a few years back and it was around 25 degrees. We sat in the upper deck and had a strong, cold headwind as well. Perfect use for the Metrodome- days like this or rain- move 'em there. Just announce to ticket holders to tune to such n such a radio station in case of bad weather to see if has been moved.

[mr_jman]

It almost seems like a great idea to put a few games in the dome at the beginning of the year if the weather is bad. But it defeats the purpose of having a new stadium. Although for someone who had to drive a long distance (like me and many others!) It seems like a smart idea. I don't think they could move the entire work staff and have the metrodome ready if a decision was made only hours before game time!

If you go to the new stadium link... You will see they're adding comfort areas so fans can warm up or cool down depending on weather. Whatever a "comfort area" is I dont know but Twins ownership agreed to pay an extra $22 million for some "upgrades"!

[The_King48]

[PoorWordUsage] that its only the county and not the state since people outside of the metro enjoy the twins... The twins have lots of fans from N. Dakota S. Dakota and Iowa but its only Henn. county paying.... Sorry just venting here..

[The_King48]

Todays game would be post-poned for sure.... Thats OK though it would only mean a double header later on.... I know it sucks for all of you that don't live in the metro, but it also sucks that HENNIPEN COUNTY is paying for the staduim.... I think it is a bunch of [PoorWordUsage] that its only the county paying for the stadium and not the state since people outside of the metro enjoy the twins... The twins have lots of fans from N. Dakota S. Dakota and Iowa but its only Henn. county paying.... Sorry just venting here..

[a47mlb]

Here's what they (law makers) should have done. They taxed the metro countie(s) to help pay for the stadium, right? So then why not tax the outstate folks to be able to add the roof? That way, when the little league team from I Falls or Ely make that monster road trip that one time of the year so the kids can see a major league game, they are guaranteed that the game will go on. I don't think many out-staters would mind, knowing it would guarantee that they would see a game the one time of the year they make it to the Cities. But I suppose that would make to much sense.

[toughguy]

A park with a roof (retractable or not) becomes a stadium. Look at Miller park (stadium). It's a big bowl with a movable lid. You can't see out into the outside world. This new stadium is going to be awesome. Yes there will be some days when the snow, cold and rain will delay or postpone games. But all those summer nights with the view of the skyline will make up for it. I can't wait for the new stadium and I'm very happy that the thing doesn't have a lid on it.

Here is a comparison showing why I don't like a retractable roof. Not only does the open air stadium look better, it costs less, and won't leak or get stuck.

Miller Park

PNC Park

[CrappiesNCats]

the twins will most likely open on the road most every year and then come back about a week later. it might not be any better, but thats what a lot of teams do. we are not the ONLY team that has this to deal with. there are a lot of other teams in the same situation

[toughguy]

I heard this morning that the Twins only postponed 4 openers at the old Met (before global warming). We will get openers here but some will be postponed. Cleveland opened the season at home again this year after missing several games to open the season last year.