How about that outdoor baseball??

[SledNeck]

 Originally Posted By: mr_jman

I'd go to the Twins games and sit outside. They do it in Boston, New York, and Baltimore out East. Cleveland, Chicago, and Detroit in the Central! We are the only team in the AL Central who doesn't play outside! Provided the Royals play in a warmer area early on, Cleveland, Chicago, and Detroit aren't exactly comfortable! Fans still show up and I would still show up! They are building that concourse to keep you warm and still see the game. GO TWINS - bring some hand warmers! LOL! I've toughed out some ROUGH days on the open ice I think I can sit there to watch the Twins play!

all those places arent nearly as cold as Minnesota.

Milwaukee has the best stadium in MLB.

[PierBridge]

Your kidding right?

[mnwild]

Chicago and Cleveland not as cold as MN?? They have worse weather than we do. But I do agree about Milwaukee stadium, cant beat that one.

[SledNeck]

 Originally Posted By: mnwild

Chicago and Cleveland not as cold as MN?? They have worse weather than we do. But I do agree about Milwaukee stadium, cant beat that one.

lets look at clevelands avg temp for this day

high 54 low 39

Chicago

high 56 low 36

Minneapolis

high 47 low 25

shall I go on with avg april mean temps or is this a sufficient enough owning?

[mike morris]

Owning?

[Schloogs]

 Originally Posted By: SledNeck

 Originally Posted By: mnwild

Chicago and Cleveland not as cold as MN?? They have worse weather than we do. But I do agree about Milwaukee stadium, cant beat that one.

lets look at clevelands avg temp for this day

high 54 low 39

Chicago

high 56 low 36

Minneapolis

high 47 low 25

shall I go on with avg april mean temps or is this a sufficient enough owning?

SledNeck, I am curious where you found the avg high 47 and avg low of 25 at? Is that for Minneapolis? From what I have seen for April 11 the avg high is 54 and avg low is 34 with a mean temp of 44. Maybe my data is wrong....

[Bassman55]

I all for outside baseball and most years will be nicer than this year but somebody stated that enveryone else gets enough fans, did you see the number of empty seats in Chicago the other night?

[Weed Shark]

 Originally Posted By: The_King48

 Originally Posted By: Cicada

King48, just try to look at the bill as an investment in your community. You may have to pay more for dinner out with your wife in January. How much would would you pay towards the stadium on a $50.00 meal? Not being sarcastic or anything, I really don't know what impact it would have on the locals.

I remember going from Cooperstown, North Dakota to the Twin Cities a few times to take in a game at the Met. It only rained once and it was a delay in the game ,not a rainout. We kids loved that. It was a long ride for a three hour plus game.

You are right on a 50.00 meal.... What about if I buy a 40,000 vehicle, boat, or whatever.... I'm just saying it all adds up. The whole state of MN enjoys the twins for the most part.. I don't know why such a small percentage of us has to pay for the stadium. Then when its paid for do you think they will take the tax off???? I don't think so, it never happens.... Just gives me one more of many reasons to hate it here in the metro. I wish I could convince the wife to get the [PoorWordUsage] out of here...lol

King,

I'm with you. Some people get taxed, briefly, when they visit the county. We live in Hennepin and all our expenditures are here. It's the taxable portion of the annual grocer bill for a family of five, plus toys, bikes, office supplies and equipment, the lumber yards, sporting goods, hardware, tools, gardening, snowblower, computers, electronics, furniture, boats, and so on, spread over 20-30 years that adds up. Restaurants in the area will benefit, my small business won't see a dime. I hate how they snuck it through with no voting.

As for the weather, the prevailing west winds from the garbage incinerator should not be all that cold. Just don't inhale that fresh air too deeply. My Ford Centre studio space was a white-out of burnt garbage smoke on some days; I was very happy to move locations.

Kind of interesting, I saw on the news Mary Jo Copeland thinks the city is getting tough on Sharing and Caring Hands, because of the stadium. It is the center of the universe for poor people who have nothing; lots of shopping carts and panhandlers.

[uffdapete]

 Originally Posted By: boilerguy

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.

Ditto - I think it's senseless to build a new stadium with out a retractable unless you expect attendees to show up spontaneously as weather permits. In terms of those who travel to watch a game the Twins fan base is likely more spread out than any in baseball and they expect fans to plan ahead, get tickets, drive far enough to need a motel room for a ..... rainout or sit in snow, sleet, or cold?? Must literally be a fair weather fan because I only work, fish and hunt in those conditions, not watch baseball.

One more thing - was there enough foresight and planning so this facility can be updated so it lasts or will it be necessary to do this all over again in 20 years? Seems that's about how long it took for team owners to deem it unacceptable.

[Scott K]

 Quote:

One more thing - was there enough foresight and planning so this facility can be updated so it lasts or will it be necessary to do this all over again in 20 years? Seems that's about how long it took for team owners to deem it unacceptable.

Nope it was not desiegned to have a roof, there is no room for it, they barly can squeeze the stadium in there. 20? I bet they figure out this wont be a good thing in 5! And will be saying they cant make it without a roof!

As for Hennipin CO being the only ones paying the bill for the Stadium, how about everyone that doesnt live in the metro that has to pay for new roads and upkeep to all the bridges and roads in the metro, even though they dont go there! Is that fair for them people? I see it just as fair as the stadium!

[fishinphilth]

Itch, itch, itch, why is everyone itching since there is no B's anywhere (too cold). The turd tub (Metrodome) is no place for baseball and I cant wait to take the commuter train from Big Lake to the stadium to watch some outdoor baseball. The Met didnt have a roof and people showed up there. My dad is one that cant wait to watch it outside again.

[DonBo]

 Originally Posted By: uffdapete

In terms of those who travel to watch a game the Twins fan base is likely more spread out than any in baseball and they expect fans to plan ahead, get tickets, drive far enough to need a motel room for a ..... rainout or sit in snow, sleet, or cold??

I've said this before but here goes again. It is you people who live outstate that should have been crying to have the sales tax go statewide so they could afford a retractable roof. Didn't hear from any of you then. Now that someone (hennipen co.) stepped up to pay for it, now you all (sorry, not all) speak up about how it's not good enough.

Sorry to tell you, but to me, living close to the stadium it's not a big deal if we get a rain out now and again. Maybe I'll get to see a couple double headers. Those of you that live outside the metro may have to deal with a few hardships if you want to see a game, but look where you live. I would also like to live in a smaller, quieter community out in the country somewhere, but I choose to live here closer to many of the good things the big city has to offer. If you choose to live in an area where there is no major league offerings, you get your own bonus. Like not having to deal with all the bad things about the big city. You may get to hunt of fish out your back door, I have to drive an hour. We all make our choices, there are pros and cons to all. Just don't badmouth what we have here because it may cause you some problems. I get weathered out on occasion when I travel to hunt or fish also. You don't hear me complaining to you about it.

[Eric Wettschreck]

I'm not complaining. I just said I'm not buying tickets in advance. So, enjoy your higher taxes along with your rainouts and double headers and that sweet sweet aroma from the incenerator. If the weather is decent with no forecast of rain, I'd love to toss my boys in the rig and drive up to a couple games. It will be a last minute decision, however. I can't say if others have the same mindset that I do, if so, it may affect ticket sales.

I love outdoor baseball. I saw my share of games at the Met. I think the middle of MPLS with poor traffic routes and no big parking lot for tailgating and no possibility for expansion and no future capability to add a roof was a poor decision. However, I'm not paying for it so I don't care. I'm glad the citizens of Hennipen county are getting what they want for their money. Pohlad should probably change the teams name to the St. Paul/Minneapolis Twins. Or better yet, the Hennipen county Twins since they're the ones paying for it.

3 cheers for Hennipen county for stepping up to the plate and saving me the added tax burden for something I won't see a return on. I'll just go hunt and fish out my back door. Then, go catch a Sioux Falls Canaries game.

Having said all that. I think it's terribly unfortunate that the planners of this whole thing truely had money making interests and not the interests of the fans in mind.

[Juneau4]

Boilerguy: I couldn't have said it better-totally agree!