doodledee

Sure it's only 15% done, but that's totally enough for me to breakdown the first working model of the new Twins stadium unveiled to the public. Click on the picture above for a full size version. I made it myself.

A couple of talking points:

• It doesn't look like there's much outfield seating. As near as I can tell, there's maybe just one small section between the batter's eye and those giant billboard/scoreboard things. And I'm not even sure that that's really seats.
• The 'Wall of Suites' in left is freakish. It's more like condos than it is baseball suites. Straight up in the air like that. It kind of reminds me of that little 3 story hotel in turn one at Indy. I can't wait to see the suite people throwing beads down to the people in the seats.
• I love the extension of 6th street over 394. Sixth is currently a one way going into downtown (away from the stadium), so the extension will be a pedestrian only pavilion. I'm not sure I get how it just crashes into right field, though. Can people stand and watch from up there? Will I need a ticket?
• Speaking of standing and watching the game, if the city were smart, they'd install a couple of bathrooms, a tent, and a few kegs and make a giant patio on the roof of City Ramp B for baseball viewing. Trust me, nobody ever parks up there. Though now they will, I suppose. Curses.
• I don't like the color scheme. Too much white.

Also of note in the Strib article - which I already alluded to - is the fact that they've cut 2000 seats from the original estimated size, making it the 3rd smallest stadium in baseball. Cozy.

I'm excited to mooch tickets off one of my nutjob baseball buddies and go to a game.

Vision of Twins stadium takes the field [strib]