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Vision of Twins stadium takes the field with ballpark models, design details

Last update: December 05, 2006 – 8:48 PM

Even though the design is only 15 percent complete, the new stadium for the Minnesota Twins began to take shape Tuesday as scale models of the ballpark were unveiled. "This will be the most compact ballpark built in America," said Earl Santee of HOK Sports, architect of the ballpark. Among the new details:

FIELD DIMENSIONS

For the baseball fan, here are the numbers, although tentative, that matter: 339 feet down the left field line, 377 feet in the left field gap, 404 feet to center field, 370 feet in the right field gap and 328 feet down the right field line. The outfield fence, in left field and center field, generally will be 8 feet high, rising to 14 feet in right field.

That compares to these dimensions at the Metrodome, where the Twins have played for 24 years: 343 feet left field, 385 feet left field gap, 408 feet center field, 367 feet right field gap, 327 feet right field.

SEATING

The biggest news Tuesday was that the stadium's seating capacity has shrunk from 42,000 to 40,000 seats. Jerry Bell, the Twins' chief stadium negotiator, said that's because of tight space at the stadium site in downtown Minneapolis. Still, said Bell, the new Twins stadium will hold more people than Boston's Fenway Park and Pittsburgh's PNC Park.

SIZE

Compared to the Metrodome, the new ballpark will have a significantly smaller footprint. Bell said the Metrodome's 10-acre inflatable roof is bigger than the entire site for the new stadium. The new stadium "would fit in most of our ballparks," Santee said. HOK Sport has designed 14 major- league stadiums in the past quarter century.

PUBLIC SPACE

A half-acre plaza on the 6th Street pedestrian bridge leading from Target Center to the new ballpark will provide about the same amount of gathering space as the Metrodome Plaza. The concourses, which will be covered but not enclosed, will be twice as wide as those in the Metrodome. The new stadium will have twice as many restrooms as in the Metrodome, with more for women than men.

WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW

Hennepin County officials announced Tuesday that they were prepared to buy one of the first parcels for the stadium, a 23,035-square-foot property owned by the city of Minneapolis, for $478,525. The county, however, is also considering a resolution "not [to] take final steps to acquire substantial property interests" until more detailed stadium design plans and cost estimates are complete. The County Board is expected to act on both items next week. It's also expected to approve five urban principles, including "green" design and connections to downtown.

WHAT'S NEXT

February 2007: The schematic design will further specify the stadium's shape and resolve the manner in which light rail and the Cedar Lake bike trail will work with the stadium. Also, a rough cost estimates will be made. Summer 2007: The ballpark design will show materials, finishes and details of the surrounding site. A detailed cost estimate will be made.


MIKE KASZUBA AND LINDA MACK