Target Field Was Built For Cold Weather
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Monday's Twins home opener will be far from warm, but the club said it has plans to keep both players and fans comfortable.
The earliest previous outdoor opening day for the Twins was on April 6, 1971 at the old Met Stadium. That makes Monday the earliest in team history.
Target Field was built with cold weather in mind, and it may be the only place in the state of Minnesota where the grass is green.
Groundskeepers have been busy getting the field ready and they admit they had a little help.
"We've got the soil-heating system, so the heat for the field is at 62 to 64 degrees," said head groundskeeper Larry DiVito. "So that's got the grass wanting to grow."
Other crew members focused on removing remnants of winter from the seats so that fans will not be sitting on iced-over seats come opening day.
Players won't have to worry about being cold either. Dugout heaters and new seats will help keep the chill out.
Fans will have the luxury or walking around the concourse to keep warm and still not miss any of the action on the field.
"Hundreds of radiant heaters are all around the concourse on every level, from the main concourse all the way up to the upper deck," said Kevin Smith of the Minnesota Twins.
Albert Shih and his friends say the cold will not stop them from experiencing their first baseball game in America on Monday.
"I am not very afraid of the cold," said Shih, who's from Taiwan.
