Post by CSCommish on Jul 18, 2020 12:46:42 GMT -5
Built in 1956, Metropolitan Stadium, which is affectionately known as "the Met" by locals in the Bloomfield area, was intended to lure a major league baseball team to the Minneapolis and St. Paul area. While it served as a minor league facility for the Minneapolis Millers of the American Association, it was referred to as one of the finest baseball facilities in the entire country, including major league ballparks. Proponents for the stadium nearly lured the New York Giants to relate to Minnesota, with the Senators, Reds, Indians, and Philadelphia Athletics also in the running. The Giants owned the rights to move to Minneapolis, but instead moved out west to San Francisco, following the Brooklyn Dodgers who moved to Los Angeles. This was done at the urging of the Dodgers' owner who also owned the Millers' crosstown rivals, the St. Paul Saints.
Ultimately, an American League team, the Washington Senators, made the move to the Metropolitan Stadium in 1961, becoming the Minnesota Twins. In context, this represented the first major expansion of HOFFBL coincident with the population explosion as the country settled in after World War II - the league created divisions, one in the east, the other in the west, and realigned to accommodate the league's westward expansion.
During this expansion era, Metropolitan Stadium also attracted an expansion football team in 1960; however, the stadium quickly became undersized in comparison to bulky multi-purpose albeit non-descript stadiums. The Met was expanded to a modest 30,000 seats prior to the Twins and expansion Vikings playing their first games. The Met was expanded again to 45,000 seats in 1971 by prior owner Adam Costa. The Vikings sought refuge in a larger stadium and offered to partner with the Twins in the late 1970's to construct yet another multi-purpose stadium, but in a dome. While the idea of climate-controlled games in April and October was enticing, the Twins decided to remain in its modest outdoor stadium in the suburbs.
After a desire to leave the big city, Chris Cosenza left the Yankees and took over the Twins in the mid-1980s, taking over an aging team with little in the farm system. He saw an opportunity to fully rebuild in an effort to create a perennial winner like he did with the Yankees for the prior 30+ seasons. The farm system is now stocked and with Robb Nen, Mariano Rivera, Eddie Guardado, Jim Edmonds, Mo Vaughn and Bob Hamelin all making their debuts in this upcoming 1992 season, there is hope for a resurgence. The minors are still rather deep thanks to careful roster management, free agent signings and timely trades, and now the franchise is ready to improve the stadium experience to mark the new era of the franchise.
The Twins have announced a full renovation and expansion of the Met, which will now be named The Met at Target Yards, in part of a massive mixed-use transit-oriented redevelopment project in a public/private partnership with the local 30-year young company, Target Corporation. The stadium will be expanded from 45,000 seats to 60,000 seats by adding 2 decks over the existing bowl, along with additional outfield decking and expanded concourse. The existing concourse will be significantly expanded and blend into a shared space outside the stadium, blurring the line between the stadium and the revitalized urban environment, which will include a pedestrian plaza, parks, open spaces, indoor and outdoor recreational facilities and several mixed-use buildings and a multitude of long-term-stay suites. Mr. Cosenza seeks to create a self-sufficient live-work-learn-play environment that remains active even when the Twins are away from home and during the off-season.
The concourse will feature expansive views of the field and the surrounding mixed-use redevelopment project. The existing bowl will include wider and plush seating in areas that are protected from the elements and the 2 additional decks will include several luxury and party suites. It is reported that the number of suites was cut by two-thirds to better accommodate multiple family-friendly play areas with great views of the game. Finally, the renovation will include a complete retro-fit of the exterior, including framing the stadium with a traditional warehouse structure featuring brick and cast stone complementary with the surrounding buildings. Metalworks supporting the upper decks and canopy will sit atop the warehouse, providing visual interest to the growing skyline.
The stats: the additional seating will cost 57.5M and the complete stadium renovation will cost 100M, of which the Twins are responsible for 75M of the cost. The 132.5M project will be financed by the Twin's stadium construction fund of 100M, leaving 32.5M to be financed over a maximum of 5 seasons, at 6.5M per season.
The Twins will pay the 100M downpayment and start construction immediately. The stadium will be ready in 1993, with annual 6.5M payments starting in 1993 and ending in 1997.
Ultimately, an American League team, the Washington Senators, made the move to the Metropolitan Stadium in 1961, becoming the Minnesota Twins. In context, this represented the first major expansion of HOFFBL coincident with the population explosion as the country settled in after World War II - the league created divisions, one in the east, the other in the west, and realigned to accommodate the league's westward expansion.
During this expansion era, Metropolitan Stadium also attracted an expansion football team in 1960; however, the stadium quickly became undersized in comparison to bulky multi-purpose albeit non-descript stadiums. The Met was expanded to a modest 30,000 seats prior to the Twins and expansion Vikings playing their first games. The Met was expanded again to 45,000 seats in 1971 by prior owner Adam Costa. The Vikings sought refuge in a larger stadium and offered to partner with the Twins in the late 1970's to construct yet another multi-purpose stadium, but in a dome. While the idea of climate-controlled games in April and October was enticing, the Twins decided to remain in its modest outdoor stadium in the suburbs.
After a desire to leave the big city, Chris Cosenza left the Yankees and took over the Twins in the mid-1980s, taking over an aging team with little in the farm system. He saw an opportunity to fully rebuild in an effort to create a perennial winner like he did with the Yankees for the prior 30+ seasons. The farm system is now stocked and with Robb Nen, Mariano Rivera, Eddie Guardado, Jim Edmonds, Mo Vaughn and Bob Hamelin all making their debuts in this upcoming 1992 season, there is hope for a resurgence. The minors are still rather deep thanks to careful roster management, free agent signings and timely trades, and now the franchise is ready to improve the stadium experience to mark the new era of the franchise.
The Twins have announced a full renovation and expansion of the Met, which will now be named The Met at Target Yards, in part of a massive mixed-use transit-oriented redevelopment project in a public/private partnership with the local 30-year young company, Target Corporation. The stadium will be expanded from 45,000 seats to 60,000 seats by adding 2 decks over the existing bowl, along with additional outfield decking and expanded concourse. The existing concourse will be significantly expanded and blend into a shared space outside the stadium, blurring the line between the stadium and the revitalized urban environment, which will include a pedestrian plaza, parks, open spaces, indoor and outdoor recreational facilities and several mixed-use buildings and a multitude of long-term-stay suites. Mr. Cosenza seeks to create a self-sufficient live-work-learn-play environment that remains active even when the Twins are away from home and during the off-season.
The concourse will feature expansive views of the field and the surrounding mixed-use redevelopment project. The existing bowl will include wider and plush seating in areas that are protected from the elements and the 2 additional decks will include several luxury and party suites. It is reported that the number of suites was cut by two-thirds to better accommodate multiple family-friendly play areas with great views of the game. Finally, the renovation will include a complete retro-fit of the exterior, including framing the stadium with a traditional warehouse structure featuring brick and cast stone complementary with the surrounding buildings. Metalworks supporting the upper decks and canopy will sit atop the warehouse, providing visual interest to the growing skyline.
The stats: the additional seating will cost 57.5M and the complete stadium renovation will cost 100M, of which the Twins are responsible for 75M of the cost. The 132.5M project will be financed by the Twin's stadium construction fund of 100M, leaving 32.5M to be financed over a maximum of 5 seasons, at 6.5M per season.
The Twins will pay the 100M downpayment and start construction immediately. The stadium will be ready in 1993, with annual 6.5M payments starting in 1993 and ending in 1997.