OK, so be cruel and call it the Metrodump. The place is on its way out. Give it a break.
It can't compete with the new parks, but some of the quirky features are cool. In Fenway Park, odd ballpark features are worshipped. Here they're ridiculed. I don't understand.
The highlights:
* The famous Baggie in right field is gone. I was surprised. I don't know how long it's been gone. In its place is a Dodge ad that is printed on what appears to be a giant wrestling mat.
* I can't think of another park with so little room behind home plate. If you have a seat in the first row, you have as good a view as the home plate umpire. And could do a better job, at least according to what Ron Gardenhire seems to think. He nearly triggered a riot tonight by kicking his cap after he was ejected.
* They have a sign in left field saying, Countdown to the New Park -- 106. Ah, but 106 what? Days? Hours? Years? A couple of friendly Minnesotans told me it is 106 games, so that's the number of games left in 2008 plus all of 2009. I think that's too soon to start a countdown.
* The roof is tacky. It's like being in a cheap tent. There are tears in it. Holes. This may be from the T-shirt gun the Twins' mascot, a wolf (and why is it a wolf? Who knows?) shoots, or from balls striking it. It might just be an optical illusion, but I swear every other fly ball looks like it will graze the roof.
* Likewise, the Twins' two home runs tonight were just terrifying. Either the air conditioning was blowing out or the White Sox pitching was especially miserable. It was John Danks and a cast of dozens, by the way.
* They have tiny video screens at two sides of the field -- the end zones for Vikings games, actually. It is laughable compared with the gigantic Videotrons of the last decade. It's like trying to watch your neighbor's TV three houses away.
* The scoreboards are useless. Either the information is too small, or they don't have it, or you can't find it. They have these pastel colors on the out-of-town score strip that ensure you can't read the scores.
* The red horse won the Twins' version of dot race. Here the three horse contestants each represent a section of the grandstand. I don't think the winning fans get anything other than the prestigious honor of having the winning horse, though. There was no hat game nor was there any sort of game where fans make jackasses of themselves. They did have some sort of Let's Make a Deal game where a fan failed to win a deluxe room at a hotel casino and instead settled for -- not making this up -- a two-for-one buffet coupon at the casino.
* I've never entered a stadium through a revolving door before. That's either to keep the cool air in or the building inflated, or both. After the game they take out the revolving doors so everyone can pour out. The wind pouring out of the dome makes for tornado conditions at each exit.
* The stadium is serviceable but because of it's shape, if you sit down the third base line you have to crane your neck to see home plate. We sat down the first-base line and you couldn't see right field.
It can't compete with the new parks, but some of the quirky features are cool. In Fenway Park, odd ballpark features are worshipped. Here they're ridiculed. I don't understand.
The highlights:
* The famous Baggie in right field is gone. I was surprised. I don't know how long it's been gone. In its place is a Dodge ad that is printed on what appears to be a giant wrestling mat.
* I can't think of another park with so little room behind home plate. If you have a seat in the first row, you have as good a view as the home plate umpire. And could do a better job, at least according to what Ron Gardenhire seems to think. He nearly triggered a riot tonight by kicking his cap after he was ejected.
* They have a sign in left field saying, Countdown to the New Park -- 106. Ah, but 106 what? Days? Hours? Years? A couple of friendly Minnesotans told me it is 106 games, so that's the number of games left in 2008 plus all of 2009. I think that's too soon to start a countdown.
* The roof is tacky. It's like being in a cheap tent. There are tears in it. Holes. This may be from the T-shirt gun the Twins' mascot, a wolf (and why is it a wolf? Who knows?) shoots, or from balls striking it. It might just be an optical illusion, but I swear every other fly ball looks like it will graze the roof.
* Likewise, the Twins' two home runs tonight were just terrifying. Either the air conditioning was blowing out or the White Sox pitching was especially miserable. It was John Danks and a cast of dozens, by the way.
* They have tiny video screens at two sides of the field -- the end zones for Vikings games, actually. It is laughable compared with the gigantic Videotrons of the last decade. It's like trying to watch your neighbor's TV three houses away.
* The scoreboards are useless. Either the information is too small, or they don't have it, or you can't find it. They have these pastel colors on the out-of-town score strip that ensure you can't read the scores.
* The red horse won the Twins' version of dot race. Here the three horse contestants each represent a section of the grandstand. I don't think the winning fans get anything other than the prestigious honor of having the winning horse, though. There was no hat game nor was there any sort of game where fans make jackasses of themselves. They did have some sort of Let's Make a Deal game where a fan failed to win a deluxe room at a hotel casino and instead settled for -- not making this up -- a two-for-one buffet coupon at the casino.
* I've never entered a stadium through a revolving door before. That's either to keep the cool air in or the building inflated, or both. After the game they take out the revolving doors so everyone can pour out. The wind pouring out of the dome makes for tornado conditions at each exit.
* The stadium is serviceable but because of it's shape, if you sit down the third base line you have to crane your neck to see home plate. We sat down the first-base line and you couldn't see right field.
* You know I'm tired when I put an apostrophe in the wrong its.
* A very gray Mark Spitz threw out the first ball.
* Thought we might see Sox newcomer Ken Griffey tonight but I guess he'll join them tomorrow in Kansas City. I wonder if he can pitch.
2 comments:
Is the bridge that collapsed still under repair? I think it's only a mile or two from the Metrodome.
Yes, and I think yesterday was the anniversary of the collapse. The repair work is ahead of schedule, so the contractors are getting a bonus from the state of Minnesota.
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