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Metrodome
Minneapolis,
MN
Although
the Metrodome may be considered one of the worst venues in baseball,
Twins fans still come out each spring and summer to see their team
play. The Twins have called Minneapolis their home since 1961,
playing their first two decades at Metropolitan Stadium. Located in
Bloomington, MN the Twins shared this stadium with the Minnesota
Vikings (NFL). By the mid 1970s it began to show its age. Both teams
began the push for a new stadium and in 1977 the Minnesota State
Legislature passed a bill authorizing construction of a multipurpose
domed stadium. A 25 acre site was chosen in downtown Minneapolis for
the stadium and construction began on December 20, 1979. The dome consists of an air supported fiberglass fabric
roof. A 340 ton cover for the dome is held in place by air pressure
generated fans and steel cables. The roof has snow melting ducts to
prevent a collapse. However, in fall 1982 the dome collapsed,
but was re-inflated.
Named after former Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, the H.H.H.
Metrodome opened on April 3, 1982. It was the third dome stadium to
open. Approximately 48,678 blue seats circle the entire stadium for
baseball. Making up the right field wall of the Metrodome are 7,600
retractable seats which allow for the conversion from baseball to
football. A huge scoreboard/video board is located above the upper
deck in left field. Over the past two decades the Metrodome has
changed very little. Before the 1994 season the dugouts were moved
closer to the field allowing for three rows of seats increasing the
seating capacity by 900. A gathering plaza for fans was added in 1996
along Kirby Puckett Place. This is a place for groups to meet and
enjoy food and beverages. To help reduce the number of empty seats,
a 200 foot long curtain was added to cover many of the seats
that are in the
upper deck in right field.
After the 2003 season, the Astroturf was
removed from the Metrodome and replaced with Fieldturf. For more
than a decade, the Twins have been trying to get a new ballpark
built to replace the Metrodome because it has the fewest quality
number of seats in baseball as many are situated for football. In May 2006,
the State of Minnesota
approved financing for construction of a new ballpark. To be
constructed in downtown Minneapolis, the
new ballpark will open in 2010 making the 2009 season the last
year the Twins play at the Metrodome.

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METRODOME
FACTS AND FIGURES |
2008 TWINS SCHEDULE |
- Tenants:
Minnesota Twins (MLB), Minnesota Vikings (NFL)
- Capacity:
56,144 (MLB)
- Surface:
Fieldturf
- Cost: $124
Million
- Opened:
April 3, 1982
- Dimensions:
343-L, 385-LC, 408-C, 367-RC, 325-R
- Architect:
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
- Owner:
Metropolitan Sports Facility Commission
- Former Name(s):
None
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METRODOME
PICTURES |
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PLANNING YOUR TRIP TO MINNEAPOLIS AND THE METRODOME |
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METRODOME AND THE MINNESOTA TWINS BY THE NUMBERS |
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Total Attendance |
MLB
Rank |
Average Attendance per Game |
MLB
Rank |
Team Wins |
Average Ticket Price |
MLB
Rank |
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2007 |
2,296,383 |
21 |
28,350 |
21 |
79 |
19.27 |
20 |
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2006 |
2,285,018 |
19 |
28,210 |
19 |
96 |
17.26 |
23 |
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2005 |
2,013,453 |
22 |
24,857 |
22 |
83 |
16.25 |
26 |
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2004 |
1,879,222 |
24 |
23,200 |
24 |
92 |
14.42 |
27 |
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2003 |
1,946,011 |
20 |
24,025 |
20 |
90 |
14.40 |
27 |
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ballparksofbaseball.com |
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Find the Best Attractions near the Game: Don't go to the game without getting a meal at one of the great
Minneapolis restaurants. You can't get the whole
Minneapolis experience without taking a tour of the dance scene at the
Minneapolis night clubs or hitting the links at
Minneapolis golf courses. So grab the
phone book and plan your trip today!
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