Twins Unveil UnitedHealthcare Sensory Suite: What You Need to Know

[David Youngs]

In an effort to make Target Field a more inclusive and welcoming place for all fans, the Twins unveiled the UnitedHealthcare Sensory Suite on Tuesday afternoon. Here's what you need to know. 

Friday’s highly-anticipated home opener isn’t the only exciting, fresh beginning at Target Field. 

Joined by UnitedHealthcare CEO Brett Edelson, the Twins officially unveiled their brand new UnitedHealth Sensory Suite on Tuesday afternoon at Target Field. 

Grounded in providing a more inclusive gameday experience for all fans, the suite will strive to provide a welcoming, compatible, and calming environment for neuroatypical fans seeking respite. 

“Since opening in 2010, we’ve worked really hard to ensure that Target Field is accessible to everyone,” Twins President Dave St. Peter said on Tuesday. “This suite is going to allow so many people who maybe otherwise wouldn’t be able to enjoy a day at the ballpark to do so now.”

The suite features several sensory rooms with various traits, toys, and features catering to fans of different age generations. 

“It’s a very intricate design of spaces that are quiet, spaces that have sensitivity around different sensory disorders, and features to be inclusive to all fans,” Edelson said. 

Yet the real difference maker is the front portion of the suite, which offers a beautiful overlook of the playing surface at Target Field. 

“One of the greatest pieces of feedback that we got during the process was ‘how can we actually see the game?’” Edelson said. “Having the fantastic view of the field, that was so important to everyone.”

And while other professional sports teams offer similar spaces, the sensory suite at Target Field goes above and beyond. 

“Other teams have spaces like this, but ours takes it to the next level,” Twins Senior Manager of Business Communications Matt Hodson said. “Any team that has a space is doing the right thing, but oftentimes those spaces are tucked away in a service area and can be just one room. We are being very intentional with the individualized spaces in this process.”

Providing proper and inclusive accommodations for fans is not a one-size-fits-all scenario. That’s why the Twins, UnitedHealthcare, and Fraser will be working with guest service staff members to help equip them to best serve neuroatypical fans throughout Target Field. 

“We took a step back and said, ‘Not everyone is going to come to the suite, (some fans) want to have that gameday experience at the ballpark,’” Edelson said. “We are offering training to all the guest service staff members so they can help families make the most of their gameday experience.” 

In an industry that is often viewed through a lens of results on the field, it’s important to remember the human side of baseball. The Twins have long served as champions of bridging the gap between baseball and the needs of our society. 

“We found through our listenings in the community that this was something that we were missing,” Hodson said. “We were missing the environment where families and individuals who are neuroatypical could enjoy the ballpark experience.”

And while the implementation certainly creates a great story, the Twins organization will continue to use its platform to best serve community members of all walks of life. 

"This organization does the right thing because it’s the right thing to do,” Hodson said. “When we say ‘all are welcome at Target Field, we truly mean it.” 
 

UnitedHealthcare Sensory Suite: What to Know

• The new UnitedHealthcare Sensory Suite is an attempt to provide a different way to watch #MNTwins games for neuroatypical fans that might be a little overwhelmed at the ballpark. 
• It includes a balcony that overlooks the game and two inside rooms that provide a quieter environment, designed by UnitedHealthcare in partnership with Fraser, with neuroatypical kids and adults in mind. 
• The suite is in the newly branded UnitedHealthcare Suite Level, which most fans previously didn’t have access to. It’s right next to the elevators near the right-field foul pole, so it’s very accessible. 
• Twins game day staff will be trained to best serve neuroatypical fans that may not want to use the suite. 
• The Twins, UnitedHealthcare, and Fraser will provide sensory kits for guests to check out, free of charge, at Guest Services stations throughout Target Field.
• The sensory suite was a designed build, meaning that additions and recommendations from field experts were utilized in the building process.

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[Joey P]

I like this a lot. It shows they really care

[Deadfan]

Is there a wait list to enter these rooms or is it a specific ticket unique to the room that allows access?

 

Just curious on how these logistical things will be done, being the parent of a kiddo on the spectrum myself. 

[IndianaTwin]

This looks like a great addition to Target Field.
 

My wife is a retired special education teacher and current board member of an advocacy group supporting those with disabilities in churches (shameless plug: anabaptistdisabilitiesnetwork.org). For those who are neuroatypical, the many stimuli at a game that help make it enjoyable for many of make it a challenging to be. I’m especially excited to see this space be in a prominent location, rather than tucked away in a corner. I am hoping to go to the game next Wednesday and I will plan to stop by afterwards to see if they’ll let me take a peek.

It’s easy to get cynical at big organizations, but one truly does get a sense that the Twins are good corporate citizens. 

[USAFChief]

A great addition to TF.

[olepancoast]

Nice article, David. 

[Nine of twelve]

The problem is that the Twins organization itself is the one and only source of the overstimulation that this space seeks to shut out. IMHO, among other things the organization would do well to stop the loud and pounding music over the PA system after every pitch. (When I say after every pitch it's a slight overstatement. When I say loud and pounding it's a slight understatement.)

[USAFChief]

32 minutes ago, Nine of twelve said:

The problem is that the Twins organization itself is the one and only source of the overstimulation that this space seeks to shut out. IMHO, among other things the organization would do well to stop the loud and pounding music over the PA system after every pitch. (When I say after every pitch it's a slight overstatement. When I say loud and pounding it's a slight understatement.)

EV-ry-BO-dy-CLAP-your-HANDS...CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP. CLAP CLAP!

[Nine of twelve]

1 hour ago, USAFChief said:

EV-ry-BO-dy-CLAP-your-HANDS...CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP. CLAP CLAP!

This is maybe one of the more recognizable sound blasts in regular rotation at Target Field but it's unfortunately only average in the level of obnoxiousness. Next time you attend a game there I challenge you to actively pay attention to how loud and frequent and unrelenting the blasts of sound are. It will be illuminating, but a caveat: it could potentially forever ruin the ballpark experience for you. I realized I had learned to tune it out when I attended a game in 2019 with a friend of mine who commented thusly: "I wonder what they would do if they had epilepsy awareness night at a Twins game." Now I can't not notice it. It's such a shame that I can't go to see my favorite team playing my favorite sport in a beautiful stadium without being assaulted by the PA system.

[ashbury]

3 hours ago, USAFChief said:

EV-ry-BO-dy-CLAP-your-HANDS...CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP. CLAP CLAP!

Target Field is my favorite ballpark that exposes good and true fans to this monstrosity.  Every other park in contention for best... does not.

 

/ I'm trying to imagine the booing that would break out at Fenway if management did this.