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  • Twins Fans Brave the Cold at Opener, Look Forward to New Season 


    Melissa Berman

    Braving the spring Minnesota cold, for the first time since 2019, Twins fans streamed through the Target Field gates and were welcomed to a “normal” Opening Day experience- no zip-tied seats, mask regulations, or limited ticket sales. 

    Image courtesy of Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports

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    Though Opening Day was pushed back one day from Thursday, April 7 to Friday, April 8 due to rain, snow, sleet, high winds, and just about everything in between, the lingering Friday cold did not keep a group of hardy fans away from Target Field. Attendance was announced at 35,462 in the 2-1 loss to the Seattle Mariners, though the actual number appeared to be smaller.  Even though the day’s high in Minneapolis reached a higher-than-originally-forecasted 46 degrees, wind gusts of up to 22 miles per hour kept many fans on the cool side, especially those in the shade. By the end of the game, that was everyone except those in the sunny outfield.

    “We were in 210, which was in the shade. It was a struggle; it was windy,” said Kyle Nelson, who attended the game with some frozen friends. “I don’t think any of us were bundled up great. I didn’t bring gloves, which I regretted. My hands were cold the whole game,” he said. 

    Friday’s Home Opener, though chilly, was not the coldest opening game in Target Field History- 2013’s Home Opener holds that crown. That day only reached 36 degrees. Target Field’s warmest Home Opener to date was in 2010, the first year of the stadium, and was a downright balmy 68 degrees. Friday was certainly not.

    “I was in the shade the whole time- there’s not a lot of opportunity for warmth,” said Shayla Houser. “The warmest part of my day was being on the field with the flag. There was no wind for a little bit of that, and it was right in the sunshine,” she said.

    Houser was part of a group of season ticket holders who were invited on the field before the game to unfurl a giant American flag for the Star Spangled Banner, making her one of the first fans to set foot on Target Field’s new grass since it was replaced in March. It was the first time the playing ground has been replaced since the stadium's opening season in 2010. 

    For many fans attending the game, a little cold was not about to keep them from carrying on their tradition of attending Opening Day. Megan Knops has been to all but two Home Openers since 2006. Houser has not missed one since 2014. And the cold was not going to keep Nathan Timm away either. Friday’s game was not even the coldest Twins game Timm has attended; he recalled going to both games of a split doubleheader vs the Miami Marlins on April 23, 2013 on what was a brisk mid-30s and cloudy day. 

    Timm got his picture taken with Jim Kaat, who alongside Tony Oliva, threw out the game's first pitches to Kent Hrbek and Tom Kelly in celebration of Kaat and Oliva's upcoming Baseball Hall of Fame inductions.  

    When the Twins announced early Wednesday morning that Opening Day was delayed until Friday, it was met with mixed reactions. While some lamented that moving the game now prevented them from going due to work or other obligations, others supported the decision. 

    “I’m glad they made that choice, it is worth it to wait an extra day to not have to play on a day like yesterday. Because at least today we had sunshine and it was dry,” Houser said.

    Twins fans unable to attend Friday’s rescheduled game were given the opportunity to exchange their tickets for any 2022 home game. 

    Among Twins fans attending Opening Day, the Carlos Correa signing was a common source of excitement- and even a bit of disbelief- for Opening Day. 

    “Once the lockout ended and we started making some moves, I knew baseball was really coming back. I was really excited,” said Knops. “I couldn’t believe we signed Carlos Correa until he stepped in the batter’s box today. I was like ‘wow, he’s really here,’” she said.

    Houser views the Correa signing as a turning point in the franchise and something fans should be excited about.

    “I was excited regardless [for the season], but that’s me. But I was in a state of shock for probably like 12 hours or so until I processed it, and actually seeing him on the scoreboard and in a Twins uniform today was pretty wild,” Houser said. "I think the fact that they actually pulled the trigger on that and did something that costs money shut up the whole, ‘the front office doesn’t spend money thing,’ and the fact they’re kind of shutting that narrative down should be a reason for people to be excited in itself," Houser said.

    For Nelson, the Correa signing completely changed his perspective on the season.  “I was not really that excited at all for the year until the Correa singing, It showed we were really trying to win this year,” he said. 

    While these fans toughed it out (and still had fun, according to all of them), other fans opted to not dawn their heavy parkas and hand warmers to attend the game and are instead looking forward to some pleasant summer nights to cheer on the Twins- sans the layers of clothing.

    Ryan Stanzel, a New York native residing in the Twin Cities who describes himself as both a Yankees and a Twins fan, said that his ideal temperature to attend Twins games is 76 degrees, “but not more than 82.” He noted that the long baseball season provides ample opportunities for fans to get to a game.

     “There are 81 other chances to go, and the Masters are on TV.” Stanzel said.

    Twins fans will not have to wait long for more game opportunities; the Twins play three more games vs the Mariners, followed by a two-game series vs the Los Angeles Dodgers beginning on Tuesday.

    Despite the Opening Day loss, optimism for the upcoming season and happiness to just be back at the ballpark again was a common theme.

    “I am a very optimistic person, so I think we can make the playoffs and maybe win the division," Knops said, "I’m just really excited- I think the group could be very special."

    And for Timm, even on chilly days, and even when the Twins do not quite come away with a win, there is no better place to spend the day than at Target Field. 

    "A day at the ballpark is better than any other kind of day," he said. 

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    Nice recap! As a local transit driver, I can also add that whatever festivities the Twins had on in the early morning had cars backed up from Target Field's plaza on 7th all the way back to near Hennepin even though there was still snow on the ground. (While a brief pain to work around, it was heart-warming to see all those fans fired up at 6 a.m.!)

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    1 hour ago, PatPfund said:

    Nice recap! As a local transit driver, I can also add that whatever festivities the Twins had on in the early morning had cars backed up from Target Field's plaza on 7th all the way back to near Hennepin even though there was still snow on the ground. (While a brief pain to work around, it was heart-warming to see all those fans fired up at 6 a.m.!)

    Thanks for the kind words! :) That must have been Breakfast on the Plaza you saw! I got down to the area early too (not as early as that though), but hung out at KFAN's live shows at Brothers Bar nearby. I was so happy to be back at the stadium and thankful for sun and no rain! It'll be a fun season! Thanks for getting fans and others around safely!

    Edited by Melissa Berman
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    7 minutes ago, Melissa Berman said:

    *plenty* of opportunities left? I'm at today's game and it's much more pleasant 

    Well, my opportunity won’t come until the Twins are in Chicago the beginning of July … I think I can handle the cold weather then ?

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    “A day at the ballpark is better than any other day” — Melissa, such great scene-setting with actual meaningful quotes from our fellow Twins fans! As Squirrel said, too, you made me feel like I was there. Can’t wait to read your next story for Twins Daily. ?
     

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