This weekend, Twins Territory will be gathering under the teflon sky in the Metrodome, for the team's annual event, Twins Fest. Last year, the event was held at the National Sports Center in Blaine due to the Dome's roof deflating last winter. So for once, we're glad a baseball related event is back in the Metrodome. And as we get the baseball juices flowing this weekend, I'm going to take a look at the 5 things about the Metrodome we actually miss.
5. Getting blown out the exits-We always had to do this. Getting blown out of the Dome needed to happen everytime we went there. We had to leave quickly so we could wash out the memory of watching a game in there. The air pressure blowing you out of the stadium following a game was a ritual for us. It was extremely fun (One can only imagine how much better this would of been had we been able to drink beer and run out of there a bit drunk. Haha), and it is extremely missed.
4. You play every day-This kind of defeats the purpose of our loving the return of the Twins playing outdoors, but when the forecast is for rain on a Twins game we have tickets for, we get antsy. The certainty of playing every day, regardless of the weather, was so very nice. It wasn't a pretty thing to look at fake grass and a blue garbage bag covering 9,000 football seats, but we got to see the Twins play rain or shine.
3. Opponents losing the ball-This was one of the best home field advantages in sports. When a ball went up in the air, outfielders had real problems bringing it into their gloves. Even until the end, the Dome was playing tricks on the outfielders (Just ask
Dom Kelly or
Ryan Raburn). And it got even worse during the postseason when the homer hankies were flying in addition to the roof. Maybe once an outfielder will have a brain cramp and misplay a ball at Target Field, but never will you see it 3-5 times a year.
2. Dome Dogs-As much as we love the Schweigert hot dog spread at Target Field, it will never beat the good ol' Hormel Dome Dog. It was another staple of our gameday ritual where we would get a Dome Dog and soda, and save the chips that came with it for later in case the Twins needed a rally (It was our rally food). It was the very best ballpark food, and still to this day is the best hot dog at a ballpark we have ever had. And now, we can't even enjoy it at Twins Fest because it
discontinued (WHY?!?!). Maybe one day, the Twins can bring this Metrodome tradition back.
1. The address-In baseball, there was no better address than 34 Kirby Puckett Place (Well ok, 24 Willie Mays Plaza is pretty awesome too). It was the best thing the Twins ever did in their 28 years in the Metrodome. We love the Twins current address, 1 Twins Way, but it will never come close to how awesome 34 Kirby Puckett Place truly was.
