Twins Pitch New Ballpark

The conceptual Twins ballpark design is a product of HOK Sport + Venue + Event, the same group that designed St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center, Baltimore's Camden Yards and San Francisco's SBC Park (formerly Pacific Bell Park).

Since a site has yet to be determined, the proposed ballpark has been designed to fit on a generic four-square city block. Once a site is selected, variations in the design will be necessary in order to accommodate the site, surrounding structures and infrastructure needs.

"The ballpark presents the game of baseball the way it was meant to be presented—outdoors with real grass, great sightlines, comfortable concourses and fan-friendly amenities," says Dave St. Peters, president of the Minnesota Twins.

The proposed ballpark features 42,000 seats on four levels, making it "among the most intimate facilities in all of Major League Baseball," according to Twins officials. The seating configuration includes 12,000 seats in the upper deck, the fewest number of upper-level seats in all of MLB. The new ballpark would also feature more than 17,000 seats between first and third base; 60 private suites; 12 group party suites; 4,000 club seats and disabled seating for more than 800.

The new ballpark would also feature a Minnesota Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, a retail store, a baseball-themed Sports Bar and Restaurant, an interactive area for kids and additional venues for group ticket buyers.

The exterior of the new ballpark will be wrapped in native Minnesotan Mankota-Kasota limestone, and it will be complemented by Fenway green steel and seating.

Cost is projected at $430 to $450 million, not including up to $70 million in infrastructure costs, such as road improvements. Several Minnesota cities are vying to build the ballpark, including Minneapolis and St. Paul. Financing has also yet to be determined. Twins officials they would be responsible for $120 million up-front, but would like flexibility in how to provide that money.