MINNEAPOLIS -- A thick layer of white snow covered the outfield grass, and a little cloud of air appeared with every breath he exhaled, but the essence of the moment didn't escape Twins outfielder Michael Cuddyer.
As he took his seat atop the home dugout bench in the midst of a darkened night, lit only by the glowing stadium lights and the giant scoreboard in left-center field that displayed video of him swinging a bat, Cuddyer took a look around at the place that he and his teammates will soon call home, and a smile crept over his face.
"Now this is a ballpark," Cuddyer proclaimed.
Target Field is the ballpark that's been long awaited by the Twins and their fans. And with the arrival of Groundhog Day, meaning spring is just around the corner, the excitement of the inaugural season at Target Field and the return of outdoor baseball to Minnesota is growing.
Perhaps it was fitting that Cuddyer and many of the other Twins players got their first real look at the nearly finished ballpark on a chilly night this weekend during the club's annual TwinsFest. After all, weather has been an issue surrounding the Twins' return to outdoor baseball since it was revealed four years ago that a new park would be built -- without a roof.
For the past 28 years, the Twins and their fans have seen baseball under the dingy Teflon roof of the Metrodome. It protected the club from the cold that often plagues the Upper Midwest in early spring while also providing an air-conditioned escape in the summer, always guaranteeing a comfortable 68-70 degrees at game time.
But in 2010, the Twins' 50th season in Minnesota, the team will return to its outdoor roots. Target Field was built without a roof, and the structure does not allow a roof to be added in the future.
And while there have been many questions surrounding the decision to go without a retractable roof, the Twins and their fans appear ready to deal with whatever comes with that -- including rain delays and postponements, but also those beautiful star-filled summer nights.
"We've accepted that reality, and I think most fans have, as well," Twins president Dave St. Peter said. "On Winter Caravan this year, the amount of questions about the roof was amazingly few. In the past, it had been a dominant part of discussion. We clearly will acknowledge that on days when it's less than perfect, it would have been great to have a roof.
"At the same time, I think we all believe that we ended up with a much more character-filled ballpark, perhaps a ballpark with better sight lines. And it certainly has much more charm than some of the retractable-roof facilities you find in baseball."
The Twins have prepped the facility, which will seat around 39,800, for the weather, providing fans with areas of shelter from the cold, as well as the summer heat. The park's canopy is the largest in the Major Leagues and will provide some protection from the cold as well as the hot sun on summer days. Radiant heaters have been installed on the main concourse level, stretching from one foul pole to the other, and there are enclosed concession stands with standing room built on the upper deck of the ballpark.
The ballpark's field, which has nearly the same dimensions as the Metrodome, has also been equipped to deal with the weather. An intricate drainage system has been installed underneath the playing surface, as well as a heating system that allows for the ground's temperature to be controlled and the grass to be protected over the winter.
And while there have been many skeptics questioning how the club will fare without a roof to protect it from the harsh Minnesota elements, the Twins point to other teams as an example that it can be done.
"Outdoor baseball has worked pretty well in northern climates for more than 100 years," St. Peter said. "The same things they deal with at Wrigley Field, Fenway Park or Comerica Park, we're going to deal with here. I have high hopes that our fans will react positively. It's just an education process because an entire generation has not experienced the Twins playing outdoors."
In addition to experiencing baseball on real grass with wind that can play havoc on fly balls, fans will have many other new things to help give them a true ballpark experience when the Twins play their opener at Target Field on April 12 against the Red Sox. The food options have greatly expanded and include local staples like a steak sandwich from the famous Murray's Steakhouse. There are themed restaurants that incorporate Twins' history, including Hrbek's, named after Twins legend Kent Hrbek, where all of the Twins logos dating back to 1961 can be seen on the tin ceiling.
The ballpark's signature element, however, may be the celebration sign in center field that features the original Twins logo from 1961. The logo has two characters dressed in old-time uniforms -- one from Minneapolis and one from St. Paul -- and whenever a Twins player hits a home run, the sign will light up, making it look like Minnie and Paul, as they're called, are shaking hands across the Mississippi River.
In fact, the club's storied history has been integrated throughout the park that was designed by the well-known architecture firm Populous, formerly HOK Sport. Each gate will be marked with a number that's been retired -- like Tony Oliva's No. 6 or Kirby Puckett's No. 34. There are atriums on the club level dedicated to Puckett and Rod Carew, as well as an entire 573 bar in honor of Harmon Killebrew's career home run total.
Those little touches are something that the Twins were never able to incorporate at the Metrodome due to the fact that they shared the facility with other teams.
"I think it will give fans a real strong sense of place and pride in being a Twins fan," St. Peter said. "I think that's really in some ways been missing from the Metrodome, because it had always been the Twins' home, and then after the season the banners were ripped down. There was really nothing that was a lasting tribute."
The players seem to be just as excited about the move to Target Field. During Cuddyer's tour the ballpark on Friday night, he got the chance to see the much larger clubhouse that includes upgraded training facilities as well as a weight room. There are also batting cages behind the dugout and a running track for pinch-runners to get warmed up before they come into the game. All were things that the Twins had experienced as visitors in other ballparks, but that were lacking in their old home at the Metrodome.
"You definitely feel like a kid in a candy store," Cuddyer said as he sat in the chair in front of his new, spacious locker. "You're in awe. And I guarantee you, I'll be in awe probably the whole season next year. Just coming in and saying this is your home, it's unbelievable."
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