The Homerdome

The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Aug-1992.

There’s nothing like hitting the ball into the ceiling, where it can’t be found.

• Location: Washington Avenue between 3d and 5th Streets, Minneapolis, Minn.
• Opened: 1983
• Home team: Minnesota Twins, American League (1982-present)
• Capacity: 48,678

As a result, the Twins jumped on the opportunity to move into the newly-built Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis, which had been constructed for the Vikings football team. The only trouble is, the Metrodome has absolutely no character for baseball.

Like any other park, the Metrodome has its quirks. In this case, they include a roof against which fielders frequently lose the path of the baseball, and a “baggy” that covers extended bleachers that are pulled out only for football.

In other words, this isn’t a terribly friendly place for baseball. At least the Astrodome has some character.

By the way, Metropolitan Stadium is gone now. The Mall of America stands in its place. I now understand there is a single seat in the same position it occupied at Met Stadium, near Camp Snoopy.

In 2007, the Twins broke ground on a new, open-air stadium that will replace the Metrodome as their home. The new park is slated to open in 2010, though I don’t know what they plan to do about the wintry weather that still affects the Twin Cities in early spring. (The Metrodome will continue to be used for football.)

The ceremonial groundbreaking for the new park was delayed by several days due to the tragic collapse of a Mississippi River bridge carrying I-35W near the ballpark. The Twins also postponed one or two games as a result of the incident.