TwinsFest 2015

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

So....

 

Who went last year?

 

Who plans on going this year?

 

Is it worth $20?

[Tibs]

I went last year. I thought it was pretty neat. It would have been more fun if I had more money to spend and if I wanted to stand in line for some autographs. I thought it was worth $20

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

I haven't been since it was at the Metrodome, so it's been awhile. Was it really cold last year - Is most of the stuff indoors?

[Wookiee of the Year]

It's all indoors. You're only outdoors for the initial walk in, and potentially for a brief stretch of concourse between the club level and Town Ball Tavern.

[iTwins]

I went last year, and plan to go again this year.

 

From the dome days, I'd say it's a downgrade. Halls clog up. Longer lines. The vendors level was dark, crowded and nearly impossible to enjoy. They'd be better served moving it to the convention center or Target Center - perhaps back to the new Vikings stadium in 2016/17 - Target Field just wasn't built for an event like this.

 

That being said - I think it's worth the $20. There's still lots to see and do, even if those activities have their own admission prices now (so long, free minor league autographs...) - I had fun last year, and I'm sure I'll have fun this year too, after all, it's still baseball!

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

I have been going to a lot of sportscard shows in the last year, and I did hear that steps were taken to improve the lighting situation for the vendors. It was a big complaint and a few of the card vendors I know ended up deciding to go back this year based on promises of better conditions this time.

 

Are concessions stands open? Can I get a Tony O Cubano?

[iTwins]

Only a couple of the concessions are open. The Hennepin grill stands were open - serving the basic burger, chicken - etc. offerings. I believe (not 100%) that Town Ball tavern was open as well, but since you had to brave the frozen concourse to get there - I never checked.

 

There was also some form of meal option in the Champions Club, but the line was too long to bother with (smelled good though!)

[Ben B]

I've gone to Twins Fest every year since 2000. I'll echo what others have said already...the big problem was having the vendors in the crowded lower level. With how Target Field is laid out, you also get some looooong walks down endless hallways if you're trying to get between autograph lines. Target Field is a decent stopgap for the event, but I really hope they move to the convention center at some point. 

 

My biggest complaint was actually that they did away with giving away the prospects' autographs for free. Now they're mixed into the pay lines. 

[Parker Hageman]

I highly encourage anyone who will be in town/at TwinsFest on Saturday night to plan on attending our Winter Meltdown following that day's TwinsFest activities: https://www.facebook.com/events/386220414885911/

[Sarah]

I hope they move it to the new stadium once it's done. I am going on Sunday and thought it was nice last year but I agree about the dark hallway in the basement. It was fun to see some of the areas that are normally off limits like the clubhouse but it's also the kind of thing that once is enough. It is all indoors, I don't remember being cold and I'm usually cold. I really liked the layout when it was at the Metrodome. And I agree Ben, bring back some of the free autographs - I remember the photos used to be free too.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Well, I took the plunge and bought a ticket for Saturday. If my fingers are fast enough tomorrow, I'll be hitting up the Meltdown as well.

 

Any suggestions about things to do at TwinsFest that I might not notice? What do people enjoy the most about going to TwinsFest?

[Jerr]

Well, I took the plunge and bought a ticket for Saturday. If my fingers are fast enough tomorrow, I'll be hitting up the Meltdown as well.

 

Any suggestions about things to do at TwinsFest that I might not notice? What do people enjoy the most about going to TwinsFest?

I have not been to it at Target Field but, I enjoyed watching the live radio broadcasts interviewing the Twins. 

Anyone know if, they still do the live radio???

[Wookiee of the Year]

I have not been to it at Target Field but, I enjoyed watching the live radio broadcasts interviewing the Twins. 

Anyone know if, they still do the live radio???

They did last year--I assume it'll be back again.

[Sarah]

I think they did it on K-Twin last year, hopefully they will go it again this year. More people will probably listen to it than listen to whatever format that station is on now...

 

Even if you don't stand in line for autographs it is just fun to talk baseball, that doesn't cost anything once you get in. This is kind of cheesy but I like to go to the Kids Q&A sessions because kids ask the cutest questions.

[Seth Stohs]

Here is the Twins' Twins Fest webpage which includes a ton of information about the activities and events. I would guess by this time next week, they'll have a pdf of the times and activities and autograph sessions and photos and radio and such. 

[Seth Stohs]

Just noticed that Nick Gordon is now listed on the schedule for Twins Fest. Must have been a real recent addition. Means now that 9 of my top 11 Twins prospects will be at Twins Fest. 

[Adam Houck]

Just noticed that Nick Gordon is now listed on the schedule for Twins Fest. Must have been a real recent addition. Means now that 9 of my top 11 Twins prospects will be at Twins Fest. 

 

Kohl Stewart is on the Friday schedule now too.

[Ben B]

J.T. Bruett is added! Blast from the past. 

[Seth Stohs]

With Kohl Stewart added, my top 9 and 10 of my top 11 Twins prospects will be there.  Pretty exciting.

 

And again, if you haven't already, be sure to get your tickets to the Twins Daily Winter Meltdown from 5-8 on Saturday night. It'll be fun to get up close with Dave St. Peter, Tim Laudner and Jacque Jones. All five Twins Daily guys will be there. Jeremy Nygaard and Cody Christie will be there. AJ Pettersen will be there. We're hoping several of the Vikings Journal and Wild Xtra writers will be there as well. Should be a really fun night!

[Seth Stohs]

Who is going? 

 

And, by the way, if you want Sano and/or Buxton autographs, be sure to bring some money!! 

 

http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/downloads/y2015/2015_TwinsFest_Program.pdf

[Halsey Hall]

Wow, expensive!  $40 for Sano and Buxton, but drops 5.00 with Oliva.  Carew looks like the best buy at $35. 

 

Save your money and just come down to spring training and get the autographs in the warm weather for free. 

 

Vargas was here today. BTW.

[Rosterman]

Yeah, and Nick Gordon is there, but not signing anywhere, or did I miss it. Interesting the move of Sano and Buxton to the high-priced arenas. But looks like a full radio lineup, selfie pictures, and the kids Q&A looks interesting.

[Ben B]

Gordon is signing 6:45 p.m. Friday, 3:15 p.m. Saturday, and 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Kohl Stewart is signing all three days too. And they're cheaper than Buxton/Sano!

 

I'm close to being priced out of this event. They've doubled admission prices, gotten rid of the free prospect line, and jacked up autograph station prices across the board, not to mention parking, concessions, etc. It wasn't long ago that the cheaper autograph stations were $5. Now almost every line is $15+. 

[Seth Stohs]

Well, they also can't get nearly as many people into Target Field as they could at the Metrodome, and it is a charity event with all proceeds going to the community fund, so there is that at least. 

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

I think the best deal is $5 autographs for Berrios!

 

I'm not really interested in dropping a ton of $$ for autographs, though I am tempted to bring my 2014 All-Star baseball and get Kurt Suzuki and Glen Perkins to both sign it. Technically, ambassador Mauer and HR derby Dozier should sign as well. But the ball was spendy enough on its own. . . .

[teekz]

I never bother with the autographs. Not when you can go to spring training and get a ton for free. GF and I get tickets with our season tickets.  Last year was pretty cool. Was able to take some cuts in the batting cage.  Great access to areas you don't typically get to see.  I prefered it there over being at the dome.  Going Saturday.

[iTwins]

I never bother with the autographs. Not when you can go to spring training and get a ton for free. GF and I get tickets with our season tickets.  Last year was pretty cool. Was able to take some cuts in the batting cage.  Great access to areas you don't typically get to see.  I prefered it there over being at the dome.  Going Saturday.

I'd guess if you didn't do autographs, then Target Field would be preferable to the dome. If you want to do any signings at all, however, you quickly find that the dome (and its ample floor space) was MUCH better venue for those lines. Everything else (experiences, visuals, access) I agree - Target Field beats out the dome.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I'd guess if you didn't do autographs, then Target Field would be preferable to the dome. If you want to do any signings at all, however, you quickly find that the dome (and its ample floor space) was MUCH better venue for those lines. Everything else (experiences, visuals, access) I agree - Target Field beats out the dome.

I am kind of surprised to hear this.  Haven't been to the Target Field version, but my primary enjoyment of the Dome version was letting kids run around on the turf and in the seats.  Heck, they even had a little mini-field set up in the infield for kids to play a game on.

[iTwins]

I am kind of surprised to hear this.  Haven't been to the Target Field version, but my primary enjoyment of the Dome version was letting kids run around on the turf and in the seats.  Heck, they even had a little mini-field set up in the infield for kids to play a game on.

That's a good point - I don't have kids so I don't really consider things form that perspective, there certainly aren't "green spaces" to let them run around in with the new venue. They don't have the mini field any more (obviously) - but they do have a ton of boardwalk style games (pop a shot, giant bowling, ring toss - etc.) that the players stop by and join in when the kids are playing. From what I saw last year, the kids were having a blast in that area. (The downside is, the place the hold all of this is also one of the main through-ways...it gets crowded FAST on Saturday).

[Corporal_Clegg]

Hello,

New poster from Des Moines, Iowa here. Im taking the family up to Twinsfest this year for the first time, and am quite excited, and hopeful its not a chaotic zoo. My kids and I collect baseball cards, and since this is our first time attending, the autograph lines will be our primary hangout. We're going to the Saturday session. We're all going to try and get Mauer's autograph, and then my boys want to get Sano and Buxton cards signed. Im more of a vintage collector, so Im taking cards of Carew, Molitor, and Oliva. There's going to be a lot of money spent, but like I said, this is our first time, and the fact that it goes to charity makes it an easier pill to swallow.