Bill's Journal Entry #30

Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome

Dates: September 29, 2002 (and playoff games October 4, 5, 8, and 9, 2002)

Location:  Minneapolis, Minnesota

Opponents: Chicago White Sox (and Oakland A's and Anaheim Angels)

Travel companions: Karla Eggen-friend, and a friend of hers. (Playoff game guests so far have included friends Bob Brown, Bruce Gebbie, Bruce's son Scott Gebbie, a friend of Bruce's, as well as Karla again, and several friends of hers)

Link to my photos

His arm in a sling, sporting a Twins cap and a stylish BASEBALLPARKS.COM shirt, Bill achieves his goal by attending a game in the Metrodome on September 29

Game Result: I'll just discuss the September 29 game here, as that's the one that completed my season-long tour. This game, the regular season finale for both teams, was the third game of the series. In both of the previous two games, the Twins had gone into the bottom of the eighth inning either tied or behind, only to take the lead with a two-out, two-run homerun in the eighth, which they carried to the win. So it was almost expected when the middle of the eighth inning arrived this day, and the score was tied at one run apiece. Sure enough, with two men out, Bobby Kielty hit a two-run homer, and the Twinkies went on to complete the sweep with a 3-1 win.

Stadium Summary: OK, let's state the obvious right off the bat. The HHH Metrodome is simply not a good baseball stadium. The field is awful, with turf that causes baseballs to bounce like superballs, and far too visible football markings throughout both the infield and outfield. The fences around the field are awful, with a homerun fence made of stretchable plastic expanded between rock-solid posts, and foul territory fences that have the fans closest to the field still ten feet or more above it. The roof is awful, making it impossible for fans or players to see fly balls. The seats are awful, with all the seats down the lines facing straight out into the outfield. And the sound system is awful-even the great stadium announcer Bob Casey can't sound good on this.

But there's something about the Metrodome that is simply different than any of the other 'bad' stadiums. Those other parks either try to cover up their flaws, or do their best to ignore them, despite how obvious they are to all. But not the Metrodome. The Metrodome acknowledges those flaws, and instead says, "Let's just have some fun with what we have!" Fly balls getting lost in the roof? That's part of the fun here! Never will you turn your attention from watching the catch of a routine fly, as here, there is no such thing as a 'routine fly'! Nor will you ignore a routine grounder, as it's just as likely to bounce over the fielder's head as into the fielder's glove. Lousy sound system? Instead, let's drown it out with a large, loud crowd, all waiving handkerchiefs in the air. Sure, it might not be pure baseball at its most ideal-but whatever it is, if you just go with it, it has the potential to be a lot of fun!

And that's what makes it difficult to be as critical of this stadium as of some of the others. It's a bit like going to Disneyland, riding the "Jungle Cruise", and then complaining to the park's management because the crocodiles weren't 'real', and the 'gun' that the guide was shooting at them was just shooting caps. What did you expect?

So if you feel the need to bash the Metrodome, go ahead. Absolutely no one will argue with you on anything you say. It's not pretty, and Minnesota baseball fans can't wait for a new park to be built. But if you'd rather just have a fun day at the park, you can go ahead and do that here too. At the end of the day, you'll be just as successful, and a lot happier!

Best show of community support within a stadium: For its entire 20 year history, the HHH Metrodome has been home of the Minnesota State High School League's football championship games, and in more recent years, has also hosted the boys' and girls' soccer championships. Throughout the concourses are large banners, showing the champions of each year, and the scores of all of those championship games. Further, prior to each of the five Twins games I've attended this year, a local high school's marching band performed-something I saw in no other park. Simply put, no other stadium in the Majors exhibited the type of community ties that the Metrodome did-especially with the youth of the community.

Most non-vertical foul pole: Rather than having self-supporting foul poles, the Metrodome simply has mesh nets rising from the corners of the stadium. In right field, this net extends from the top of the "Hefty bag" right field wall, up to the top of the luxury box level above it. But that luxury box extends several feet out over the playing field area from the location of the Hefty bag, meaning that the foul pole actually "leans" in towards home plate at a significant angle. In left field, the "pole" is much more vertical, hanging directly from the Metrodome roof. However, because the roof is air supported -- that's right, the only thing holding it up is air pressure -- any significant wind going over the stadium causes the roof, and anything hanging from it, to move considerably. This can cause the foul pole to sway back and forth, which is hardly the consistent stationary pole desired in the rules. Further, the light structures and speakers also hang from the roof, and therefore sway as well. This fact can be somewhat unnerving to first-time Metrodome visitors -- as well as to me, as I was in it once in the mid-80's when a hole ripped in the roof, and it actually DID start coming down!

Stadium grade: D+  A poor stadium for baseball...

Overall grade of my experience at the game: B ...but a fun place for Dome-ball! GO TWINS!!!

-- Bill Verkuilen  biggbill@hotmail.com 

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