I’m concerned.
Spending a couple days in Milwaukee, I was reminded that the one thing that makes a sporting event an event is tailgating. We arrived in the parking lot 90 minutes before one game to down a few drinks. Yet here were all the people arriving after us, still pulling out the old grill and cooking up supper. And those that arrived long before us had ample spreads laid out on card and folding tables. Sometimes there were even tents to protect the food and fans from the elements. The whole parking lot was under a haze of grilled meat smoke.
Upon my return to the Minnesota, the home of 2010’s newest stadium, I remembered a post on the Greet Machine blog that provided a picture of the area surrounding the stadium. I remembered a couple parking ramps, but no specific surface lots. And now I’m legitimately concerned.
Anyone out there know how much surface lot space will be available. Will all comers have the option of tailgating, as in Milwaukee? Or will tailgating space be at a premium (and at premium pricing)?
Comments (15)
There isn’t much surface space in that part of the city, unless a bunch of stuff gets knocked down. Maybe that’s the plan, but I assumed there would be even more development around there (condos, bars, etc…), no less. There are a number of parking ramps that lead directly to 394 and 94. I’m not sure if this is a good comparison, but I’ve driven past Jacobs Field, which is on the edge of downtown Cleveland, and I imagine the Twins stadium being situated like that. Good freeway access, not much room for tailgating.
There isn’t much room for tailgaiting in the vicinity of Invesco Field in Denver for a Rockies game, that’s for sure!
Hmmm…I guess if Minnesotans aren’t into tailgating and I can still tailgate, I’d probably be OK. Miller Park has excellent freeway access, but it’s not downtown (not even sure if it is in Milwaukee - it’s close if not).
mmm…. grilled meat
I just saw a convincing argument for the current configuration. Assuming a bar community opens around the new stadium, it will feel more like a ballpark rather than a stadium. There won’t be tailgating, but rather barhopping. And lots of people prefer a ballpark to a stadium.
I can buy that, I guess. Especially if I can go tailgate at an occasional Gophers football game.
Having seen both Wrigley and Fenway, I’m very pro bars and restaurants around the park. At both of the classics, they close the streets off around the parks as well, so they are basically big pedestrian plazas with food vendors, beer tents, and so on.
I like thinking of it as a new “ballpark” rather than “stadium”, too. Ballparks seem more intimate and connected to the neighborhood and city. We have a stadium now, and in 2010 we’ll be going to a ballpark.
Yeah, I agree with Luke. Going to a ballpark is more about community and the surrounding neighborhood. I must also say I haven’t heard of that many people tailgating at a baseball game. I’m not surprised it happens in Milwaukee, but I really don’t think it happens much in other ballparks around the country.
I’ve been reading that one of the signature aspects of the new ballpark will be a pedestrian bridge:
Sounds cool. You know, this thing is going to be just beautiful. I’m upset we have to wait until 2010!
That will be perfect, and will make a nice tie to the downtown business district, Target Center/Block E area, etc. Just imagine downing a few “big boys” at Gluek’s, then walking over to the game on a warm summer evening.
2010 can not come quickly enough.
You guys are convincing me.
Yeah, I heard last night, as I was drinking beers after a softball game, that the entrance will give a wide-eyed view of the outfield and it’s gonna look great.
I just hope they take a good look at the current 94/394 bottleneck and consider how much worse it will be with a stadium plopped in there, too.
Yeah, I’m surprised they didn’t just plop it down on the crosstown. Maybe one of my friends could buy/rent an apartment/condo near the stadium. Please….
Shane said:
In my baseball travels, Milwaukee is the *only* place where I’ve seen tailgating outside of a major league baseball game. (I’ve heard it happens in Kansas City, but I haven’t witnessed it there.) Everywhere else, there’s either a pedestrian bazaar scene, or nothing really happening.
Hmmm…I’d prefer tailgating to nothing, I guess. But I can handle a bar/bazaar scene if it takes shape.
Once the Twins got into their third year of winning the division, tailgating was starting to catch on in the Washington lot.
There is some surface parking over by the Farmers Market, and I’ve heard people speculating that there might be some vendors there before game time if it becomes a popular enough option. It’s a good 3 or 4 blocks away, and there isn’t exactly a pleasant/easy way to get to the new stadium, but it’s not much worse than the Washington lots now. Plus if you’re coming from 94, that is a pretty convenient place to stop.
Hmm…the Farmers Market area sounds like an option. I still wouldn’t mind drinking the occaisional reduced-priced beers and grilling meat before a baseball game. God forbid I do that before a baseball game in the summer. I should know these things were meant for the cold weather!
:)