Twins endure a pregame power outage on a cold, rainy day to make for a happy home opener
The Minnesota Twins have a lot of work — and winning — to do to begin to win back their fan base. This unusual home opener, culminating in a comeback victory over the Tampa Bay Rays, was a good start. With the tarp covering the infield during a drizzle-altered batting practice session on Friday, the ballpark suddenly went quiet when Target Field and the surrounding downtown area lost power.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins have a lot of work — and winning — to do to begin to win back their fan base . This unusual home opener, culminating in a comeback victory over the Tampa Bay Rays, was a good start. With the tarp covering the infield during a drizzle-altered batting practice session on Friday, the ballpark suddenly went quiet when Target Field and the surrounding downtown area lost power.
The outage resulted in a delayed start by nearly an hour. But the crowd, later announced at about 94% capacity at 36,042, didn't seem to mind even despite the 38-degree afternoon temperature. The pregame happy-hour special — $2 beers, $2 hot dogs, $2 selected snacks — that was supposed to end at first pitch was extended through the second inning after the lack of power prevented concession sales.
The fans roared after each bank of lights came back on during the ramp-up period. “We can sell all the $2 beers we want. We can have all the concerts we want.
But people want to see a winner. The product we put on the field is ultimately what is going to drive hope within our fan base,” executive chair Tom Pohlad said in an interview session with reporters in the home dugout before the power outage. Pohlad, who assumed control of the club about four months ago from his younger brother in one of many significant leadership changes the organization has recently undergone , has aggressively begun an attempt to repair the relationship between the Twins and their fans.