Facility Notes

Twins Fans Can Pay For A Chance To Tour Target Field Two Days Before It Opens

In Minneapolis, Paul Walsh reports Twins fans just two days before the first regular-season game at Target Field "will have the chance -- for a price -- to take a glitzy behind-the-scenes look" at the new ballpark. The Target Field World Premiere on April 10 will include "exclusive guided tours of Target Field, dining on fine fare, appearances by former Twins greats and live music." Tickets are available for $225 and $750, and all proceeds benefit the Twins Community Fund, the Library Foundation of Hennepin County and the Hennepin County Medical Center Hennepin Health Foundation (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 3/19).

HIT THE BRAKES! YAHOO SPORTS' Kevin Kaduk wrote the Cubs' proposal to place a "giant illuminated Toyota sign above the left field bleachers" by Opening Day is a move toward "turning the essence of Wrigley Field into some sort of Times Square frankenstein." Much of the problem "lies in the fact that the sign is juxtaposed against the garish Horseshoe Casino rooftop" just outside Wrigley. New Cubs Owner the Ricketts family should "look at Fenway Park and even at those old yellow Under Armour ads on Wrigley's outfield doors to know that there are more understated ways" to increase revenue at the ballpark (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 3/18).

TURN THE LIGHTS ON: The Univ. of Michigan football team Thursday announced it will host the "first night game in school history" at Michigan Stadium against Notre Dame on September 10, 2011. UM AD Dave Brandon said, "If all goes well, we’d love to at least have one game a year scheduled at night at Michigan Stadium. It'd be a terrific tradition to start. Logistically, we’ll figure it out, and we’ll execute it at the same high level that we try to every game." Brandon said that he "began working on the night game a few weeks ago" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 3/19).

FIRST ROUND'S ON ME: KARE-NBC's Kyle Porter reported the Minnesota state Legislature is "reviewing a bill" that could permit the sale of alcohol at TCF Bank Stadium for Univ. of Minnesota football games. State Sen. Jim Metzen "amended a liquor bill" earlier this month to "get the talks going again." The Legislature said that the money raised from alcohol sales would go toward athletic scholarships at the university (KARE11.com, 3/18).