The Twins are "bringing Iron Range meatballs, fried pickle chips and a baked potato bar, among other new food offerings, to Target Field" for '12. The Murray's steak sandwich, Walk A Taco and Tony O's Cuban sandwich will "return from last season, and so will the walleye, pork chop on a stick and cheese curds from the stadium's first year." For the adults, there is "even a new cocktail made with locally based 2 Gingers Irish Whiskey and new taps with local craft beers" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 4/3)....The Astros, along with Aramark and chef Bryan Caswell, will introduce a variety of menu items and healthier fare to Minute Maid Park in '12. Two new concepts will now be available for Club level customers at El Real Mexican and Caswell's Club Grille. The Green Fork Garden Fresh Salads will also offer healthier options, and gluten-free beer and hot dogs will be offered for the first time at Minute Maid Park. This season, fans will be allowed to bring food and bottled water into the ballpark (Astros)....In Connecticut, Richard Lee noted Centerplate is "hoping to hit a home run with a new menu that it will offer" at three MLB ballparks and 13 minor league stadiums. Centerplate said that its new menu was "designed to provide fan-friendly prices and offerings, including 'bottomless sodas,' 'event-size candies,' 'endless popcorn' and faster service for beer purchases" (STAMFORD ADVOCATE, 4/3).
BELLY UP TO THE BAR: In Pittsburgh, Jon Schmitz notes the "first physical expansion since PNC Park opened in April 2001 has added to the concrete terrace on the main concourse level at the right field corner and the Pirates are debuting the Budweiser Bowtie Bar there." The area, with a "large U-shaped bar and views of the playing field and Allegheny River, will be open to all ticket holders and also available for group rentals." The bar is "one of several new wrinkles at PNC Park," as the ballpark will also be featuring "new food items" this season. The Pirates have also added about 90 feet of "drink rail -- a platform upon which customers can place food and drink -- to the left field bleacher area for those who want to stand and watch batting practice or the game there" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 4/4).
SUMMER WORK: In Florida, DeLuca & Himes noted the inaugural Spring Training season for the Red Sox at JetBlue Park ended Monday, but the work "needed to complete" the $78M complex will "continue into the summer." Lee County (Fla.) and Manhattan Kraft Construction, the facility’s lead contractor, "identified more than 3,500 instances of damages and faulty work at the facility in a 165-page report." Action items on the list "include missing light fixtures, cracked cement steps and broken windows" (Ft. Myers NEWS-PRESS, 4/3).
