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A premium club called Catch and a themed bar open to all fans, Minnie & Paul’s, will open in center field at Target Field next year.
Photos by: COURTESY OF MINNESOTA TWINS (4)
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The Minnesota Twins, taking a cue from other MLB parks catering to millennials, are upgrading a section of center field seats at Target Field into a premium club and a themed bar open to all fans.
The $5 million retrofit, paid for by the Twins, spans two levels above the batter’s eye, and includes the most extensive
upgrades since the ballpark opened in 2010. The new spaces will be ready next season.
The team removed roughly 250 seats that often went unsold to create a pair of unique destinations, President Dave St. Peter said.
The club, called Catch, is
branded after former Twins center fielder Kirby Puckett’s circus catch in Game 6 of the 1991 World Series. Populous, the ballpark’s original architect, designed Catch as a casual space to hold about 120 season-ticket holders.
There are two rows of movable chairs and drink rails fronting the club, supported by lounge-style seating and a full-service bar. The drink rails will be equipped with new technology to be announced later, St. Peter said.
Tickets are priced at $75 to $85 a game per person and cover the cost of tapas-style food, beer, wine and soft drinks. The Twins plan to sell half-season and 20-game plans in addition to full-season tickets for the new club, St. Peter said.
One level above is Minnie & Paul’s, a larger general-admission space named for the two players in the Twins’ original logo. The layout consists of drink rails, high-top tables and covered concession stands showcasing local brands and some premium food options. Two fabric canopies, one spanning 2,240 square feet, provide shade for the space.
The Twins envisioned both spaces to meet the needs of younger fans more interested in the social experience of sports than keeping track of every pitch.
In that respect, Catch and Minnie & Paul’s were inspired by upper-deck retrofits such as The Rooftop at Coors Field, The Corner at Progressive Field and Fenway Park’s Green Monster seats, St. Peter said.
Another model was Barrio, named for a local Mexican restaurant, which opened at Target Field for the 2015 season and became a popular destination serving high-end tequila drinks.
“It’s targeting the younger demographics,” St. Peter said. “It’s all about creating those gathering spaces.”
