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Jun 16, 2024

The Ultimate Fan Guide to Target Field

Welcome! This is the definitive guide to Target Field, by the fans and for the fans. These recommendations were assembled by Twins Daily writers and community members who frequent the ballpark and

Welcome! This is the definitive guide to Target Field, by the fans and for the fans. These recommendations were assembled by Twins Daily writers and community members who frequent the ballpark and have uncovered the best views, values, and secrets to share with you.

Whether you're an out-of-towner visiting Target Field and looking for tips, or you're a local who wants to make sure you're getting the most out of your experience at this elite ballpark, we've got you covered.

Table of Contents (click to jump to section)

See our companion guide: Things to do around Target Field (coming soon)

There are many options for parking around Target Field. Understandably, some folks traveling to downtown like to park closer to the park in order to minimize their walk. Those who are up for a Downtown Dawdle can find lower costs and other attractions to check out in the surrounding neighborhoods.

Here we've listed some of the most popular nearby parking lots and ramps, roughly in order of proximity to the park, but note that there are tons of additional surface lots and ramps beyond these, especially if you don't mind parking a bit further away.

A-B-C Ramps: The closest you can get to the stadium. These ramps, which you can enter from side streets or directly from 394, are actually connected to Target Field, so you can get to the plaza or even into the stadium without actually having to step outside. Note that these ramps tend to fill up to capacity as gametime nears – and also that it will take some time to get out postgame. The A/B ramps fill up most quickly, and the C ramp is a longer walk, so arrive early if you'd like to avoid a more circuitous journey from your car.

Hawthorne Ramp: Another large multi-level parking ramp that is similar to the A-B-C ramps but a bit more of a walk, serving as a central hub for Target Field, Target Center, and many surrounding venues like First Avenue and the Orpheum. The interceding area between the stadium is well lit and trafficked.

4th Street North Lot: A favorite for many Twins Daily game attendees. This sizable outdoor lot rests underneath a highway overhang, with several nearby breweries and restaurants. It's relatively cheap, quite close to Target Field's northwest end, and you can conveniently pay from your phone.

Darby's Lot on 5th Avenue: Very similar in location to the above, and offers the added benefit of indoor ramp parking, although the cost is higher. We're going to continue to call it the Darby's Lot for now even though its namesake – the neighboring Darby's Pub and Grill – closed down after the 2022 season.

Park & Shop: Built to cater to downtown shoppers at Macy's and elsewhere, this lot is plenty big and almost always has capacity during Twins games. They don't charge event rates, so you'll only pay the standard $7 flat rate for night and weekend games. About a four-block walk from Target Field, this location is more convenient for those coming from the west or 35W.

Street Meters: Street meters are available everywhere in the areas surrounding Target Field. Event rates usually check in around $2.50/hour. Although they tend to have time limits shorter than a baseball game, you can download an app and add more money mid-game as a workaround. Be warned that finding open meters can be challenging, especially during weekday games.

If you're not driving to the ballpark, there are plenty of other ways to get there. Cabs, Uber, and Lyft are of course options and can drop you off right at the plaza. You can take the light rail via the METRO Blue Line and METRO Green Line with drop-offs at Target Field Station, just outside of Gate 6. There are also several bus routes that will drop you right outside the park. Learn more on the Metro Transit website.

"Best seats" means different things to different people, based on your desired price range. So we've divided this section into three different categories:

I'm Balling Out These are some of the best places to sit at Target Field if budget is no issue:

Champions Club Sections 7-10

Dugout Box Sections 1-6, 11-17

Delta SKY360 Club Sections A-R

I'm Willing to Spend for Good Seats For those who are looking to get a good experience at the ballpark but within a more reasonable price range, there are a number of recommended options:

Home Plate Box Sections 109-119

Down the Baselines Sections 101-108, 120-127

Corona Deck Patio on the Overhang Sections 139-140

Left Field Bleachers Sections 128-131

I'm Looking for Cheap Tickets and a Good Time Speaks for itself.

Home Plate Terrance and View Sections 210-219, 310-319

The Nosebleeds Sections 301-309, 320-323, 329-334

Standing Room Only (SRO)

If you're looking to stay out of the sun, or you're concerned about the weather forecast for a game you're planning on attending, here are some things to know:

In 2022, the Twins partnered with UnitedHealthcare to introduce a new sensory suite at Target Field, which offers views of the field from a secluded and quiet space with diversions available, to cater to a range of fans with sensory disorders or other neuroatypical conditions. Read Twins Daily's story about the UnitedHealthcare Sensory Suite for more details.

Here's what you need to know about this universal ballpark fixture and the options available to you at Target Field:

The ballpark offers family-friendly pricing at concession stands located near sections 133 and 327. At these locations you can get the following deals to keep costs in check, although some items may be smaller portions than elsewhere:

The most expansive selection of local beers and microbrews on draft is at the Twins Drafts counter next to Gate 34, alongside the right field plaza area. The walk-in cooler next to Gate 6 also has a good selection of local labels like Surly and Summit. (More locations coming soon.)

You can find the official list of Target Field bars and restaurants here. This is how we rank our top five favorites for 2023 and why.

Honorable Mentions: Hrbek's Pub, Jack Daniel's Bar, Townball Tavern & Goose Island Pub. Perfectly fine watering holes with no direct view of the field.

Sue the Organist: When visiting the Twins Pub at the terrace level behind home plate (first base side), you'll encounter famed ballpark organist Sue Nelson, cheerily tapping out the classics. She's very accessible and interactive, always happy to chat with the kids and pose for a photo (so long as she's not mid-tune).

Truly on Deck Postgame: The semi-enclosed right field bar doesn't have to play by the rules of Target Field's general alcohol policy (no sales after the seventh). That means you can cruise up there late in the game for an extra beer, and then hang on the balcony while the stadium is put to rest.

Memorabilia Displays in the SKY360 Club: If you can get your hands on some tickets that enable access to this interior concession and commingling area, you'll definitely want to check out the displays featuring glass-encased mementos from Twins greats. The Kirby Puckett mural in this section is also a highlight.

The Grand Old Flag: The flag pole on the plaza was from the original Metropolitan Stadium. When the Twins played at the Metrodome, it was used by a VFW in Bloomington, and they donated it back to the Twins when Target Field was created. Before each game, the US flag is raised by a veteran or active military member.

A Bit of Hoops History: The wooden part of the bar floor in the Townball Tavern was originally used for the basketball floor at the Armory, where the Minneapolis Lakers won several championships before moving to LA.

Take in Minneapolis: There are multiple balconies at Target Field on the outside of the park, where you can sit or stand and look out at the city. These include Truly, Townball and Delta 360.

Coming soon!

Learn about the signature moments in Target Field's first decade of existence

What is Target Field's bag policy? Always a common question and point of frustration among fans. Here are the details, per their website.

ALLOWED:

NOT ALLOWED:

Can I catch batting practice at the ballpark? It's a bit tricky. The Twins usually take batting practice about 2 ½ hour prior to game time, with their opponents starting an hour later. (Sometimes only one team takes BP, sometimes neither.) Meanwhile, the gates officially open for entry 60 minutes before weeknight games, 90 minutes before weekday games, and two hours before weekend games. On a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday right when the gates open, you might catch some of the home team's pregame swings.

Can I bring food or drinks into Target Field? You can bring any food into the ballpark, so long as it's not in a tupperware or hard-sided container. The rules for beverages are a bit more restrictive: "Sealed, bottled water 32 oz. or less, and soft sided single juice or milk containers for children are the only outside beverages permitted into Target Field."

What can't I bring into Target Field? The Twins list these as prohibited items for the ballpark: ball retrievers, balloons, bats, beach balls, boom boxes, brooms, fireworks, flasks, Frisbees, coolers, inflatables, laser pointers, lawn chairs, noise-making devices, weapons, wooden sticks, or rods.

Note that you can pay a fee to store any of these items, or an oversized bag, in a locker outside of Gate 6.

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