MINNEAPOLIS — Optimism is high every opening day, both for Major League Baseball teams that take the field and the die-hard fans who follow them.
There won't be an open seat in the place Thursday afternoon when the Minnesota Twins play their home opener at Target Field against their Central Division rivals from Cleveland. Fans who have their hearts set on attending opening day festivities are being encouraged to check back with the Target Field Box Office between now and the 3:10 p.m. game time as additional seats may become available.
The Twins say tickets are available for the remainder of the series, March 30 and 31 (both with 1:10 p.m. starts). Those seats can be purchased using the MLB Ballpark app, at twinsbaseball.com, by calling 612-33 TWINS (612-338-9467) or 800-33-TWINS (800-338-9467), or in-person at the Target Field Box Office.
Along with news of the sellout comes the 'official' pregame schedule.
- 6 to 9 a.m. – Breakfast on the Plaza – Fans are invited to drive, walk or bike down 7th Street (adjacent to the Majestic Twins Clubhouse Store) and grab a free ballpark breakfast. Complementary food and beverages will be available, courtesy of Twins partners Schweigert™, Sheboygan, Caribou Coffee, Chick-Fil-A, Fisher Nuts, Old Dutch, Mauer Sports Nutrition and Pepsi. Additionally, fans will be able to take photos, enter to win tickets, receive gift cards from Supercuts and hear a live broadcast of the WCCO Morning News with Dave Lee.
- 1:00 p.m. – Gates open – Twins legends Tony Oliva and Kent Hrbek will open their namesake ballpark entrances, joining Casey Killebrew (Harmon’s grandson) at Gate #3, franchise icon Tom Kelly at Gate 29, along with Kirby Puckett, Jr. and Catherine Puckett at Gate 34, to assist in officially opening the Target Field gates and welcoming fans for the 2019 season.
- Local vendors in the food, beverage and retail space, all hailing from throughout Twins Territory, highlight the opening of the new Gate 34 Experience.
- The National Anthem will be Minneapolis songwriter and performer Sean Tillman (aka Har Mar Superstar).
- The ceremonial first pitch will be thrown by 2006 American League MVP, four-time All-Star and current FSN analyst Justin Morneau.
- A flyover will feature two F-16s from the Minnesota Air National Guard’s 148th Fighter Wing, based out of Duluth.
- Fireworks will accompany introductions of the 2019 Twins.
- Joining in the Opening Day spirit, a multitude of local buildings will be lit in Twins colors at various points throughout the week of March 25th: the IDS Building, Nicollet Mall, the Lowry Avenue Bridge and the 35W Bridge.
