Twins home opener: Food, parking and what to leave at home

Updated: April 5, 9:37 a.m. | Posted: April 4 11:30 a.m.

If you want to enjoy every minute of the Twins' home opener at Target Field Thursday, you're going to need to plan ahead.

When

The game starts at 3:10 p.m. against the Seattle Mariners. Gates open about 90 minutes before the first pitch. There are five gate entrances at Target Field, each on the main level. All are handicap-accessible.

After their win Wednesday, the Twins are tied for first in the AL Central with the White Sox. Both have a 3-2 record. The Mariners' record is 3-2, and they sit third in the AL West division.

Where

Target Field is in Minneapolis' Warehouse District. The stadium has a capacity of 39,504. The game is sold out.

Getting there

You can drive, bike, bus or take the Green or Blue light rail lines, which both have a Target Field stop. Rush hour rates are $2.25 each way. You can plan your trip here.

Biking to the ballparks is encouraged. Bicycle stands are available on the promenade and at various locations around the ballpark.

Where to park

There's a lot of parking in and around the field. Stadiumparkingguides.com lists some of the best prices, including $5 at 731 S. Marquette Ave., or $6 for RBC Plaza Garage. Both are within a 15-minute walk to Target Field.

There are also event zones near Target Field, with special metered parking rates.

Rates closest to the stadium charge $2.50 an hour, while fees farther away are about $1.50 an hour. Check out this map for more details.

If you're using metered parking, remember you can download Minneapolis' mobile app that lets you add more time to your meter from your phone.

You can also use pay-ahead parking apps like Parking Panda to find available spaces.

What you can bring

Soft-sided containers and bags 16 inches by 16 inches by 8 inches or smaller are permitted. Hard-sided coolers are not. Sealed water bottles 32 ounches or less, and soft-sided single juice or milk containers for children are the only beverages allowed in. Umbrellas are allowed into the park, but they can not be used in the stands once the game starts.

All bags and containers are subject to search as fans enter the stadium.

There is no smoking inside Target Field. Electronic cigarettes also are prohibited.

Swag

The first 30,000 fans at the game will receive a free hoodie.

And layering will be important since it could be one of the coldest first games for the Twins on record.

Keep in mind that cold weather exposure can increase risk to hypothermia or frostbite.

Dress in layers, with one layer that wicks sweat away, a middle layer (maybe you can add a brand new hoodie) to insulate heat, and outer layers that can repel wind and moisture. Check out this guide for more information.

And it's important to have plenty of liquids.

Where to pre-game

The city has set the northeast portion of downtown as a tailgate-friendly zone, from the Mississippi River to Sixth Street, and from 11th Avenue to Fourth Avenue east to west.

Food and drink inside the park

You can bring food inside the park, but it must be in food containers that are soft-sided and fit under your seat. Outside food is not allowed inside a restaurant, club lounge or suite.

Target Field has dozens of eateries and plenty of beverage options.

This year, the park added a new dining area called Bat and Barrel, which replaces the Metropolitan Club dining area.

There are vegetarian and gluten-free options as well.

Remember to take your identification if you will be drinking alcohol. There are numerous ATM stations in the park and most restaurants and food stations take major credit cards.

Re-entry

If you leave the ballpark, you can't re-enter.

No ticket, no problem

Of course, you might decide to enjoy the game from the comfort of your couch. You can watch the game on Fox Sports Network or listen to the game on the radio at WCCO AM 830.

And if you miss the opener, no worries: There are another 156 games left in the season, and 81 of those games are at home. The next one is at 1:10 p.m. Saturday.

Correction: (April 4, 2018): A previous version of this story incorrectly reported the ballpark's re-entry policy. The story has been updated.