With a slew of new food offerings, a new food market, a sensory suite and a stress on local partners, the Minnesota Twins are prepping for the 2022 Target Field season.
It wouldn’t be a typical season without plenty of changes to Target Field from the Minnesota Twins; there are always enough changes from year to year to ensure that no two ballpark experiences will be the same. This year sees plenty of new offerings from local partners, as overseen by concessionaire Delaware North, include:
- Mac’s Fish (Minneapolis): A longtime Target Field partner brings its hand-battered walleye with sea salt and jalapeño-lime tartar sauce. Served with French fries. Available at Townball Tavern.
- Roots for the Home Team (St. Paul): Sue Moores and her team will be back for a 10th year, focusing on youth-driven specialty salads with ingredients grown and harvested by local farmers. Available near Section 101.
- Bub’s Gourmet Aussie Pies (Lake Elmo): Founder Jason Drysdale is bringing his Australian-inspired, hand-held savory pies to Target Field. Offerings include Chicken Wild Rice and Sloppy Joe. Available near Section 126.
- Upcycle Foods (Minneapolis): Former Target Field Chef Scott Vanden Broecke’s Italian Grinder sandwich featuring capicola, mortadella, ham, salami and provolone cheese. Served on a fresh-baked pretzel bun made with local brewers’ spent grains, a byproduct of the beer-brewing process. Available at Truly On Deck.
- Blue Door Pub (Minneapolis, St. Paul): Pat McDonough’s Cease and Desist Burger features white and yellow American cheeses and is topped with lettuce, onions and ‘Merican sauce. Available near Gate 34.
- La Tapatia (Roseville): Adobo Chicken Tacos served in soft, doubled corn tortillas. Available street- or Cali-style near Section 109.
- Soul Bowl (Minneapolis): New soul food offerings from Chef Gerald Klass include The Henry Sandwich (barbecue-braised beef, coleslaw, potato chips and a potato roll) and Summer Bowl (barbecue-braised beef, Cajun corn and Return of the Mack and Cheese). Available near Section 112.
- Turkey To Go (Minneapolis): A Target Field classic makes its return to the concession stand next to Hrbek’s (near Section 114). Offerings include juicy turkey sandwiches made famous at the Minnesota State Fair.
- Hot Indian (Minneapolis): Another longtime Target Field partner is back with a pair of new items – Chicken Tikka (seasoned, yogurt-marinated chicken breast simmered in a rich, creamy tomato curry; served with brown rice, crispy pappadum, cilantro and HI Slaw) and Vegan Channa Masala (chickpeas and Indian seasonings simmered into a mild and flavorful curry; served with brown rice, crispy pappadum, cilantro and HI Slaw). Available near Section 122.
- Food Building (Minneapolis): Delaware North’s ballpark chefs collaborated with Kieran Folliard of the Food Building to create the official grilled cheese sandwich of Target Field. The sandwich is made from bread and cheese produced from inside the Food Building, which houses artisan food businesses Red Table Meat Co., Baker’s Field Flour & Bread, and Alemar Cheese Company. Available at the new market near Section 126.
- We Are Nuts (St. Paul): Twin Cities Business’ 2021 Family Business of the Year brings a selection of its craft-roasted nuts and treats – handmade in small batches. Located at “The Market” near Section 126.
The reference to “The Market” is to a new Target Field space inside Gate 6 down the left-field line is an open-air, walk-through environment delivering both fresh hot food and pre-packaged grab-and-go items not available elsewhere in the ballpark, capped off by self-checkout stations. Worth noting: the space also contains a walk-in cooler featuring an extensive variety of canned craft beers.
The Twins are also joining the trend toward sensory suites at the sporting venue. The Twins and local firm UnitedHealthcare are offering neuroatypical ticket holders of all ages and abilities to visit the ballpark’s new UnitedHealthcare Sensory Suite. Located on the newly renamed UnitedHealthcare Suite Level, the former “Suite 1” has been completely renovated, reimagined and equipped to deliver a welcoming, compatible environment in which neuroatypical guests may find temporary respite, if needed, during games.
There are a few twists with this installation, however, according to a team press release. The Sensory Suite’s distinctive location on the suite level is meant to ensure accessibility, while also helping to ease guests’ transition back to their ticketed seats by offering a controlled, outdoor area overlooking the game. This outdoor option makes Target Field’s sensory area among a select few in professional sports venues nationally to have a view of the playing surface. On-site Twins Guest Services staff members have been individually trained to deliver appropriate and diverse assistance.
Fans won’t be impacted by this work, but other Target Field upgrades are in the works. Check them out.
RELATED STORIES: Target Field updates due in 2022, 2023; Target Field at 10; Prepping for 2022: PNC Park, Pittsburgh Pirates; Prepping for 2022: Comerica Park, Detroit Tigers