OK, these two items have nothing to do with one another – other than I happened to get the IPAD and experience Target Field all in the same weekend.
First, I have been waiting for the IPAD since it was announced a few months ago. This amazing technology is going to change the way we interact with our email, the internet and a number of other applications. A few months ago, I purchased a mini notebook, and was very excited because of the amount of travel I do to not have to carry around a bulky notebook computer – not to mention my battery life in the netbook is almost seven hours!
But the IPAD has changed everything! I can easily access emails, read books, use the internet and manage my music library. I thought for about six minutes that the “Kindle” was a great piece of technology, but the IPAD makes the Kindle look like toilet paper, and if you have one of these pieces of crap, man up and upgrade. I just ordered a second one for my wife.
In addition, I have gone back to an IPHONE. A couple of years ago, someone convinced me to go away from the Iphone, and since then, i have had a dozen or so phones, including the Palm Pre and the Palm Pre Plus (which are good for teenage girls, or other brainless idiots). The Iphone has applications that I can use in my business, translates to my new Ipad, and is so easy to use. And now, it works with microsoft exchange and can integrate with all of my business applications, just awesome. Ahhhh, all Apple, All the time.
Speaking of amazing….
Ten years ago, I was employed by the Minnesota Twins. We played in the Metrodome, and the team was not very good on the field. Repeated attempts at a stadium financing plan failed and we were even rumored to be included in contraction. Many of my former co-workers still work for the Twins, and a couple of nights ago- Target Field opened for an exhibition game against St. Louis.
I had the opportunity to attend the game, and take a tour of the new ballpark. To be honest, I didn’t expect this ballpark to be on the same par with Safeco Field in Seattle, or the Ballpark in Arlington, and I certainly didn’t think it would be close to new Yankee Stadium.
I am not sure why I thought this, maybe it was the lack of a roof in Minnesota, where I always thought there should be a retractable roof.
I was shocked. I guess I shouldn’t have been. The Pohlad family, team management and the state of Minnesota always do things the right way – and the hit a home run with this new stadium.
It was great to see Twins baseball outside. The home white uniforms against real dirt and green grass. This ballpark was not designed to be retro like the dump in Baltimore, but quite the opposite – it’s modern,with restaurants and the best food service program that I have ever seen at a ballpark – anywhere (be sure to stop by Hrbeks and order a Rex Burger, amazing). Featuring local flavor, and national favorites, expanded open concourses and the best – I mean THE BEST group sales area I have ever seen (Budweiser Party Deck).
If you have a chance to get to one ballpark this Summer, with great sight lines, a panoramic view of downtown, great customer service, amazing food and oh yhea, a pretty good team – visit Target Field in Minnesota.
I have had the opportunity to visit new ballparks over the past two years (Washington DC, Philly, New Yankee Stadium, Citi Field), as well as Safeco Field, Coors Field, Fenway Park, and a host of minor league buildings. Target Field makes me wish I still cared about or even liked baseball – it is a great place to take your family, and a beautiful new gem for Minneapolis.
This is the best time of year – even with baseball starting – the MLS season is in full swing, the MISL finals just concluded tonight, the Stanley Cup playoffs are just around the corner and the NBA playoffs are coming. Then I can shut my television off and go outside.
