If you look in the dictionary under “Minnesota Nice,” you should see a picture of the Champions Club staff. The staff is not only attentive, but makes you feel like they are happy not just to serve you, but to see you at the ball park.
If, as BBRT’s banner maintains, “Baseball is like life – only better,” then the Minnesota Twins Champions Club must be “like heaven – only better.”
On July 17, as the Twins faced off against the Baltimore Orioles, I was privileged (along with my daughter Élan, son-in-law Amir and good friend Jon) to be seated (and there is a lot more to this story than good seats) in the Twins much-praised (justifiably) Champions Club section. The tickets were, on many levels, out of my league – they were a much appreciated retirement gift.
It all starts with your arrival at Target Field (I’d suggest 60-90 minutes before game time). You drive through the Champions Club lot, right up to the ball park, where a friendly valet takes your keys and parks your car. You literally exit your vehicle about 20 steps from the entrance to Target Field and the valet parking comes with the ticket. Our little group recognized immediately that we were marking new territory when it comes to baseball watching. Amir could have spent considerable time ogling the cars (pretty much every car maker’s top of the line) as they pulled up. Our Subaru Outback was a bit overmatched.
Once inside, we were greeted by a literal “host” of staff, given a Champions Club wristband and directed to the very comfortable entry room bar, where you could pick up a complimentary program and scorecard, check out significant Twins memorabilia (like the 1987 and 1991 World Series Champions trophies) and, if so inclined, order a beverage in a very relaxed atmosphere.
Our group headed through the entry bar into the spacious main dining room / bar. The atmosphere was perfect – not too elegant (Victorian) and not too trendy (Mad Men). Instead, it had a clean, classic feel – from the long bar, to the dining tables to the fireplace. Even the strategically placed big screen TVs – carrying the pregame festivities and later the game – seemed to fit right in.
Once seated, a friendly waitperson brought us ice water and took our “adult beverage” orders. The Champions Club offers a truly fully stocked bar. We opted for the tap beers and house wines – which – like the valet parking – were complimentary. Malbec for me, Pinot Grigio for Élan and Amir and Grain Belt for Jon.
Ball park fare? Artisan cheeses in the Champions Club.
Then, it was time to try the buffet – which also came with the price of the ticket (Are you seeing a trend here?). We started at the Artisan Cheese and Meat table (with various crackers and flat breads), moved on to the salads (prepared or made to order on the spot) and then to the main course(s).
Jon Miller shared a photo of his pre-game dinner. Diverse and delicious.
There was, literally, an offering for every taste: roast round of beef, walleye, Chicken Marsala, braised short ribs, sausages with grilled onions and peppers, as well as a host of sides from perfectly done vegetables to a multi-cheese pasta dish. (I know I’m missing some items, but the point is that it was large, diverse and delicious.) When we got back to the table, our waitperson quickly checked on our beverages – another round ensued and we added (among us) gourmet coffee and diet sodas. As game time approached, our waitperson switched our beverages to plastic glasses, so that we would take them to our seats (also letting us know there would be in-seat service and complimentary beverages during the next phase of our Champions Club experience.)
One beautiful ball park.
That next phase began (after Amir polished off his chocolate ice cream sundae) as we headed to our seats, just 11 rows behind home plate. Absolutely great seats in a great ball park. (I recently took in three Twins games in the often-praised PNC Park in Pittsburgh. And, while PNC is a beautiful park with its view of the Allegheny River, the Roberto Clemente Bridge and downtown Pittsburgh, I give the edge to Target Field with its combination of textures – expanses of limestone, glass and “ball park green.”)
But I digress. To get to our seats, we had to make our way past the complimentary (the trend continues) snack items: peanuts, Cracker Jack, pop corn, assorted candies, nachos, hot dogs. Our initial bounty? Malted Milk Balls, Reese’s Pieces and pop corn. Once in our seats, another attentive waitperson checked to see if we needed any additional beverages and reminded us that the dining room continued to serve until the eighth inning. (Jon and I put down a couple of brats with onions and peppers in the seventh.) Throughout the game, we saw fellow Champions Club-bers heading back into the dining / bar area to replenish.
In Champions Club Seats, you are on top of the action.
As I said, the seats were great. They were comfortable, wide and well-padded – a plus after the buffet and snack bar – and, just as important, close to the action. You felt as if you could pick the umpire’s pocket.
To cap off a great evening the Twins won 6-4 in an exciting contest. The Orioles took the lead 1-0 in the first; the Twins tied it 1-1 in the fourth; Baltimore scored three in the top of the fifth; the Twins came back with three in the bottom of the inning; and the Twins took the lead for good with two runs in the seventh. A fun and exciting win. Still, while the execution by the staff in the Champions Club was spot-on perfect, the game did have its flaws – as in two errors, one wild pitch and 15 walks. When it was over, I had one ugly score card. I did notice that no one else in the Champions Club section was keeping score (and was a bit dismayed). As a point of comparison, however, the very next afternoon I attended a Saint Paul Saints (independent minor league) game, sitting behind home plate and again saw no one dutifully scoring the game. Has “keeping the book” become a lost, archaic art? Has it gone the way of cursive? If so, “Curses,” I say.
After 3:43 of big league bliss (lots of walks makes a long game), it was sadly time to leave the Champions Club. Back to the valet parking area and, unfortunately, reality. The rating? Too bad we can only give it five stars – the Champions Club is a “Grand Slam.” And, here’s the key – the people. If you look in the dictionary under “Minnesota Nice,” you should see a picture of the Champions Club Staff. In every interaction – from valet parking to entering the ball park to dinner (food service and wait-staff) to ushers and seat-side service – the staff was not only attentive, but made you feel like they were happy not just to serve you, but to see you at the ball park. In the Champions Club, the fans are treated like champions.
My recommendation? If you ever get the chance, take in a game in the Champions Club. My commitment, if I ever get the chance to do it again – I’ll be there. In the meantime, remember: Baseball’s like life – only better – no matter what seats you have. See you at the ball park.
