[Mpls] Twins Stadium

[David Brauer]

On Apr 25, 2005, at 12:16 PM, Steve Cross wrote:

> I'm curious about two factoids regarding the new Twins stadium.  Does 
> someone know:
>
> (1) What is the current baseball seating capacity of the HHH Dome vs. 
> the proposed new stadium?

With the curtain up in the Dome, it seats 48,000. The new stadium will 
seat 42,000.

> (2) What is the number of luxury boxes at the HHH Dome vs. the number 
> at the proposed new stadium?

115 suites in the Dome - not sure how many in the new ballpark.

> It was my understanding all along that what was driving the quest for 
> new stadiums by both the Twins and Vikings was the "need" to vastly 
> increase the number of luxury boxes.  If the total seating is less and 
> the luxury boxes is about the same, then WHY is any new stadium even a 
> good idea for the Twins?

2 reasons.

One is that, regardless of the number of boxes, the Vikes own the 
Metrodome boxes and the Twins would reap the revenue from any in the 
new ballpark. So to the Twins, this is all new money.

Two is that it isn't really the number of boxes, or seats - it's what 
you can charge for them. The Dome has a ridiculous number of "bad 
seats" for baseball - a huge percentage are in the upper deck outfield. 
The new stadium would have more lower-deck infield and also upper-deck 
infield. Therefore, your average seat price will rise even if you don't 
raise prices - which of course, in a new ballpark, they will.

So to recap, the Twins will profit three ways:
1. They'll get suite rental revenue instead of none currently.
2. The average seat will be better so the average price will go up.
3. They'll increase seat prices for the "new stadium effect" and that 
will raise the average price further.

Trust me - I've been to new parks - while there are some cheap seats, 
the cost of getting inside will inspire sticker shock. The distribution 
of ticket prices is a major issue for the public to keep track of.

David Brauer
Kingfield