Metrodome

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Minneapolis- St. Paul International Airport (MSP)

9 miles- 20 minutes from Metrodome

 

Hotels – all options below are within walking distance of the Metrodome.

Unlimited Budget

The Grand Hotel Minneapolis

The Westin – Minneapolis

Residence Inn by Marriott - Minneapolis at the Depot

Moderate Budget

The Marquette Hotel

The Hotel Minneapolis

The Depot Minneapolis

Hilton Garden Inn – Minneapolis Downtown

 

Chaser Budget Traveler

Best Western – The Normandy Inn & Suites

Crowne Plaza - Downtown

Parking

Because the Metrodome does not offer onsite parking, Ballpark Chasers are left to park around the stadium in paid lots, garages and on the street parking.  The good news is all of these parking spaces are typically under $10 for Twins games.

Ballpark Chasers Tip: arrive early enough to find a metered parking spot close to the Metrodome. The meters are the cheapest and closest way to park, usually $5 to $7 for up to 8 hours worth of parking!

 

Dining

Hubert’s Bar & Grille is the closest sports bar to the Metrodome (across the street) and is our favorite. Filled with sports memorabilia, large screen televisions and traditional bar food, Hubert’s is a great way to fill up before the game.

Maxwell’s American Pub is also another local favorite for a pre and/or postgame meal. Maxwell’s serves up amazing comfort food, including “award winning” chicken wings and fries. No problem walking to game from here as Maxwell’s is just a few blocks from the Metrodome. Another great bar is the Town Hall Brewery on Washington Ave.  You may want to go with a cab to and from Town Hall as it is a little further out from the Metrodome (almost a mile). For those fans of microbrews, this is a must stop. The homebrews are great and the food isn’t bad either. Don’t leave without sampling the Ballpark Chasers meal:  southwest egg rolls to start, the 7 corners burger for the main course and the Masala Mama IPA to drink.

Once inside the Metrodome, the food is scary to say the least. The only concessions worth mentioning are the Minnesota Carvery and Famous Dave’s BBQ. They both serve pretty decent sandwiches and will be a welcome relief to the traditional ballpark items that are found throughout the park. If you are craving a hotdog, the “Dome Dog” is your best bet. 

Tickets

Over the past 8 seasons, the Twins have ranked in the bottom 1/3 of Major League Baseball attendance. Despite a race for a playoff spot, don’t expect things to change this season as Twins fans are already looking forward to next season’s new stadium, Target Field. Therefore, tickets are easy to come by at the box office before the game or from scalpers unloading their tickets around the neighboring streets of the Metrodome.

Ballpark Chasers Tip: Is there anything good about the stock market crashing these days? Yes! The lower the Dow closes on Fridays, the cheaper the price for Monday Twins games in the Home Run Perch sections! Market Mondays are offered for every Monday home game except April 6^th and May 25^th. Normal ticket prices in the Home Run Perch sections range between $21 and $26, so this will most likely be a great bargain throughout the season!

 

Weather

On average, the Twin Cities are the coldest metropolitan cities in the nation! If your trip to the Metrodome has you exploring the rest of Minnesota, we highly recommend planning a trip in June, July or August. Although these months tend to be the rainiest, the Twins play in a dome so no need to worry about a rainout. 

 

Local Attractions

Despite the lack of top rated attractions in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, there are a few baseball museums worthy of a visit. The Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame, located on the second floor of the St. Cloud Civic Center, is a must see for those hard-core baseball fans. The museum specializes in Minnesota’s amateur, minor league, college, high school, and Legion baseball history.  The MHOF showcases memorabilia dating back to 1857, including such items as uniforms, photos, bats, balls, programs and so much more. The Hall of Fame is open to the public and currently offers free admission! Call the St. Cloud Civic Center Office at 320-255-7272 for hours of operation.

Another free museum in the area is the Original Baseball Hall of Fame Museum of Minnesota. Founded by Ray Crump, a Washington Senators batboy and the first ever equipment manager of the Minnesota Twins, Ray showcases his collectibles from years past. This self guided museum is a must for any Twins fan, but will still captivate any baseball purist. Located across the street from Gate A of the Metrodome, stop by before the game and see Kirby’s shrine and the world’s largest Twins bobble head! Allow about 30 minutes to walk through at your leisure.

The Mall of America is our final recommendation and is a short 20 minute drive from the Metrodome. This 4 story mall is one of the largest in the world and houses over 500 stores! To put it in perspective, seven Yankee stadiums could fit inside of this building! I know; we didn’t believe it either!

 

Ballpark Chasers Trip Suggestion

Unfortunately, the Metrodome is all alone in the Northern, central part of the United States. Ballpark Chasers recommends a weekend trip to the Metrodome to allow seeing a few games as well as the local museums. However, if you are itching for a long road trip, it is possible to combine the Metrodome along with Miller Park or Kauffman Stadium. A trip to Miller Park is 333 miles or 5.5 hours away.  Kauffman Stadium is 440 miles or roughly 6.5 hours from the Metrodome. 

Save your gas (and the environment) and stay closer to the Minneapolis area by seeing an Independent League Ballpark. Just 10 minutes away from the Metrodome is Midway Stadium, home of the St. Paul Saints. Although the Saints are not affiliated with Major League Baseball, they still have a beautiful open-aired stadium with quality talent on the field. Make sure to arrive early to hopefully receive one of their memorable giveaways!