Since the Twins’ last outdoor baseball game in 1981 at Metropolitan Stadium, also known as “The Met,” fans were skeptical at first about the outdoor atmosphere of Target Field. However, Target Field has made a great impression on Twins fans and baseball fans alike as one of the top stadiums in Major League Baseball.

With Twins fever in full force on campus—as evidenced on Tuesday by the overnight lines to secure tickets to the upcoming Campus Activities Board-sponsored Twins game—Gusties need not look any further for a review of brand new Target Field from a Twins fanatic and stadium aficionado. The new home of the Twins is a fantastic facility and serves as a gem of a ballpark for all of Twins Territory to enjoy.

My favorite part about Target Field is how unique it feels. While the majority of stadiums built during the recent “ballpark boom” have a retro feel that hearkens back to baseball’s glory days with brick shrines that honor a bygone era, Target Field is distinctly modern. The fancy signage and futuristic-looking sun canopy combine with the large amounts of glass and limestone to present a unique ballpark experience. I also find it fascinating how the Twins were able to borrow various elements from so many other ballparks and yet make Target Field stand out like none have ever seen before. Target Field features the only finished concourse ceilings in Major League Baseball, providing fans with another classy looking feature in place of the typical wiring and concrete found overhead at every other ballpark. And of course, you wouldn’t be watching baseball in Minnesota unless you had a stadium with heat lamps. Yes, Target Field has lamps that line the ballpark’s concourses to ensure that even on cold days, fans are secure from the elements.

Another aesthetically pleasing element of the Twins’ new $522 million home is its use of Minnesotan furnishings. Kasota limestone makes up a large portion of the ballpark’s exterior and has a presence within the stadium as well. The fir trees in centerfield also hail from Minnesota. In addition to a state-of-the-art video board that is the fourth largest in all of Major League Baseball, the stadium is also home to a large out-of-town scoreboard that occupies the facing of the right field wall.

Perhaps the most quirky feature of the ballpark is its overlook section in right field which juts out eight feet over the warning track and features a limestone facing that is sure to someday provide some interesting bounces for well-hit balls.

The other striking feature of Target Field is how urban it feels. Wedged into one of the smallest parcels of land ever used to construct a stadium in all of professional sports, the ballpark truly becomes part of the city which immediately surrounds it.

Many local eateries stand to benefit from Target Field’s proximity, including the new Hubert’s Bar and Grill that now occupies the former site of NBA City, as well as former Twins player Roy Smalley’s 87 Club. In addition, transit options abound, with the popular form of transportation being the Hiawatha Line Light Rail trains that drop fans off on the doorstep of Target Field just beyond the left field bleachers.

Of the 37 different Major League ballparks that I’ve been in, Target Field easily ranks in my top five. The new home for the Twins has many unique features that set it apart from other ballparks, such as its food options. As far as I’m aware, there is no other stadium that can compare with Target Field’s vast array of food. The bonus is that many food choices are distinctly Minnesotan, from typical choices such as wild rice soup, pork chop on-a-stick and walleye fingers, to offerings from local eateries such as Murray’s steak sandwich, Kramarczuk’s sausage and chili from the Loon Café. The ballpark also houses three restaurants that are open to the public, including the Town Ball Tavern, Hrbek’s and the Twins Pub, with the Town Ball Tavern being home to a large piece of wood floor that was once played on by the Minneapolis Lakers of the NBA.

Target Plaza is sure to be a hit with those who visit Target Field. Lying just outside the main entrance to the ballpark, Target Plaza connects Target Field to Target Center, and it is open year-round to the public. The wind veil that  occupies the plaza and aptly carries the name “The Wave,” covers the Target Center parking ramp and gives fans a neat sight as its hinged panels flutter in the wind and give off the illusion of a Minnesota lake. This piece gives the stadium an artsy feel and looks especially cool at night when it is lit up in changing colors.

Also on Target Plaza are three player sculptures commemorating the likes of Harmon Killebrew, Rod Carew and Kirby Puckett, in addition to a giant bronze glove commemorating every Twins player to win a Rawlings Gold Glove Award for defensive prowess. “The Glove,” as it’s already been termed by fans, has quickly become the most photographed object in the ballpark.

Target Field is also home to another pair of signature ballpark elements. The “Celebration Sign” that resides just above the batter’s eye lights up after key plays are made by Twins players. The sign symbolically links the franchise’s storied past with the present by displaying the team’s original emblem of ballplayers from Minneapolis and St. Paul shaking hands over the Mississippi River as well as the new Twins logo unveiled this past offseason. The giant display also lights up at night, allowing the crowd to watch Minnie and Paul shake hands after a home run is hit. Also, the right field porch is home to the flag pole from the Twins’ original ballpark, Metropolitan Stadium. A plaque at its base commemorates the journey of the flagpole and adds a unique historical perspective to the facility.

The 39,504 seat facility also features a number of unique elements in its design. The team’s administrative offices make up the left field corner at Target Field, with the Budweiser Roof Deck crowning the structure. This party deck offers a fire pit and unimpeded views of the Minneapolis skyline. Seats located down the third baseline also offer stunning views of the downtown skyscrapers. The new Twins ballpark also boasts the first wood-backed seats in a Major League ballpark since World War II, which reside in the club level and right field seating areas.

The ballpark recently became only the second stadium in the country to achieve LEED Silver certification for its environmentally sustainable design. In addition to using many recycled materials to erect the structure, the ballpark also houses a giant cistern that collects and filters rain water which allows the team to water its field with recycled water. Target Field boasts the same number of recycling bins as trash bins, allowing fans to recycle their plastic bottles and such. The stadium also benefits from the nearby Hennepin Energy Recovery Center, with steam being provided through a network of pipes in order to help heat the field.

The fan experience as it pertains to viewing the game is superb. After attending seven of the first nine baseball events at the ballpark and partaking in hundreds of discussions with other fans, I have concluded that there simply aren’t any bad seats in the entire facility. Even the standing room areas in the outfield and surrounding the Captain’s Deck bar in left field offer excellent views of the action on the field.

Unlike the Metrodome, every seat is angled toward home plate, allowing for better sightlines and fewer sore necks. The concourses at the Twins’ new ballpark are nearly twice as wide as those of the Metrodome and offer an open view of the field from all parts of the ballpark. Target Field has one of the smallest amounts of foul territory of any stadium in baseball, allowing fans to sit closer to the action. Add to the mix that the Twins are currently playing like one of the best teams in baseball, and it’s easy to see why Target Field is sure to be a hit with fans in its inaugural season.