Mike FriedmanLuxury at a Baseball Game
The moment of panic was just that: a moment. It only took me a second to realize that I didn’t have my keys because I had given them to the valet who ran up to take my car after I had entered through the private, gated entrance. This was a luxury at a baseball game “panic moment” at the Minnesota Twins Champions Club.
Minnesota Twins Champions Club
I wouldn’t blame you if you guessed that I was at an old-money luxury hotel, where people still ate hors d’oeuvres with a raised pinky, but you would be wrong. I was at Minneapolis’s Target Field to see a Twins game, and I had lucked my way into two tickets to the Thomson Reuters Champions Club (Minnesota Twins Champions Club).
Every day, we read about athletes who make tens, or even hundreds of millions of dollars because they can throw a ball faster than anyone else or shoot three-pointers at a forty percent success rate. As salaries have gone up, teams have found a way to pay them by creating newer and more luxury seating options than ever. Forget the traditional box seat. Every stadium has sections which is just as much about the experience as it is about the game, with a price tag to match.
Some of these options are gimmicky, like the seats on Fenway’s Green Monster, while others are once-in-a-lifetime experiences, such as a fully-stocked private suite at your favorite team’s stadium.
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The VIP Treatment at Target Field in Minneapolis
It’s easy to pay tens of thousands of dollars for you and fifty of your closest friends to have an unforgettable day, but some of us don’t have that kind of cash to throw around (or drink enough of the free alcohol to make it worth the cost of entry). If you’re looking for luxury at a baseball game at a more modest price, several parks now offer all-inclusive packages, with premium seats, free food & drinks in specialty restaurants and lots of people to suck up to you, a la Mr. Hollister in Pretty Woman.
Target Field (Minnesota Twins Champions Club) isn’t the only stadium to offer an all-inclusive experience. For instance, Seattle’s KeyBank Diamond Club has similar seating (and it’s excellent). But the Champions Club was where I found myself today, so that’s what you get to hear about.
Tickets: $250 and up, if You Can Find Them
Even in Minneapolis, good things don’t always come cheap. You can’t buy Minnesota Twins Champions Club seats through the team’s website. You can only put yourself on a waitlist for season tickets.
Fortunately, if you want them, you can almost always find them on a resale site, such as StubHub. I’ve never seen them below $250 per ticket, and that’s before the reseller’s onerous fee. But here is some of what you’ll receive for your cash:
Private Everything – Luxury at a Baseball Game
On most days, crowds are no fun. At a sporting event, they can be downright miserable. Fortunately, you won’t have to deal with them. You’ll pull up to a gated entrance and show your tickets. The guard will direct you to the valet, who will take it from there.
You’ll pass through a set of metal detectors and into the entrance hall, which is filled with Twins memorabilia and really nice people. That’s the great thing about the service here: Minneapolitans are such naturally nice people that their graciousness is genuine. No artificial sucking up required.
You Won’t Go Hungry. Or Thirsty.
After passing through the entrance, you’ll move right into the private lounge, which is really a medium-sized restaurant. All food and almost all of the beverages are complimentary. (premium liquor and specialty beers cost extra).
Bring an appetite. The Twins’ website describes the offerings as “five-star quality dining and beverage service.” I wouldn’t go quite that far, but how sophisticated do you want your hot dog to be, anyway?
Of course, it’s more than ballpark food. Pick up a plate and you’ll rotate from kielbasa to brisket to barbecue ribs. There’s even a taco stand. Not a carnivore? Don’t worry, there’s plenty for you, too. My son piled his plate high with cut-up fruit, avocado salad and goodies from the deli & cheese station.
Still, it’s a baseball game, so you need the snack food. You’ll get to choose from the peanuts, popcorn and cracker jacks, or take all three if you like. Throw in some nachos and you might not even make it to the brisket.
For those who are into sweet instead of salty, you have a full dessert table, as well as an ice cream sundae station and bins of penny candy. Here’s a hint: Grab a disposable coffee cup and a lid from the coffee station, and fill it with gummy bears for your spouse. They’ll appreciate it.
Oh, wait, I almost forgot. There’s a baseball game to see…
Luxury at a Baseball Game
Take Me out to the Ballpark – Luxury at a Baseball Game
Everything until this point has just been the prologue to the main event: an actual baseball game.
The Champions Club consists of four sections with 10-12 rows each. My section was as far up the third baseline as you get, which is behind a batter’s box. If you are in one of the front rows, you’re actually closer to the batter than the pitcher is!
Seats are, of course, more comfortable than you’d normally find at the ball park. They’re padded, extra-wide and have enhanced leg room. It’s the Premium Economy of ballparks, it’s luxury at a baseball game.
You’ll have to get up to use the bathroom, but that’s about it. Need another drink? No problem. There are servers constantly walking through the area and the drinks are all free. Under 21? My son helped himself to a Shirley Temple. Sun bothering you? No problem. The ushers were handing out little packets of sun screen.
Your tickets will allow you access to almost any area of the park, so if you tire of baseball, feel free to take a walk around the stadium. Children might enjoy the Kids Zone, which is in section 231, while out-of-towners can head over to Barrio in deep left field, which allows you to check up on other games. If you have kids, try to get to a Sunday game, since children are allowed to run the bases after the game. Sadly, adults are not.
The Overall Experience Is Excellent – Luxury at a Baseball Game
The Champions Club is not an inexpensive proposition, but that’s the point. It’s an indulgence that gives you access to an experience that most people will never have. Whether it’s the exclusivity of the seats, the free buffet or the incredible level of service, the Twins (and other clubs) are offering a luxury product at an unexpected location.
