At the end of the day I think it could have been worse but I'm with Spicer, why Target Field right behind Target Center? I love target as much as the next girl, maybe more but that's a little much. It would be more fun if the names meant something. When they were brain storming names for the hockey arena everyone was concerned about what the call would be. I was among the many that said again "It could have been worse". At least the Xcel Energy Center is catchy and has the word "Energy" in it. What about a vote? Have the people of the Twin Cities chime in. Spicer have any other MLB franchises let the public vote on the name of the stadium?

I like Kirby Pucket Field much better. Does Target really need to advertise more? My friends 4 year old daughter makes requests to go to Target for crying our loud. I think they're doign all right without taking over down town MPLS!
So to recap down town MPLS has Target HQ, a huge Target store, The Target Center and now Target Field. Why don't they just paint bulls eyes on all of the buildings and call it "Target Town" and call it a day:)

What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

Listening to Dave St Peter on the broadcast mentioning that one of the things that appealled to the Twins franchise (aside from the millions of dollars) was that both Target and the Twins put their Minnesota roots down in 1962 and 1961 respectively - in an odd way that seems sensible to me. If you recall with Fenway and Wrigley, they were named after the owners. Personally I'd rather not go to Pohlad Park.

Technically, I think the new Yankee will be Yankee Stadium at (corporate name) Plaza. The Cubs owner even bandied about the idea of renaming Wrigley much to the public's chagrin. So the corporate naming rights is probably inevitable. Fenway will be Dunkin Donuts Field at Fenway Park by 2012. Count it.

SPR- I do not think that any stadium name has come to a vote however the people of Toronto were able to vote on the name "Blue Jays".

Lest we forget, Major League Baseball is a business...I happen to like to be proud of the fact that I come from a place where Target reigns supreme - however, I would have preferred to have the name be Target Park...sure, Kirby Puckett is loved by all (most), so can't we have Kirby Dogs which are short, plump and juicy and hardly fit in the bun? Can't we have Killebrew Corner somewhere in the outfield? Our love for the game overshadows the notion that it is a business, big business, and corporate sponsors bring in money.

As an aside, nice Shakespeare quote by the Captain.

Sugar Pop- Please see Twins Fan '81's comment. In addition, I believe the Seattle MLS team had a fan voting for their moniker this year. Of course, should I be given the chance to name a soccer team, I'd probably go with something akin to, "The Minnesota We Play a Sport Where We Don't Use Hands Except For the Dude With the Gloves."

Captain- But will that rose frost in (hopefully) Octobers to come? Hell, with the $100 mil they look to get from Target, they'll have the almost exact cost -- over time -- for that retractable roof.

Twins Fan '81- From what I've gathered, it's just "New" Yankee Stadium, with no sponsorship deals. I've included a link to a solid ballpark site. Furthermore, it's interesting to note that their park also was designed by HOK Sport out of K.C.

Naming rights after a hometown hero would be nice, but after all, this is (unfortunately) a business. Another 5-10 million a year to the Twins may help them get that one player we need to get to the top. Plus, even though I really don't like the way professional sports is becoming corporate, at least we have a well respected hometown business supporting our hometown team.

judd you ignorant slut....i like the extra revenue and just pray that it will going to players salaries...wrigley, by the way did ok as a chewing gum co and not just the owners name.

I personally like it. Think of all the 7th inning stretch possibilities..."You could win a $50 Gift Card to Target for hitting the bullseye in Center Field..." There is nothing more that I would love than to win GiftCards to my favorite store!!!

I'm with you on this one Juddy. Puckett field would've been a truly fitting name for this field. I'd even take Twins Stadium or better yet how about an unpronounceable glyph, in the spirit of our very own Prince Rogers Nelson? In any case, I think it's a little obnoxious to have yet another Target stadium and I pray they go easy on the logo placement- but somehow I doubt that will happen.

personally, i think it's a great idea. they should put up a billboard just off of 94 there going into downtown "Welcome to Downtown Minneapolis - Courtesy of Target." with the ballpark, arena, plaza inbetween the two, the HQ not too far from there - and the store on Nicollet...they've got a good thing going. They're local, recognizable and reputable. Northwest Airlines might have been a good choice - but the way the airline industry is these days, maybe not.

Malone- A few months back while sifting through some old sports card and such, I came across a "Ken Griffey Jr. Bar." How long does chocolate keep? More than 20 years, I'm hoping. I still have my Wheaties World Series boxes with the cereal still in them. Will weevils have formed? The Kirby Dog sounds good, albeit with fleeting nostalgia once the last onion is chewed.

Duke- Chew on this: although the Cub's park is indeed named for the eponymous gum magnate (who was not the initial owner), the name Wrigley Field isn't considered a corporate sponsorship. There's no sugar exchanged for the name of the park.

Naming rights sucks, but I would have made an exception in one case: General Mills buying the rights to call it

"Wheaties Field of Champions"

Judd!
Couldn't hardly agree more with you and the sentiments, but being that sports, corporations and business...basically everything that the an average hard working individual that makes under 40k could understand that billions or millions that goes into such things
Unfortunately as you indicated, the name will have a lot of sound bites and great gimmicks, but if you think that will get the Pohlads to spend more...well then fans need to head right over to the Pharmacy..cause its not going to happen. So grab the Tylenol and enjoy an environment where the rich get richer, and fans become idiots...but hey! i just enjoy minnesota sports "excluding the timberwolves"..i'll give them a shot this year as well, but do not expect championships...cause with Target! You're right on the money, and fans will continue to expect more, while the owner will still pay less...

Kirby Dogs - short, plump, juicy - hardly fit in the bun...

I totally disagree with your premise. What is wrong with selling the naming rights to the stadium? It makes money and hopefully keeps other fan costs down. Business is business. Kirby can be remembered by a bronze statute similar to Hank Aaron in Atlanta or Jordan in Chicago outside or in the respective stadiums and arenas. He was not nearly as important to his sport as those guys.

1) Wrigley, in Chicago, is a corporate name.
2) Corporate naming is about brand recognition via national and international media, it's not about local advertising.

Do I like the name? Not really, but you seem to be missing Target's purpose in this investment.

Patrick- Maybe "Cheerios" if we get shutout?

Efe- Your point will be highly interesting to view as it fleshes itself out in ensuing years. Will the increased revenue translate into a larger payroll? Will be start snaring some of those big name free agents? Time will tell.

Mark Cuban- There will be tributes to past greats on the 6th Street entry plaza. To see a fine rendering of such, please click here:

http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/downloads/new_ballpark_cosmopolitan_design.pdf

Shaitan- Wrigley is a corporate name, but not a corporate sponsorship. To see a list of said sponsorship in pro sports' venues, please click the link.

Kirby Dogs, HEERRREE, Getchyour Kirby Dogs, HERE! Plump, juicy, Kirby Dogs, Here...

Kirby dogs... get your grabby at ladies in the bar..dogs

I guess it's better that "Expect More Hits, Pay Less for Players" Stadium!!!

There's a lot worse names than Target Field...

Take this spoof video for deepdiscountpcmemorwarehouse.com field

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwhPTJMzzBc

Naming rights as stated above, truly do suck! Although my stock in the company, even these days, is still doing well (thanks target)

Yet, one name I like is the old drink: RHONDO. Whose ad jingle was Rhondo: the THIRST CRUSHER.

I could imagine a giant old 70s can of Rhondo at Left Field that was mechanically demolished whenever hit.