Twins announce plans for 2023 home opener, presented by your local Northland Ford Dealers

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL, MN – With Major League Baseball returning to downtown Minneapolis two weeks from today, the Minnesota Twins unveiled plans for the 2023 Home Opener at Target Field presented by Your Local Northland Ford Dealers – a full day of celebration on Thursday, April 6, culminating with a 3:10 first pitch against the defending World Series champion Houston Astros.

2023 Twins Home Opener seats starting at $15 remain available for purchase at twins.com, by calling 612-33-TWINS or 1-800-33-TWINS, or in-person at the Target Field Ticket Office.

The Twins’ first home game of the 2023 season at Target Field will feature some exciting debuts, including:

• New Look: The 2023 Home Opener marks the regular season debut of the Twins’ new home uniform, including the club’s tri-color batting helmet and sleek, refined “TC” mark. As part of Opening Weekend, the club’s new alternate home uniform – featuring the first on-field spelling out of “Twin Cities” by a pro sports team and a return of the Twins’ heritage cream color – is expected to be worn for the first time ever on Sunday, April 9.
• New Displays: Thursday, April 6 will be the first gameday activation of the “Scoreboard 2.0 project,” as the Twins’ most expansive Target Field renovation to date includes best-in-class LED technology for the ballpark’s new and enlarged videoboards and digital displays, along with a pair of signature elements: An updated “Minnie & Paul” Celebration Sign and a new Baseball Medallion atop the rightfield tower.
• New Eats, Drinks and Treats: The Twins will welcome several new, Minnesota-made additions to Target Field’s renowned food and beverage experience. Additionally, the 2023 Home Opener will be fans’ first chance to experience the new Creator’s Corner presented by U.S. Bank, featuring Must Be Ruff, Native Roots Trading Post and SJC Body Love.

Among the many highlights of the Twins’ daylong Home Opener festivities:

• Breakfast on the Plaza: The Twins’ opening day tradition returns as fans are invited to drive, walk or bike down 7th Street (adjacent to the Twins New Era Team Store) between 6:00 and 9:00 a.m. to grab a free ballpark-inspired breakfast. Complimentary food and beverages will be available, courtesy of Twins partners Caribou Coffee, Cloverdale Foods, Delaware North, Pan-O-Gold Baking Company, Pearson’s Candy, Pepsi, Sheboygan Sausage Company and Unilever. DJ Mad Mardigan will be spinning live on Target Plaza, while fans will also be able to hear live cut-ins from News Talk 830 WCCO, receive rally towels (while supplies last) from Bally Sports North, take photos and potentially win Home Opener and Opening Weekend tickets!
• Women in Baseball: The Twins will unveil a new art installation at Target Field dedicated to celebrating the past, present and future of women in baseball in the Upper Midwest. The installation, located outside the Town Ball Tavern near Section 229, was led by the Twins’ Women’s Initiative Network.
• Opening Weekend Gate Giveaway: The first 20,000 fans through the gates for the April 6 Home Opener, as well as the Saturday, April 8 game, will receive the Twins’ new “TC” hat, courtesy of Your Local Northland Ford Dealers. (Sunday, April 9 is “Kids Opening Day” presented by Gillette Children’s and Target, with the first 5,000 fans 12-and-under getting the club’s new “M and North Star” hat.)
• Local Music Royalty Takes the Mound: Home Opener ceremonial first pitches will be thrown by Minneapolis natives and 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. The pair, who first joined forces while still in high school, became innovators of the Minneapolis sound, an exciting blend of jazz, soul, R&B, funk, disco, early punk, new wave and dance.
• The Field Where It Happens: The National Anthem will be performed by one of the stars of the national tour of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Hamilton, which opens at the Orpheum Theatre on April 4 for a 40-show run through May 6 presented by Hennepin Theatre Trust.
• An American Hero: Technical Sergeant Don Halverson, a decorated World War II veteran who landed in Naples in October 1943 and remained fighting until November 1945, will raise the American flag. Mr. Halverson was a member of the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division, 168th Rainbow Regiment from Minnesota; these were among the first troops to go overseas to Europe during WWII, while the 34th Red Bull Division is credited with amassing 517 days of frontline combat, more than any other U.S. division. Mr. Halverson’s service has been decorated by several awards, while he is a Bronze Star Medal recipient. Mr. Halverson recently celebrated his 100th birthday.

A complete rundown of scheduled events as part of the Minnesota Twins 2023 Home Opener presented by Your Local Northland Ford Dealers:

Pregame Ceremonies (in order):

• Joining in the Home Opener spirit, a multitude of local buildings will be lit in Twins colors, including Target Plaza South, the IDS Building, the Lowry Avenue Bridge, the 35W Bridge, U.S. Bank Stadium and Allianz Field.
• Fans are invited to join the Twins for Breakfast on the Plaza (6:00 to 9:00 a.m.) and drive, walk or bike down 7th Street to grab a free ballpark breakfast, possibly win Twins Opening Weekend tickets, receive rally towels (while supplies last) from Bally Sports North, and hear live music from DJ Mad Mardigan, along with cut-ins from News Talk 830 WCCO.
• The Twins’ mural celebrating Women in Baseball will be officially unveiled outside Town Ball Tavern prior to gates opening.
• Target Field’s gates will be officially opened for the 2023 season at 1:00 p.m.
• The first 20,000 fans in attendance will receive the Twins’ new “TC” hat courtesy of Your Local Northland Ford Dealers.
• Both teams will be introduced along the foul lines, with on-field pyrotechnics accompanying the Twins’ Home Opener starting lineup.
• An In Memoriam video and moment of silence will pay tribute to those whom we have lost this past offseason. The Twins will reserve a scout seat behind home plate in memory of Mike Radcliff, the club’s beloved Vice President, Player Personnel and member of two scouting halls of fame, who passed away in February after a courageous three-year battle with cancer.
• 100-year-old World War II veteran, Technical Sergeant Don Halverson, will raise the American flag inside Gate 34 as part of the Salute to America presented by Thomson Reuters. Twins Season Ticket Holders will unfurl a second, giant American flag on the field.
• The National Anthem will be sung by one of the stars of the national tour of the Tony-Award winning Broadway musical Hamilton at the Orpheum Theatre, presented by Hennepin Theatre Trust.
• A flyover will feature two F-16 Fighting Falcons from the Minnesota National Guard’s 148th Fighter Wing, based out of Duluth.
• The ceremonial first pitches will be thrown by Minneapolis natives and 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis.

In-Game Elements Will Include:

• “God Bless America” will be performed by cast members from the national tour of Hamilton.
• In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Special Olympics Minnesota, a group from the Buffalo (MN) Community Special Olympics will lead Target Field in a rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”
• The regular season debut of the Twins’ new home uniform, including the club’s tri-color batting helmet and sleek, refined “TC” mark.
• The first game activation of the Twins’ “Scoreboard 2.0” project, including 22 new LED displays totaling more than 13.1 million LEDs (a 63% increase from 2022 and among the most extensive in Major League Baseball), the new main videoboard (76% larger than the previous display and 6th biggest in MLB), and the new Minnie & Paul Celebration Sign and Baseball Medallion.
• Fans can enjoy an extensive menu of new food and beverage options and returning favorites, including the expansion of the Twins’ “Family Value” concession stands.
• The Creator’s Corner presented by U.S. Bank will make its debut inside Gate 34, featuring three local businesses owned by women or Black, Indigenous and People of Color: Must Be Ruff (Brooklyn Park), Native Roots Trading Post (St. Paul) and SJC Body Love (St. Paul).

Tickets Available

Season, group, Twins Pass (at a special $49 per month through April 7) and single-game tickets for the Home Opener (with seats starting at $15) and the remainder of the Twins’ 2023 regular season home schedule at Target Field are available via twins.com, by calling 612-33-TWINS or 1-800-33-TWINS, or in-person at the Target Field Ticket Office.