MINNEAPOLIS -- Since opening in 2010, Target Field has hosted several concerts and a Minnesota United soccer match, and it is now set to host its first football game, as the University of St. Thomas and Saint John's University will play at the stadium on Sept. 23, 2017.
The Division III matchup, which will see St. Thomas serve as the home team, pits two local rivals, as St. Thomas is located in St. Paul, while Saint John's is in Collegeville, Minn. The rivalry dates back to 1901 and is regarded as one of the best small college rivalries in football.
Twins president Dave St. Peter said at a press conference on Monday that the idea has been in the works for about five years, but circumstances made it possible this time, as the Twins will be on a 10-day road trip in late September, and the date of the rivalry game didn't have to move. It also doesn't interfere with a University of Minnesota game, as the Gophers are off that weekend.
"Ever since Target Field opened, we've thought a lot about different events we could host here," St. Peter said. "There have been some college football games in ballparks. There were very few brands that were big enough to even think about playing at Target Field with the pains of playing field, the expenses and opening the building. But I think the St. Thomas-Saint John's rivalry fits that bill."
St. Peter added that the field will not have to be altered in any way outside of removing the mound and adding the goal posts. It's big enough to fit a regulation-size football field stretching from the Twins' dugout to the left-field wall. He's also confident that the field conditions won't be affected heading into Minnesota's final homestand of the season from Sept. 29-Oct. 1. St. Peter hinted Target Field could host more football games in the future, but it wouldn't be until at least 2019.
"It's admittedly a test for us," St. Peter said. "We wanted to test college football and maybe find a model that will play into November or maybe even in December. Probably crazy, but you can't think about that until you play at least one game."
The Twins are hoping to break the all-time record for attendance for a Division III game, which was set by the two schools in 2015, when 17,327 fans went to the game at St. Thomas. Six of the top 14 all-time Division III attendance marks have involved the St. Thomas-Saint John's rivalry.
The last time they played at a neutral site was at the Metrodome in 1997. St. Peter said he's hoping for at least 20,000 fans to attend, and that premium seating and suites will be available to fans.
"It allows us to play in front of a lot more people," St. Thomas head coach Glenn Caruso said. "Being able to come here and house 20,000 or 30,000 fans, and hopefully more, I think brings us to a bigger audience, which I think is important."
Tickets go on sale to the public on Dec. 13, and they range from $15-35 for the 1 p.m. CT game. There will also be 2,000 student tickets available for $10 each.
"I think it takes this game to even a bigger level than the last 10 years, which has been incredible," Saint John's head coach Gary Fasching said. "You look at the facility and how close the fans are. Our kids are excited about it."