MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL, MN – With college football returning to the American sports landscape this weekend, the Minnesota Twins and North Dakota State University are proud to present the first-ever Division I game played at Target Field. Presented by Pioneer, the defending FCS national champion NDSU Bison will host Butler University on Saturday, August 31, with kickoff slated for 3:00 p.m.

Tickets are available and can be purchased at twinsbaseball.com, by calling 612-33-TWINS (612-338-9467) or 800-33-TWINS (800-338-9467), or in-person at the Target Field Ticket Office.

Target Field gates open at noon on Saturday and pre-game festivities will begin with a 1:00 p.m. concert, hosted by Cenex®, featuring country artist Jordan Davis. The gold-certified singer will perform his hit songs, including “Take It From Me” and “Singles You Up,” before engaging with fans around Target Field. Davis will return to the stage later in the day for a halftime performance.

Saturday’s game will mark the first-ever meeting between NDSU and Butler, and will be the 2019 season opener for both teams. It will be the second college football game played at Target Field, following the September 23, 2017 contest between St. John’s University and the University of St. Thomas that set the all-time NCAA Division III attendance record with 37,355 fans.

The Twins’ recently enacted new entry policies will be in effect. Football fans coming to Target Field are reminded to plan ahead, arrive early and consider all the transportation options available, whether you plan to drive, take transit, bike or walk. The day’s timeline is below:

North Dakota State vs. Butler, Presented by Pioneer – Saturday, August 31 at Target Field

• 12:00 p.m.: Target Field Gates Open
• 1:00 p.m.: Pre-game Concert, Hosted by Cenex, Featuring Gold-certified Country Artist Jordan Davis
• 2:00 p.m.: Warmups
• 2:45 p.m.: Gold Star Marching Band Pre-game Show
• 3:00 p.m.: Kickoff

• *About NDSU**

North Dakota State University is a student-focused, land-grant, research university located in Fargo, N.D., with an enrollment of approximately 14,000. NDSU has a storied history of athletic success including 27 team national championships since 1965 in football, women’s basketball, wrestling, softball, men’s cross country and women’s indoor track and field. Competing in NCAA Division I since 2008 as a member of The Summit League and Missouri Valley Football Conference with an affiliate membership in the Big 12 Conference for wrestling, the Bison have won seven football national championships, made four NCAA men’s basketball tournaments, 10 softball regionals and one super regional, three NCAA women’s volleyball postseason appearances, NCAA regionals in baseball, women’s soccer, and men's and women’s golf while producing several All-Americans in track and field, cross country and wrestling.

About Pioneer

Pioneer, a business unit of Corteva AgriscienceTM is the world’s leading developer and supplier of advanced plant genetics, providing high-quality seeds to farmers in more than 90 countries. Pioneer provides agronomic support and services to help increase farmer productivity and profitability and strives to develop sustainable agricultural systems for people everywhere. Science with Service Delivering Success®.

About Cenex

Cenex®, the energy brand of CHS, provides high-quality refined fuels through nearly 1,500 locally-owned convenience store locations across 19 states. Consumers depend on Cenex fuels, lubricants, propane and renewable energy products to power homes, businesses and communities. CHS, Inc. (www.chsinc.com), which owns the Cenex brand, is a leading global agribusiness owned by American farmers across the United States with domestic and international operations including energy, agronomy, grain trading and food processing.

About Target Field

Target Field, home to Major League Baseball’s Minnesota Twins, is one of the premier sporting and entertainment venues in the Upper Midwest, and one of the most unique, spectacular parks in all of baseball. The ballpark was named Sports Facility of the Year in 2011 by the Sports Business Journal and was recognized as having the best game day experience in all of sports by ESPN The Magazine in 2010. Known as the “Greenest Ballpark in America,” Target Field achieved LEED Gold recertification in 2019. Since its opening in 2010, the ballpark has hosted MLB’s Postseason (2010), the MLB All-Star Game (2014) and multiple non-baseball related events, including concerts and music festivals, along with international soccer matches and NCAA football games.