Twins hope to boost Target Field capacity for home opener

The Minnesota Twins are looking ahead to the upcoming season with the hope of bringing more fans back into the stands.

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS has confirmed the team is working to obtain 25% capacity at Target Field for this season’s home opener, which would be about 10,000 fans.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic limited stadium capacity this past year.

In a statement Monday, Gov. Tim Walz said he "is eager to get back to Target Field. If Minnesotans continue to work hard to keep the virus under control while vaccinations ramp up, we’re optimistic we can get fans back in the stands in some capacity this season. The administration will remain in close communication with the Twins."

Meanwhile, the Twins also announced the introduction of expanded features via the MLB Ballpark app, which would allow visitors to order and pay for food, drinks and merchandise in a contactless way using their mobile devices.

"Delivering opportunities for a contactless experience in as many areas of Target Field as possible is a primary factor in our ongoing discussions with Gov. Tim Walz, public health officials and Major League Baseball regarding a pathway to the safe return of Twins fans to our ballpark," Dave St. Peter, club president and CEO, said in a statement. "The ability to order and pre-pay for concessions and merchandise from your seat, on your phone, before quickly picking up your pre-packaged selection, minimizes concourse congestion and potential touchpoints, while maximizing fan safety and convenience."

The team stated pre-packaged order pickup would also be available from designated, "grab-and-go" stations as part of the contactless dining and retail experiences.

The 2021 home opener for the Twins is scheduled for Thursday, April 8 versus the Seattle Mariners, with a 3:10 p.m. first pitch.