Good start for the Twins has generated 4 smallest crowds in Target Field history

It doesn't help that Detroit and Toronto lack star power.
Good start for the Twins has generated 4 smallest crowds in Target Field history
Good start for the Twins has generated 4 smallest crowds in Target Field history /

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Another win for the Twins on Wednesday night was played in terrible weather conditions and the result was a new record-low attendance at Target Field. 

Just 11,727 fans – and that's the announced attendance – saw the Twins beat the Blue Jays 4-1 on a cold, rainy night in downtown Minneapolis. After a nearly one-hour rain delay, the game was played with temps in the 40s and a chilly mist falling, making for a miserable night to sit outside and watch a game. 

In eight home games this season the Twins have averaged an announced attendance of 17,277 fans. That ranks 24th in Major League Baseball, and the last four games are now in the books as the four smallest crowds in Target Field's history, according to the Star Tribune

  • Sunday vs. Detroit – 14,774
  • Monday vs. Toronto – 11,727
  • Tuesday vs. Toronto – 13,365
  • Wednesday vs. Toronto – 11,465

The weather wasn't ideal – game-time temps in the 40s – on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday, but Tuesday's tiny crowd is a bit strange considering it was by far the best baseball weather the Twins have had this season with temps in the 60s. 

It also doesn't help that Detroit and Toronto don't have any star power to draw in fans. 

Why pay money for see zero star players on the opposing teams when you can wait a week or a month and go see the star-stacked Houston Astros or Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angeles when they come to town?

Sorry, Toronto. Teoscar Hernandez is a nice player but most fans have probably never heard of him. 

Either way, the cure to low attendance is winning, and the Twins are off to a solid start with nine wins in their first 15 games. Some better weather with warmer temps won't hurt, either, and that should be the case when the Twins return from a six-game road trip (after Thursday's 12:10 p.m. game against Toronto) on April 26. 


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Joe Nelson
JOE NELSON

Title: Bring Me The Sports co-owner, editor Email: joe@bringmethenews.com Twitter: @JoeBMTN Education: Southwest Minnesota State University Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Expertise: All things Minnesota sports Nelson has covered Minnesota sports for two decades, starting his media career in sports radio. He worked at small market Minnesota stations in Marshall and St. Cloud before joining one of the nation's highest-rated sports stations, KFAN-FM 100.3 in the Twin Cities. There, he was the producer of the top-rated mid-morning sports show with Minnesota Vikings announcer Paul Allen.  His radio experience helped blossom a career as a sports writer, joining Minneapolis-based Bring Me The News in 2011.  Nelson and Adam Uren became co-owners of Bring Me The News in 2018 and have since more than tripled the site's traffic and launched Bring Me The Sports in cooperation with the Sports Illustrated/FanNation umbrella. Nelson has covered the Super Bowl and numerous training camps, NFL combines, the MLB All-Star Game and Minnesota playoff games, in addition to the day-to-day happenings on and off the field of play.  Nelson also has extensive knowledge of non-sports subjects, including news and weather. He works closely with Bring Me The News meteorologist Sven Sundgaard to produce a bevy of weather and climate information for Minnesota readers.  Nelson helped launch and manage the Bring Me The News Radio Network, which provided more than 50 radio stations around Minnesota with daily news, sports and weather reports from 2011-17.