The Twins have already sold-out more than a dozen of their 81 home dates and set a franchise record with over 22,000 season tickets, but don’t count on Target Field being expanded beyond its present capacity of 39,504, according to a Twins executive.

“I really doubt it,” Patrick Klinger told Sports Headliners on Wednesday.  “We were built on such a small foot print, 8½ acres.”

The new ballpark is surrounded by neighboring facilities and infrastructure.  “We needed a crowbar, axel grease and a good shove in the back to get it (the stadium) in,” the Twins vice president of marketing said.

Target Field’s capacity is among the smallest in the American League but fewer seats meant less construction cost.  The capacity creates incentive for ticket buyers to purchase seats ahead of time to ensure they see games of their choosing.

The Twins expect to draw more than 3 million fans to the new ballpark.  Klinger said the limited capacity will not be a financial problem for the franchise in the years ahead if demand for seats remains high and ticket pricing is adjusted to keep pace with other costs.

Except for 100 places in the left field area (Budweiser Roof Deck), no plans are in place yet for standing room tickets.  Klinger said initially the club wants to test stadium operations but may sell standing room tickets in parts of the facility later in the season.

The Twins open their regular season schedule at Target Field on Monday, April 12.  The last two Twins opening days had wintry weather in Minneapolis but it wasn’t a problem because of the Metrodome.  Klinger said if games are postponed because of weather in the series opener against Boston those games can be made up on open dates.  The three-game series against the Red Sox, April 12, 14 and 15 is sold out.

The concourses have radiant heating to help fans warm themselves.  There are protected areas throughout the stadium to minimize wind, cold and sun.

Comments Welcome

Klinger said the most frequently asked question he receives from fans involves directions, transportation and parking for Target Field.  That information can be accessed at https://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=min.

Klinger also said Governor Tim Pawlenty and the governors from Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin have been invited to the opening game on April 12.

First baseman Justin Morneau, who was injured and didn’t play during the Twins’ post-season drive in 2009, is off to an okay start in spring training hitting .263 with one home run and six RBI in 19 at-bats.

Joe Mauer’s grandfather, Jake, had successful lung cancer surgery earlier this month and is at his Florida home recuperating.  That update comes from Jake’s friend, Ralph Jon Fritz, the former WCCO TV sportscaster who lives near Jake in southwest Florida.

Gregg Wong, the former golf writer for the Pioneer Press, agrees that Tiger Woods comeback choice of the Masters is ideal.  Spectators and media are tightly controlled by tournament officials.  “It’s the most church-like atmosphere of any professional tournament,” Wong said.  “If he were coming back for the U.S. Open at Bethpage in New York he could get eaten alive.”

Wong said if there is an incident at the Masters it will be more interesting to see the reaction of caddie Stevie Williams than Woods.  Williams is known for protecting Woods.  “Tiger might glare but his caddie Stevie Williams has been the heavy,” Wong said.

Wong notes with amusement that the Masters is a fitting comeback site for Woods because Augusta National Golf Club doesn’t have female members.  If that’s bad news for the world’s most famous golfer, the good news is that a Hooters is nearby.

Comments Welcome

The Gophers basketball team that plays its opening NCAA tournament game today in Milwaukee against Xavier has three Minnesotans on the active playing roster.  Wisconsin and Wofford, two teams that play each other this afternoon in the tournament, have seven Minnesotans.

Former Gophers coach Jim Dutcher said if he were starting a Big Ten team Wisconsin’s Jon Leuer, from Orono, would be his choice for a center.

Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi said NCAA tournament revenues are divided among Big Ten teams and the Gophers don’t make any more money by being in the tournament.

Maturi told Sports Headliners he will have his annual post-season review with coach Don Lucia in a couple of weeks.  “He will be our hockey coach,” Maturi said. “If I was going to make a change, I would probably make it by now.”

The Gophers ended their season on Sunday with an 18-19-2 record, missing the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Final Five for the second time ever and first since 1998.

Harlem Globetrotters legend Curly Neal will be in town next week to promote the team’s appearance at Target Center on April 3.   Neal is from Greensboro, North Carolina, the same home town of former Gophers basketball All-American Lou Hudson.

Albert Young seems the likely Viking to move into Chester Taylor’s vacated role as the No. 2 running back.  Ian Johnson might emerge as the No. 3 back.  A rookie on the practice squad last season, Johnson signed a new contract with the Vikings earlier this year.

It will be interesting to see how run oriented Mike Tice, the new offensive line coach, and pass guru Mike Martz, the new offensive coordinator, mesh next season on the Chicago Bears staff.

The Hobey Baker Memorial Award Foundation announced yesterday the final 10 candidates for the Hobey Baker Award honoring college hockey’s top player:  Bobby Butler, New Hampshire; Marc Cheverie, Denver; Blake Geoffrion, Wisconsin; Gustav Nyquist, Maine; Mark Olver, Northern Michigan; Chase Polacek, Rensselear; Rhett Rakhshani, Denver; Cody Reichard, Miami of Ohio; Ben Scrivens, Cornell; and Brendan Smith, Wisconsin.

Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher made a positive impression on center Casey Wellman and then signed him this week to a two-year contract.  Wellman, 22, was courted by more than 20 NHL teams after recently finishing his sophomore season at Massachusetts.  He tied for sixth in the nation with 23 goals.  Wellman, whose father Brad was a major league outfielder, said a major factor in signing with the Wild as a college free agent was a visit Fletcher made with Wellman and his family.

Comments Welcome