MINNEAPOLIS -- Long before the 2014 season began, many preparations had been made for this year's All-Star Game, which will be held later this month at Target Field.
In fact, well before the downtown Minneapolis ballpark was opened in 2010, the Minnesota Twins were already looking ahead to hosting the midsummer classic. So while there will be plenty of finishing touches to be made in the next few weeks -- painting logos on the field, adding an extra press box, and making Target Field look shiny and new -- the 2014 All-Star Game will be the culmination of many years of planning and hard work.
"I think truth be told we've been thinking about an All-Star Game for Minnesota dating back to probably 10 to 15 years ago," said Twins president Dave St. Peter. "We knew that if the ballpark was built here that an All-Star Game would soon follow."
Sure enough, in August of 2012, MLB commissioner Bud Selig announced that Target Field would indeed host the 2014 All-Star Game. Much work has been done since then to get the Twins' home park ready for baseball's best players.
This marks the third time Minneapolis has hosted Major League Baseball's All-Star Game, but the 2014 edition will undoubtedly be the grandest of the three. Back when the game was played at Metropolitan Stadium in 1965, the nine-inning game itself was the only All-Star festivity to speak of. Twenty years later, when the Metrodome hosted in in 1985, the Home Run Derby was introduced.
Now, the All-Star week also includes the Futures Game, a celebrity softball game, a FanFest and plenty of other events throughout the week. It's not just about one game anymore. It's an entire week-long celebration.
"It's an amazing event," Selig said. "I'll tell you what it is. It's a celebration of baseball."
The Twins also hope to make it a celebration of Minnesota. While the game itself will be played in Minneapolis, St. Paul will also take part in the week's events. Those arriving from out of town to attend the festivities will be greeted by All-Star displays at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport as well.
The All-Star Game will be a chance for the Twins to not only show off their ballpark to fans in attendance, but also to represent Minnesota to the rest of the world. More than 200 countries will be tuning in FOX to watch the game. The Home Run Derby and Futures Game will both be televised as well. And those tuning in will all have their eyes on Target Field and the state of Minnesota.
"We're going to try to raise the bar on this game, try to make it as Minnesota-centric as possible," St. Peter said. "There will be challenges with that but I tend to view them more as opportunities and we couldn't be more excited about having it. It'll to be a busy time but I'm optimistic when we're looking back on the All-Star Game that we'll do so with great pride and one with knowing that we did it right."
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