Chris Mangan

Many people are not going to miss the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, but I am.

The Dome was a terrible place to watch baseball. It is more of a football stadium than a baseball stadium; the sight lines for baseball are terrible and the concourses are tiny, but it was always one of my favorites. I’ve been to Mile High Stadium in Denver before the Rockies moved to Coors Field, Kaufman in Kansas City and the old Busch Stadium in St. Louis. I don’t remember much about those ballparks, but the Metrodome was a friend.

My dad passed his love for the Twins down to me and I have always loved baseball. I still do to this day and the Twins have always been my favorite team. I enjoy watching the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame and the Vikings, but they cannot compare to my love of the Twins.

I was three years old when my parents took me to my first Twins game. I don’t remember why we were in Minneapolis but I remember my parents telling me we were going someplace but they wouldn’t tell me where. I kept bugging them, constantly asking, “Where are we going? Are we going to a Twins game?” They kept telling me we were not going to a game and they could not tell me where we were going. In the back of my mind, I had the feeling we were going to a Twins game but I was young and naive, so I actually believed my parents.

Much to my surprise, my parents had fooled me and made me believe that a Twins game was not in my future when in actuality it was. Maybe that’s why I don’t believe my parents. Just kidding, Mom and Dad.

We walked into the Dome and to one of the section portals and I saw the field for the first time. It was love at first sight. I don’t think I stopped smiling the whole weekend.

I’ve been to the Dome many times since that day in 1989, but none compare to the first time I was there.

The last game I saw at the Dome was the first game of the 2006 American League Divisional Series against the Oakland A’s. The Twins found themselves losing late in the game with infielder Nick Punto up in a key situation. From our seats in the right field upper deck, we started a “Let’s go Punto,” chant. In typical Nick Punto fashion he struck out and the Twins lost.

The Dome provided another great memory on Oct. 6 in an epic 12-inning showdown between the Twins and Tigers. Alexi Casilla knocked in Carlos Gomez sending the Twins to the playoffs and ensuring at least one more game at the Dome against the Yankees.

Luckily, I’m not ready to say goodbye to the old friend just yet.