The Minnesota Twins, in conjunction with Major League Baseball, today announced a revised 2021 Grapefruit League schedule that includes a regionalized slate of 29 games in 31 days (including 14 home contests at Hammond Stadium at CenturyLink Sports Complex). Additionally, the Twins detailed full health and safety policies for guests attending 2021 Spring Training games, while announcing the following on-sale dates to purchase single-game tickets: Exclusive Spring Training Season Ticket Holder presales begin Thursday, February 18, while remaining inventory is available to the general public beginning Wednesday, February 24.
Revised 2021 Grapefruit League Schedule
The Twins’ revised 2021 Grapefruit League schedule, created by Major League Baseball with health and safety considerations in mind, features 29 games against five opponents, all located on the West Coast of Florida to mitigate travel: Eight games apiece against the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays (both 4 home and 4 away), seven vs. the Atlanta Braves (3 home and 4 away), four against the Pittsburgh Pirates (2 home and 2 away) and a pair of contests with the Baltimore Orioles (1 home and 1 away).
Minnesota opens its exhibition slate on Sunday, February 28 with a Hammond Stadium home game against its Fort Myers neighbors, the Red Sox. The Twins also have weekend home contests on Sunday, March 7 (vs. the defending American League champion Tampa Bay Rays), Sunday, March 14 (vs. Boston), Saturday, March 20 (vs. the Rays) and Saturday, March 27 (also against Tampa). Minnesota plays a pair of night games at Hammond Stadium (both at 6:05 p.m. ET): Saturday, March 20 vs. Tampa Bay and Friday, March 26 vs. the Atlanta Braves.
The Twins conclude their 2021 Spring Training schedule by hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday, March 30, before an Opening Day border battle against the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday, April 1 at American Family Field.
Twins Spring Training Tickets On Sale February 18 (presales) and February 24 (general public)
Following approval from Major League Baseball (MLB) and Lee County, Florida officials, the Twins will welcome slightly more than 2,400 fans per game to Hammond Stadium in 2021. In accordance with requirements established by MLB and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Twins have developed a physically-distanced seating plan utilizing “pods” (sold in exact sets of 2 or 4 contiguous seats only) to maximize guest comfort and safety.
Due to limited capacity, season and group ticket plans have been discontinued this spring. Existing Twins Spring Training Season Ticket Holders will have exclusive access to purchase single-game tickets for the 2021 campaign beginning Thursday, February 18.
Remaining inventory for Twins 2021 Grapefruit League home games at Hammond Stadium will go on sale to the general public beginning at 10 a.m. CT / 11 a.m. ET on Wednesday, February 24 via twinsbaseball.com, the MLB Ballpark App or 1-800-33-TWINS. For all sales (presales and general public), seating “pods” must be purchased in their exact quantities of two (2) or (4) contiguous tickets; sales are restricted to one ticket purchaser per pod.
The Hammond Stadium Box Office will open, with modifications to facilitate physical distancing and minimize touchpoints, on Thursday, February 25. On non-game days, the box office will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET from Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET on Saturdays and Sundays. The box office opens at 9 a.m. ET on game days and will remain open through 30 minutes after the final out.
In accordance with Major League Baseball regulations, the CenturyLink Sports Complex will not be open for the public to view Twins non-game day workouts in 2021 (the only areas accessible on non-game days will be the Hammond Stadium Box Office and lower-level Merchandise Store).
Minnesota Twins 2021 Health and Safety Policies for the CenturyLink Sports Complex
The Minnesota Twins, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, Lee County officials and the club’s stadium operation partners are committed to creating the safest environment possible at the CenturyLink Sports Complex for all guests, players, staff and employees. In collaboration with Major League Baseball and public health officials, the Twins and Mighty Mussels have implemented enhanced health and safety protocols and procedures for the 2021 Spring Training season adhering to requirements and guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Below are key policies, procedures and protocols related to the 2021 Minnesota Twins Spring Training season at the CenturyLink Sports Complex (subject to change):
• Buffer Zones: “Buffer Zones” will be created between the playing field and the first row of ticketed seats adjacent to both dugouts (12 feet in distance) and bullpens (6 feet in distance). Guests are not allowed within the designated “Buffer Zones” at any time. Additionally, in accordance with Major League Baseball guidelines, all on-field personnel (i.e. players, coaches and staff) are prohibited from signing autographs or engaging in direct guest contact. Guests should NOT seek autographs at the CenturyLink Sports Complex.
• Cleaning, Disinfecting and Sanitizing: Enhancements have been made to cleaning protocol, including cleaning and disinfecting all in-use seats, railings, food and beverage surfaces, elevators and restrooms, with peroxide multi-surface cleaner and disinfectant or vital oxide, before, during and after each game.
• Concession and Retail Staff Protocols, and Partitions: Partitions will be used to separate staff and guests at points-of-sale. Concession and retail staff are required to wear a face covering over their nose and mouth at all times in Hammond Stadium (and gloves while prepping or handling food), while submitting to a health questionnaire and temperature check daily upon arrival.
• Face Coverings: All Twins and Mighty Mussels employees, all Event Staff and all guests ages two (2) and older will be required to wear a face covering over their nose and mouth to enter Hammond Stadium and at all times while in the ballpark, other than when actively eating or drinking in their ticketed seat.
• Hygiene: Multiple hand sanitizer stations can be found throughout the ballpark.
• Ingress: Half of all entry lanes will be utilized to ensure proper physical distancing between guests and staff (modifications will be made as necessary), while contactless ticket-scanning will be utilized at all gates. Bags are not allowed, with the exception of medically-necessary items, diaper bags and clutch purses (9”x5”) only. Food items are not allowed to be carried into Hammond Stadium (factory-sealed bottles of water, 32oz. or less, are accepted).
• Egress: As many gates as necessary will be open, based on crowd volume, to facilitate proper physical distancing during egress. Additionally, Event Staff will assist along all exit paths and to direct fans to avoid congestion and maintain proper physical distancing.
• Physical Distancing: All guests will be required to practice proper physical distancing (6 feet of distance) when moving about the ballpark. The Hammond Stadium Box Office (limited open windows), gates (modified entry and exit lanes), restrooms (limited capacity), retail locations (limited capacity and adjusted floorplans), and concourse and concession areas have been modified to facilitate proper physical distancing.
• Touchless Transactions: Touchless transactions (including mobile ticketing via twinsbaseball.com and the MLB Ballpark App) are strongly recommended and encouraged, while credit card purchases will not require signatures or pins to complete purchase.
For more information on the Minnesota Twins 2021 Spring Training season, please visit www.twinsbaseball.com/springtraining.
(info courtesy of Twins)