Last weekend I was fortunate to have my first Twins spring training experience. My friends and I had tickets to see a game at Hammond Stadium, the team's spring home in Fort Myers. The day before the game, we decided to drop by and see what it's all about.
We were pleased to find the facility was open and free to the public. We watched batting practice and a few scrimmage games between Twins and Orioles prospects, with some star power sprinkled in (most of the pros were playing an away game that day).
Imagine seeing the likes of Justin Morneau and Jim Thome taking cuts with only a chain link fence between you and them. It was like watching little league only with big names.
Meanwhile, legends like Paul Molitor, Tom Kelly and Tony Oliva milled around the complex, coaching and evaluating young talent. Athletes far outnumbered fans, with only 15-20 of us there. The vibe was friendly and laid back. A fellow fan told us Hammond Stadium is the best spring training facility in Florida.
This experience was probably more memorable than the actual game we attended the following day. The level of access we enjoyed strengthened our bond to the Twins and is definitely getting word-of-mouth mileage from me.
A reminder that while the discussion of business openness and transparency often revolves around social media, there are plenty of ways to achieve that in real life as well.
By the way, this did result in a sale. The pro shop was open too, so I stopped in and bought a Twins hat.
