Twins hold ceremony to unveil All-Star logo

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins moved one step closer to hosting next year's All-Star Game, as they unveiled the official logo for the 2014 Midsummer Classic in a special ceremony on Tuesday at Target Field.

The logo focuses on the structure of the ballpark within downtown Minneapolis, and it features the club's core colors of navy and red, with a tan skyline and a blue sky. The tan skyline represents the quarried limestone used throughout Target Field, while the sky blue is symbolic of a clear Upper Midwest sky. The retaining keystone shape is inspired by the Twins' historic "Minnie and Paul" logo that represents the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

"I think it speaks to the urban nature of Target Field," Twins president Dave St. Peter said. "This is a great ballpark, and one of the things that makes it great is that it is downtown. When we're home, it brings energy to the city."

The logo was unveiled during an on-field news conference, with many top Twins and Major League Baseball executives on hand -- including Twins owner and CEO Jim Pohlad, MLB executive vice president for business Tim Brosnan, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and vice chair of the Minnesota Ballpark Authority Martin Sabo. American League All-Stars and Minnesota natives Joe Mauer and Glen Perkins as well as four-time All-Star Justin Morneau were also there for the ceremony.

"Major League Baseball joins the Twins franchise in anticipating a first-class week of events for the fans of Minnesota and their communities as a part of the 85th All-Star Game," Commissioner Bud Selig said. "We look forward to delivering a memorable experience and applauding our game's very best at Target Field next July 15."

"The Twins are honored to host the 2014 All-Star Game events," Pohlad said. "Even before opening Target Field in 2010, we dreamed of hosting this incredible event. With this logo unveiling, we're one step closer to making this dream a reality."

The 2014 All-Star Game marks the return of the Midsummer Classic to the Twin Cities for the first time in nearly 30 years.

The last time it was held in Minnesota was in 1985, with the National League defeating the AL, 6-1. LaMarr Hoyt won Most Valuable Player honors for pitching three scoreless innings at the Metrodome, which was the home of the Twins from 1982-2009.

That event came 20 years after the '65 Classic at Metropolitan Stadium, the outdoor home of the Twins from 1961-81. The NL won that one, 6-5, despite a two-run homer from hometown favorite and Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew.

"On behalf of Commissioner Bud Selig and the other 29 clubs, we can't tell you how thrilled Major League Baseball is to bring the Midsummer Classic back here to the Twin Cities for a third time," Brosnan said. "The 1965 game had 18 Hall of Famers playing in it, with names like [Hank] Aaron, [Roberto] Clemente, Killebrew, [Sandy] Koufax, [Mickey] Mantle and [Willie] Mays, and in '85, there were 14 Hall of Famers at the Metrodome. So you can expect a full roster of potential Hall of Famers here next summer."

But since the Twins last hosted a Midsummer Classic, the All-Star Game has evolved into one of the biggest events in sports, with a week full of activities including charity events, the All-Star FanFest, the Futures Game, the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game itself.

It's expected to have a major impact on the local economy, with an estimated economic impact of $191.5 million this year in New York and a $60 million impact in Kansas City last year. The All-Star Game also raised $6.5 million for charity efforts in New York this year.

"This is not just about the game," Rybak said. "This is a five-day experience. Major League Baseball has done a great job of making this accessible to many people."

Target Field is considered one of baseball's crown jewels, with ground being broken on the $545 million stadium on Aug. 20, 2007. It officially opened on April 12, 2010, with 38,145 fans on hand to see the Twins beat the Red Sox, 5-2.

The ballpark, conveniently located in the Warehouse District of downtown Minneapolis, currently holds 39,021 fans, with 54 private suites and 12 group party suites, as well as popular areas such as the Champions Club, Legends Club and the Budweiser Roof Deck in left field. New drink rail seating was added in right field near Target Plaza before this season, lowering the official capacity from its original total of 39,504.

"We are very honored to host the 2014 All-Star Game," Pohlad said. "It's about baseball, baseball fans, the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Target Field, Hennepin County, the Twin Cities metropolitan area and the state of Minnesota. I assure you the Twins will do everything we can to make all of those groups proud for the 2014 All-Star Game."