Pressure has been mounting for Tim Walz to make a decision on whether or not he would allow fan back into the large sports and event venues in the state of Minnesota. Most notably, the Minnesota Twins have been hoping to host 10,000 fans at Target Field on Opening Day.

After a month of silence, the Governor announced today that the Twins, along with other large venues around the state, can resume hosting patrons at a limited capacity. In fact, every business that hosts guests got some good news this morning.

Gov. Tim Walz announces changes to COVID-19 restrictions, increasing capacity limits at bars, restaurants and indoor gatherings AND for you @Twins fans: up to 10,000 in the stands on opening day. @wcco pic.twitter.com/0GVEAYx7W6

— Caroline Cummings (@CaroRCummings) March 12, 2021

With Gov. Tim Walz's announcement today, the path is clear for the #MNTwins to host up to around 10,000 fans at Target Field starting with their April 8 home opener.

(Officially: 25% of capacity over 500, with a limit of 10,000 people.)

Statement from the club: pic.twitter.com/9Q9MHkapqw

— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) March 12, 2021

We’ve missed you. Welcome back, #MNTwins fans! pic.twitter.com/wqBK5LUTLP

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) March 12, 2021

Finally. This was a long time coming. Other states have had fans back in stands safely at this capacity for months and are getting ready to ramp up. But, I’ll take what Walz has given. At least we aren’t California.

There hasn’t been anything posted by the Minnesota Wild or Timberwolves on when they will start allowing fans. But based off the new guidelines, we should see a few thousand people in both the Target and Xcel Energy Centers ASAP.

UPDATE:

The Minnesota Wild and St. Paul Saints have announced when and how many fans will be allowed at Xcel Energy Center and CHS Field, respectively.

A maximum of 3,000 fans will be allowed for #mnwild home games starting April 5.
Season ticket members will be given priority to buy tickets and will be contacted directly. Fans interested in single-game tickets can visit the team's website for updates on potential availability.

— Sarah McLellan (@sarah__mclellan) March 12, 2021

Fans are the lifeblood of our organization. They are a big reason for our success for the last 28 seasons. On May 11 we look forward to hearing 2100 fans laughing, cheering and welcoming a new chapter of Saints baseball. Very excited for the entire MN sports community. #OneMN pic.twitter.com/pzqHKYVwfH

— St. Paul Saints (@StPaulSaints) March 12, 2021

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fans

It’s been a long time since we’ve seen fans in Minnesota’s vast and expensive professional and major college stadiums. In fact, it’s been about one year exactly, since the Timberwolves hosted the Pelicans on March 8, 2020 in front of a supposed sellout crowd of 18,978 people at Target Center (according to ESPN).

The last time fans were allowed in Minnesota stadium seats, the Timberwolves hosted a capacity crowd at Target Center (yes really) vs the New Orleans Pelicans on March 8, 2020. (ESPN) pic.twitter.com/XoxqyaGP1i

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) March 6, 2021

But with vaccines ramping up and COVID numbers falling, cries to open the billions of dollars worth of stadiums around the Twin Cities are growing louder. I was calling for fans over Christmas weekend but nobody cares what I think.

Now, names with much louder voices are beginning to finally be heard by Governor Walz at the Capitol.

Pro Teams Making Push

The push to open stadiums at a limited capacity begins with the professional teams around the Twin Cities. The Minnesota Twins sent plans and a request to the Governor’s office a couple of weeks ago, asking for 26% capacity (10,000 fans total).

But they aren’t the only ones. LaVelle E. Neal of the Star Tribune is reporting heavy pressure on Walz coming from the Wolves and Loons. Beating down Timmy’s door harder than anyone else though, are the Minnesota Wild, who are desperate to get fans into Xcel Energy Center to see Kirill Kaprizov in the flesh.

The Wild, in particular, is pushing hard to bring fans back to Xcel Energy Center. And barring unforeseen developments, doors could be unlocked on some local venues within the next six weeks.

LaVelle E. Neal – Star Tribune

Media Turning Too

Speaking of public pressure and LaVelle E. Neal…

Walz’ greatest ally is the media, which has stood by his side through most of this pandemic. That tide might also be turning, however, when it comes to this topic.

Just weeks ago, the aforementioned LaVelle was tweeting about how afraid he was to be sent down to Florida to cover the Minnesota Twins during Spring Training.

Welp….
Time to pack.
Time for the Twins to complete the Cruz deal.
ime to head into a state that doesn't give a crap about the virus and try to get through spring training. https://t.co/lXJ5WNxERV

— LaVelle E. Neal III (@LaVelleNeal) February 2, 2021

Tonight, that same guy dropped a piece titled “Minnesota should join other states in opening doors back to pro sports fans”. In the column, LaVelle reveals that the Governor is on the verge of agreeing to the Twins proposal for 10K fans at Target Field.

But as you can see from the title, his article is much more than that. If the sports media is turning on Tim Walz, then this issue will be all but solved shortly.

He can start with allowing more fans into Xcel for the final games of the state hockey tournaments (April 1-3), and the same for Target Center for state hoops (April 6-10). We can watch the All Hockey Hair Team videos online, but the games deserve to be seen in person by more than just a couple hundred people.

LaVelle E. Neal – Star Tribune

Pat Garofolo

On top of all this, State Representative, Pat Garoffolo introduced a bill today that would allow the Minnesota Twins (and other businesses) to operate home games in Wisconsin if Governor Walz doesn’t allow fans in Minnesota.

Wisconsin is allowing the Brewers to have fans on opening day. Unfortunately, @GovTimWalz isn't allowing the Twins to do that in Minnesota. My bill would allow the Twins to host fans at games in Wisconsin while our state waits for @GovTimWalz.https://t.co/FEhdMPDqVo

— Representative Pat Garofalo (R) (@PatGarofalo) March 5, 2021

Time to open things up, Timmy.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Minnesota Vikings Head Coach, Mike Zimmer, had a regularly scheduled zoom press conference this morning. Per usual, it was must-see TV. This time, his target wasn’t Chris Tomasson or anyone else in the media. Nope, Zim had Governor Tim Walz in his crosshairs.

On Wednesday, the Vikings announced there would be no fans at US Bank Stadium for the remainder of 2020. There’s little doubt about who Zimmer blames for that decision.

Sorry about the glitch in the middle of the video. There must be an anti-Walz program in the software I used to cut it. I’ll have it looked into…

Here's Mike Zimmer body slamming Governor Tim Walz. Sorry about the glitch in the middle. Not sure what happened…… ? #Vikings pic.twitter.com/poolINhlSM

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) November 12, 2020

Other stadiums around the country have had fans in them for months and have had next to zero spread reported. Many states have had looser restrictions, in general, and don’t have booming cases like what Minnesota has. But that’s what happens when you govern on optics and not on what makes sense.

Zimmer knows what we all know. The Minnesota Vikings are one of the most careful and COVID-sensitive organizations in the league. They were doing COVID protocols before the NFL was and helped lay the groundwork for many of the actions and safety measures the league has instituted now for all teams.

US Bank Stadium should have fans in it but it doesn’t, because of Governor Tim Walz. I’m glad we have a head football coach who is willing to call a spade a spade. In fact, I think Mike Zimmer deserves a raise and extension.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan