Tim Mahoney
I’ve been lucky to witness a lot of stadium openings in my day, but nothing—nothing—felt quite like Target Field in 2010. So I called up my old buddy Tim Mahoney, who’s owned The Loon Café across the street since ’82, to see if my memory matched reality. It did. From fans chanting “Outdoor Baseball!” in the rain, to Twins legends bringing their kids into the bar to relive ‘87 and ’91, Tim reminded me this wasn’t just a stadium—it was a spark. A handshake deal here, a mural there… That place didn’t just bring baseball back to Minneapolis. It brought magic.
You owned The Loon since ’82, and you were there through the Metrodome years. When Target Field was built, how did that impact the city?
It changed everything. Most people grew up with the Dome, so watching outdoor baseball was a novelty. People would leave town to catch a game at Wrigley or Kansas City just to feel that outdoor vibe. So when Target Field opened—on this little plot of land downtown that somehow fit a ballpark—it completely revitalized downtown. The economic impact was tenfold. If the Twins had left the city or state, it would’ve been devastating. Instead, there was this huge burst of excitement.
That first home game, it rained—and no one left their seats. People started chanting “Outdoor Baseball!” That’s when I knew: we had arrived.
What stood out about that opening day, April 12, 2010?
The game was at 3:05. We opened at 11:00 and were packed by 11:30. The excitement was unreal. Opening Day in baseball is already special—every team has a shot, the weather’s turning. But combine that with a brand-new stadium? Pure euphoria. I’ve done Opening Day for every team in town, and nothing compares.
How did the new stadium affect your business?
It transformed us. At the Dome, we'd see a little boost when stars like Johan Santana pitched. But Target Field brought consistent summer traffic. It turned games into social events. We were no longer just a lunch and happy hour place—we became part of the Twins experience.
Even more than that, the players were part of the community. In ’87 and ’91, guys met their wives at The Loon. They hung out there. That kind of connection is rare. I remember Tom Brunansky and some guys came in with their families after one of the first games, and I brought down this mural of the ’87 and ’91 teams for them to sign. They sat there telling stories to their kids—each picture had a story.
That doesn’t happen everywhere.
Exactly. Jack Morris used to come in after every game. After his legendary 10-inning World Series game, he came in the next day just to say thanks. He told me, “I can be the biggest jerk, but your people have always been great.” That stuff’s special.
And now The Loon has a chili stand inside the stadium. That’s not typical. Usually it’s corporate.
Totally. We pitched it, didn’t hear anything back, then met Pete Spike from Delaware North. Eventually we worked it out—no contract, just a handshake. Dave St. Peter himself came in and said, “Everything good on your end?” I said yes, we shook hands, and that was that. It’s still that way. That doesn’t happen in sports. That’s community.
And that’s what Target Field is. It still looks brand new. It’s one of the greatest stadiums in baseball.
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More from Tim Mahoney
NOTE: The above was edited for clarity and length.
You can read the full transcript here.