Season Opener vs. Seattle Mariners

Love it or (more likely) hate it, the Metrodome is in its final season as home to the Twins. And when they take the field Monday against the lowly Seattle Mariners, it will be the team's last home opener under the glare of the white, air-supported roof. Regardless of your feelings about the stadium, it's bound to be something of a sentimental night, as the countdown of games left in the dome clicks down to 80. Like any recent year for the Twins, their future success—of lack thereof—seems up in the air. After a mediocre spring training, and star catcher Joe Mauer being hindered by a back injury that will simply not go away, the early part of their season might not be stellar. Still, any fan worth his salt will want to witness the beginning of the end of the Twins' time at the Homerdome. And what would a home opener be without a giveaway? The first 40,000 fans get a magnet season schedule, and the first 15,000 get a "Dome Memories" pennant to commemorate the evening.
Mon., April 6, 7:10 p.m., 2009