As MLB teams pour massive amounts of money and resources into enhancing the experience at ballparks, this partial paradox has emerged: Faster games this season have improved the pace and general feel of being at a ballpark in the eyes of many fans, but by definition the experience is now shorter than it used to be.
One adjustment some teams — including the Twins — have already made to games that have been about 30 minutes shorter than last year: Alcohol sales have been extended to the eighth inning at several ballparks, including at Target Field.
The previous standard at Target Field and around MLB before this season was to cut off sales in the seventh inning. But with games flying by — Tuesday's 4-3 Twins win, which went 10 innings, checked in at a brisk 2 hours, 23 minutes — teams have a shorter window to sell concessions.
