McCartney added to Target Field's All-Star summer

A perfect double play to go with its All-Star Game, Target Field will host rock's biggest living all-star, Paul McCartney, on Saturday, Aug. 2.

Tickets to Sir Paul's first Minnesota concert in nine years — and first local outdoor concert since the Beatles' legendary 1965 show at Met Stadium — go on sale Monday at 10 a.m. via the Twins' website at prices ranging from $36.50 to $250. Twins season-ticket holders will be informed of pre-sale opportunities later this week (likely Friday).

McCartney's name has been thrown around the new ballpark since it opened in 2010, and he came close to confirming in 2011. Having him the same year as the July 15 All-Star Game was mostly a happy coincidence.

"We knew we wanted to do a concert after the All-Star Game this year, and the timing of it with [McCartney] just happened to work out very well," said Twins spokesman Kevin Smith.

Target Field's two previous major concerts, both with country star Kenny Chesney, were held during the mid-July All-Star break, which was off limits for concerts this year. Coincidentally, McCartney is taking a swing through the Midwest that week. He also announced dates July 12 in Fargo (at the Fargodome), July 14 in Lincoln, Neb., and July 16 in Kansas City.

At 71, McCartney will become the only performer to have performed at all three of the Twins' ballparks, also counting a 1993 solo show at the Metrodome. This will only be the sixth time he has performed in Minnesota. The last was at Xcel Energy Center in 2005.

His arrival this time will require an all-star effort from the Twins grounds crew. It's at the tail end of a weeklong road trip for the team, with the San Diego Padres due in town just three nights later. Smith seemed confident that won't be a problem.

"We were pleasantly surprised — knock on wood — how well the turf held up" for Chesney in 2012 and 2013, he said. "Our crew has the experience now to do these things well."

One other logistical challenge: Aug. 2 is also when TCF Bank Stadium is hosting an International Champions Cup soccer match between England's Manchester City and Greece's Olympiacos.

This latest go-around by McCartney is officially part of his Out There Tour, which began last May in Brazil. Set lists have included a few tracks off last year's solo album, "New," plus his usual trove of Beatles and Wings standards, such as "Hey Jude," "Yesterday," "Helter Skelter," "Let It Be," "Live and Let Die" and "Band on the Run." He also has dropped in several lesser-played nuggets, including the Beatles' "Lovely Rita" and "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite" (which John Lennon actually sang).

For Macca's longtime Twin Cities fans, this particular concert could be bittersweet since it might be his last time in town.

"He still looks young, still sounds great, but obviously he's going to have to stop at some point not too far off," said Jill Wolfe of Golden Valley, who was 17 when she sat in the front row for Wings' 1975 stop at St. Paul Civic Center.

"It's emotional for me every time I see him," she said, "because he has just played such a huge part of my life. But this time, it's going to be over the top."

Chris Riemenschneider • 612-673-4658