Target Center

Target Center

Address	600 First Avenue North
Location	Minneapolis, Minnesota
Coordinates	44°58′46″N 93°16′34″W / 44.97944°N 93.27611°W / 44.97944; -93.27611Coordinates: 44°58′46″N 93°16′34″W / 44.97944°N 93.27611°W / 44.97944; -93.27611
Public transit	Warehouse District/Hennepin Ave
Owner	City of Minneapolis
Operator	Anschutz Entertainment Group
Capacity	Basketball: 19,356 Hockey: 17,500 Concerts: Up to 20,500
Surface	Multi-surface
Construction
Broke ground	July 12, 1988
Opened	October 13, 1990
Renovated	2004 & 2014
Construction cost	US$104 million ($189 million in 2016 dollars[1])
Architect	KMR Architects, Ltd.
Structural engineer	Ericksen Roed and Associates, Inc.
Services engineer	Gausman & Moore[2]
General contractor	M.A. Mortenson Company
Tenants
Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA) (1990–present) Minnesota Arctic Blast (RHI) (1994, 1996) Minnesota Fighting Pike (AFL) (1996) Minnesota Lynx (WNBA) (1999–present) Minnesota Valkyrie (LFL) (2011–2013)
Website
http://www.targetcenter.com/

Target Center is a multi-purpose arena located in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. Target Center hosts major family shows, concerts, sporting events, graduations and private events. Target Corporation is the original and current naming rights partner of the arena. Seating over 20,000 for a concert, it contains 702 club seats and 68 suites.^[3]

The center is home to the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves^[4] and the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx.^[5] The facility has also hosted the LFL's Minnesota Valkyrie, the RHI's Minnesota Arctic Blast and the Arena Football League's Minnesota Fighting Pike in the past.

History

The interior before a Timberwolves game

Minnesota Lynx on the Daktronics scoreboard, part of the 2016 renovation

Management

Original Timberwolves owners Marv Wolfenson and Harvey Ratner built, owned and operated the arena for five years beginning in 1990. The venue was managed by Ogden Entertainment after the city of Minneapolis purchased the arena in 1995.^[3] Glen Taylor acquired the Timberwolves in 1994 and the Lynx in 1999.^[6]

In 2000, SFX (later Clear Channel Entertainment) took over the contract.^[7] The management was changed in May 2004 from Clear Channel to Midwest Entertainment Group, a joint venture of the Timberwolves and Nederlander Concerts.^[3]

On May 2, 2007 AEG Facilities assumed the management contract of Target Center. The city of Minneapolis owns the arena and AEG Facilities manages day-to-day operations.^[8]

Renovations

In 2004, Target Center underwent a major renovation that saw the replacement of all 19,006 of its original seats plus the addition of nearly 1,500 new seats as well as the reconfiguration of the lower bowl to make the arena more fan-friendly. In addition the arena's original scoreboard was replaced with a new state-of-the-art 9-by-16 foot video screen and state-of-the-art LED signage, LED signage on the upper deck fascia, a new luxury lounge (Club Cambria) and improved access for fans with disabilities.^[9]

Target Center was once one of three NBA arenas with parquet floors, including TD Garden in Boston, and Amway Arena (later Amway Center) in Orlando—the floor was replaced prior to the 2008 NBA season.

Target Center is the first arena to have a green roof. It was unveiled on September 15, 2009.^[10] In February 2011, the Timberwolves and the city of Minneapolis introduced a $155 million proposal to remodel the Target Center. Plans included shifting the main entrance to the corner of 6th Street and First Avenue, two large glass atriums, another restaurant, and a complete remodel of the interior.^[11] The plan was approved in 2012 by the Minnesota Legislature, as part of the bill that authorized a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings.^[12][13]

On April 3, 2015, the Minneapolis City Council gave the final approval for renovation plans for Target Center. The total cost will be $128.9 million, which will upgrade the exterior, seats, technology and loading bays, among other areas. The city will contribute $74 million. Glen Taylor, owner of the Timberwolves and Lynx, will pay a total of $49 million; AEG will contribute $5.9 million. As a result, the Timberwolves' lease will run until 2035.^[14]

Events

In 1999, Target Center hosted the "People's Celebration" inaugural event for Gov. Jesse Ventura. The event drew 14,000 people, and included performances by Jonny Lang, Warren Zevon, and America.^[15]

The Professional Bull Riders held a Built Ford Tough Series event at Target Center during the 2003 and 2006 seasons.

It hosted the 1994 NBA All-Star Game, the 1995 NCAA Women's Final Four and the 2000 NBA draft.

The Target Center held the memorable UFC championship UFC 87: Seek and Destroy in August 2008, which featured the Welterweight title match where Georges St-Pierre defeated Jon Fitch.

The Target Center recently hosted one of its most successful events of the year, with the Winter Wonder Slam Tour, which featured tobyMac, Skillet and Shonlock. Despite the economic downfall in the Rock industry, especially for concerts, Skillet sold out the building; in the midst of a snowstorm.^[16]

The Target Center hosted the Rally for the Republic convention organized by the Campaign for Liberty, a movement founded by Texas Congressman Ron Paul, who ran an unsuccessful bid for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination. Among the attendees of the convention included former Governor of Minnesota Jesse Ventura, Barry Goldwater, Jr., and former Governor of New Mexico Gary Johnson.^[17]

The Target Center is home to the Target Corporation Annual Sales Meeting, events which host more than 10,000 retail managers and employees near Target's corporate offices.

In 2011, Target Center played host to its first championship event, the 2011 WNBA Finals. The Minnesota Lynx won their first two games on their home floor, and ultimately won the WNBA Championship, the first title won by a team that played in Target Center.^[18]

Target extended its naming rights agreement through 2014 in September 2011.^[19] In 2012, a "Target Dog" neon sign was installed to face towards Target Field as a home run celebration sign.^[20]

Ice Hockey

Target Center hosted 6 neutral site NHL games during the 1993–94 NHL season. The International Hockey League's Minnesota Moose played several of their games at Target Center during their existence from 1994 to 1996. The Boys' State High School Hockey Tournament was held at Target Center in 1998 and 1999. In June 2012, it was announced that the arena would play host to the future NCHC tournament games starting in 2014.^[21]

Notable events

• Garth Brooks performed nine sold-out concerts in October 1998,^[22] and eleven in November 2014.^[23]
• The highest attendance for a single event in the arena's history was the 2005 U2 concert, totalling 20,200 people.^[24]
• The highest grossing one-day event was UFC on August 8, 2009.^[24]
• The highest grossing multi-performance run was Billy Joel and Elton John in May 2001.^[24]
• The highest attendance for a Minnesota Timberwolves home game came against the Los Angeles Lakers during Game 4 of the 2004 NBA Western Conference Finals, with 19,188 people in attendance.^[24]
• WWE has held many events at this venue and is best known for SummerSlam 1999, Judgment Day 2005, Bragging Rights 2010 and Elimination Chamber 2014.
• Founding member of The Beatles and Hall of Fame artist Paul McCartney performed at the arena on May 4, 2016 during his "One On One" tour. A second performance was later added, taking place on May 5, 2016.^[25]

The Target Center hosting a Rage Against the Machine concert.

U.S. Bank Theater

Target Center can convert into a 2,500-to-7,500-seat theater known as the U.S. Bank Theater. The Theater contains a moveable floor-to-ceiling curtain system that allows the venue to be transformed based on specific show needs. In addition to concerts, the U.S. Bank Theater can also be used for family and Broadway shows.^[26]

Transportation and location

Target Center is a block away from the following Metro Transit stations:

• Warehouse District/Hennepin Avenue station of the METRO Blue and Green lines
• Ramp A/7th St. Transit Center that serves 11 bus routes
• Ramp B/5th St. Transit Center that serves 10 bus routes

The arena is also across the street from the well-known Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue and an entertainment complex known as Block E. Target Field, the home of Major League Baseball's Minnesota Twins, is located just across the street from the Target Center, and shares the public parking that the arena also uses.^[27]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Target Center.

• Official website
• Target Center Renovation, Official by the Target Center.