 | |
 Target Center in August, 2016 | |
| Address | 600 First Avenue North |
|---|---|
| Location | Minneapolis,Minnesota, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 44°58′46″N93°16′34″W / 44.97944°N 93.27611°W /44.97944; -93.27611 |
| Public transit | Metro Transit: Blue Line Green Line atWarehouse District/Hennepin Avenue C Line |
| Owner | City of Minneapolis |
| Operator | Anschutz Entertainment Group |
| Capacity | Basketball: 18,798 Hockey: 17,500 Concerts: Up to 20,500 |
| Surface | Multi-surface |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | July 12, 1988; 37 years ago (July 12, 1988) |
| Opened | October 13, 1990; 35 years ago (October 13, 1990) |
| Renovated |
|
| Construction cost | US$104 million ($277 million in 2024 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 Lynx (WNBA) (1999–present) Minnesota Arctic Blast (RHI) (1994, 1996) Minnesota Moose (IHL) (1994–1996) Minnesota Fighting Pike (AFL) (1996) Minnesota Valkyrie (LFL) (2011–2013) Minnesota Myth (AFL) (2024) | |
| Website | |
| targetcenter | |
Target Center is a multi-purposearena located inMinneapolis that opened in 1990. It hosts major family shows, concerts, sporting events, graduations and private events.Target Corporation, founded and headquartered in Minneapolis since 1902, has held thenaming rights to the arena since its opening.[3]
The arena has been the home to theMinnesota Timberwolves of theNational Basketball Association (NBA)[4] since its opening and is currently also the home of theMinnesota Lynx of theWomen's National Basketball Association (WNBA).[5] TheMinnesota Myth and the Target Center announced that the Myth would be playing their home games there for the2024 Arena Football Season though only one game was for the team was played in the Arena until the team folded during the season.[6] The facility has also hosted theLFL'sMinnesota Valkyrie, theRHI'sMinnesota Arctic Blast, theIHL'sMinnesota Moose, and theArena Football League'sMinnesota Fighting Pike in the past.
Target Center is the second-oldest arena in the NBA afterMadison Square Garden, which was built in 1968.[7]
Original Timberwolves owners Marv Wolfenson and Harvey Ratner built, owned and operated the arena for five years beginning in 1990. The venue was managed byOgden Entertainment after the city of Minneapolis purchased the arena in 1995.[3]Glen Taylor acquired the Timberwolves in 1994 and the Lynx in 1999.[8]
In 2000, SFX (laterClear Channel Entertainment) took over the contract.[9] The management was changed in May 2004 from Clear Channel to Midwest Entertainment Group, a joint venture of the Timberwolves andNederlander 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.[10]
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 9-by-16-foot (2.7 by 4.9 m) video screen and LED signage, LED signage on the upper deck fascia, a new lounge (Club Cambria) and improved access for fans with disabilities.[11]
Target Center was once one of three NBA arenas withparquet floors, includingTD Garden inBoston, andAmway Arena inOrlando—the floor was replaced prior to the 2007–08 NBA season.
Target Center is the first arena to have agreen roof. It was unveiled on September 15, 2009.[12] 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.[13] The plan was approved in 2012 by theMinnesota Legislature, as part of the bill that authorized anew stadium for theMinnesota Vikings.[14][15]
On April 3, 2015, the Minneapolis City Council gave the final approval for renovation plans for Target Center. The total cost was $140 million, which upgraded the exterior, seats, technology and loading bays, among other areas. The city contributed $74 million.Glen Taylor, owner of the Timberwolves and Lynx, paid a total of $60 million; AEG contributed $5.9 million. As a result, the Timberwolves' lease will run until 2035.[16] The renovated building reopened in October 2017.
On August 7, 1990, it was announced that Minneapolis-based retail chainTarget had purchased the naming rights of the Timberwolves' arena and that it would be called Target Center. Since then, the naming rights have been renewed every five years. Target last renewed its naming rights in October 2015 for an undisclosed length of time.[17]
It hosted the1994 NBA All-Star Game, the1995 NCAA Women's Final Four,2000 NBA draft and the2018 WNBA All-Star Game. It had been slated to host an NCAA Men's Regional Final in 2021, but on November 16, 2020, the NCAA announced that it would hold theentire tournament in one city, seeming to rule out Minneapolis. The Target Center hosted the2022 NCAA Women's Final Four.[18]
In 2011, the Target Center played host to its first championship event, the2011 WNBA Finals. TheMinnesota Lynx won their first two games on their home floor, and ultimately won theWNBA Championship, the first title won by a team that played in Target Center.[19]
On April 20, 2022, it was announced that the Target Center will host theBig Ten women's basketball tournament in 2023 and 2024 and theBig Ten men's basketball tournament in 2024.[20]
The NHL'sMinnesota North Stars refused to move into Target Center upon its opening due toconflicting soft drink rights (their home at the time,Met Center was served byPepsi whereas Target Center's pouring rights belonged toCoca-Cola).[21][22][23] Despite this, the arena did host 6neutral site NHL games during the1993–94 NHL season after the North Stars' departure to Dallas, including one in which the Stars participated. TheInternational Hockey League'sMinnesota 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 futureNCHC tournament games starting in 2014.[24] The NCHC moved the tournament toGrand Casino Arena (home of the Twin Cities' current NHL franchise,Wild) in nearby St. Paul starting in 2018.
| Date | Winning team | Score | Losing team | Score | OT | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 9, 1993 | Dallas Stars | 6 | Ottawa Senators | 1 | 14,058 | |
| December 31, 1993 | Philadelphia Flyers | 4 | Boston Bruins | 3 | 10,855 | |
| January 17, 1994 | Detroit Red Wings | 6 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 3 | 8,764 | |
| March 4, 1994 | Winnipeg Jets | 6 | Ottawa Senators | 1 | 6,388 | |
| March 18, 1994 | Buffalo Sabres | 2 | New York Islanders | 2 | (OT) | 8,016 |
| March 27, 1994 | New Jersey Devils | 5 | Quebec Nordiques | 2 | 6,222 |
The arena has been a popular venue that has hosted many concerts, including artists likeTaylor Swift,Billy Joel,Celine Dion,Garth Brooks,Lana Del Rey,Justin Bieber,Megan Thee Stallion,Elton John,Twenty One Pilots,Katy Perry,Melanie Martinez,Charli XCX,Dua Lipa,The Spice Girls,Doja Cat,One Direction,Sabrina Carpenter,Metallica,Pantera,Paul McCartney,Nicki Minaj, and Minnesota legendPrince.
WWE has held many events at this venue and is best known forSummerSlam 1999,Judgment Day 2005,[25]Bragging Rights 2010,Elimination Chamber 2014,TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2017 andTLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2019. Notably, the venue held both the Raw and Smackdown tribute shows commemorating the life and career ofEddie Guerrero after his death in November 2005.
Professional wrestling promotionAll Elite Wrestling taped an episode of their weekly television showAEW Rampage at the center on November 12, 2021.The center also hosted that year's edition of their annual pay-per-view eventFull Gear, which occurred the following day.[26]
The Target Center held the memorableUFC championshipUFC 87: Seek and Destroy in August 2008, which featured the Welterweight title match whereGeorges St-Pierre defeatedJon Fitch.[27]
On October 5, 2012,UFC on FX: Browne vs. Bigfoot was held at the venue.
On June 29, 2019,UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. dos Santos was held at the venue.
In 2016, the arena hosted the Kellogg's Tour of Gymnastics Champions.[28]
In 2024, the arena hosted theUS Olympic Trials for gymnastics for the2024 Summer Olympics in Paris from June 27 to 30.[29]
In 1991, the center hosted the1991 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, where skaterTonya Harding became the first American woman and second in the world to land a tripleaxel jump in competition. Harding took home the gold medal.
In 1999, Target Center hosted the "People's Celebration" inaugural event for Gov.Jesse Ventura. The event drew 14,000 people, and included performances byJonny Lang,Warren Zevon, andAmerica.[30]
TheProfessional Bull Riders held aBuilt Ford Tough Series event at Target Center during the 2003 and 2006 seasons.
The Target Center hosted theRally for the Republic convention organized by theCampaign for Liberty, a movement founded by Texas CongressmanRon Paul, who ran anunsuccessful bid for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination. Among the attendees of the convention were formerGovernor of MinnesotaJesse Ventura,Barry Goldwater Jr., and formerGovernor of New MexicoGary Johnson.[31]
The Target Center is home to theTarget Corporation Annual Sales Meeting, events that host more than 10,000 retail managers and employees near Target's corporate offices. In 2018,Dave Matthews performed a short set at the event.
PresidentDonald Trump held a rally at the arena on October 10, 2019.[32]
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live hosted their Glow Party event at the arena on November 19, 2022.[citation needed]
Target Center can convert into a 2,500-to-7,500-seat theater known as the U.S. Bank Theater. The Theater contains a movable 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.[34]
Target Center is a block away from the following Metro Transit stations:
The arena is also across the street from the well-known Minneapolis nightclubFirst Avenue.Target Field, the home ofMajor League Baseball'sMinnesota Twins, is located just across the street from the Target Center, and shares the public parking that the arena also uses.[35]
| Events and tenants | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Home of theMinnesota Timberwolves 1990 – present | Succeeded by current |
| Preceded by first arena | Home of theMinnesota Lynx 1999 – 2016 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Home of theMinnesota Lynx 2018 – present | Succeeded by current |
| Preceded by first arena | Home of theMinnesota Fighting Pike 1996 | Succeeded by last arena |
| Preceded by | Host of theNBA All-Star Game 1994 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Host ofSummerSlam 1999 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Host ofWWE Bragging Rights 2010 | Succeeded by final |
Authority control databases: Geographic |
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