When it comes to hosting events, Minneapolis sets itself apart as a host city. The city earned its stellar reputation by successfully hosting large-scale events, including Taylor Swift’s sold-out Eras Tour last year, which set new records for event attendance and hotel occupancy. With a population of around half a million and several Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the city or nearby, Minneapolis combines the infrastructure and variety of an urban center with the approachable charm of the Midwest, thanks to many venues’ dedication to partnership with local brands and makers.
“Minneapolis is a standout meeting and events destination for three key reasons: accessibility, affordability, and versatility,” says Christy Loy, Meet Minneapolis senior vice president of destination sales. Loy notes that throughout her career, meeting and event partners have often cited these factors as the reason they choose to host in Minneapolis and why they return year after year.
“Versatility is our secret weapon,” she continues, explaining that large events can take over the city while smaller-scale events fold in nicely with the urban and sophisticated residential lifestyle that is a staple of Minneapolis. “Attendees here can experience the best food, art, culture, sports, live music, and outdoor adventures in the U.S., all within a mile of their hotel or convention venue,” says Loy. “Our attendees continually express that Minneapolis is a city of too much to do!”
Minneapolis is built for convenience, and its transportation options make it easy to navigate. The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is widely regarded as one of the most liked airline hubs in the country, and is located less than a half hour from downtown by car or Metro Transit light-rail. The light-rail system connects key locations in the Metro area, including the airport, Mall of America, downtown St. Paul, the University of Minnesota, and popular neighborhoods. Attendees also might make use of the city’s skyway system to get around downtown. It is a 9 1/2-mile network of enclosed walkways that links buildings throughout the area, ensuring that inclement weather does not interfere with plans. The skyway links many downtown venues and hotels.
“There is a saying here that ‘everything is 15 minutes away,’ which is true most of the time,” says Kara Sherman, director of catering for Hotel Ivy, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Minneapolis. “Also, our downtown area is quite walkable year-round despite the weather. The skyway system not only provides function, but it also provides a communal experience for attendees while offering points of interest and entertainment as well.”
One of the city’s most comprehensive and capable spots for hosting grand gatherings is the Minneapolis Convention Center, a sprawling facility with over a million square feet of space designed to host conferences, expos, and other large-scale events. This year alone, the convention center hosted the American Physical Society March Meeting and the U.S. Olympic Team Trials–Gymnastics, among others.
For the Olympic trials, the center’s events team created a memorable attendee experience by allowing the festivities to spill out onto the sidewalks and streets of downtown. “That week included incredible work from [sports commission] Minnesota Sports and Events, including four blocks of a Parisienne-themed market on Nicollet Mall and a Fan Zone outside Target Center, complete with gymnastics activations, music, food, and photo opportunities for fans of all ages,” says Loy.
Gather at the Game
The Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area is one of the few metropolitan areas in the country that boasts a professional team from the MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL. In addition, the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) Minnesota Frost hockey team has brought a new generation of Minnesota sports fans into the fold, attracting even more business downtown, although they play their games at Xcel Energy Center across the Mississippi River in St. Paul. Minnesota fans cheer on their favorite teams in top-notch sporting venues that double as hosts for concerts, conferences, showcases, and many other types of gatherings. This enthusiasm for the state’s sports teams makes athletic centers in Minneapolis even more attractive to event planners and attendees; they are able to host larger and more sophisticated events each year. The largest sports arena in Minneapolis is U.S. Bank Stadium, a towering glass-roofed NFL stadium in the heart of downtown that hosted the 2018 Super Bowl and more recently, Mortensen Construction’s 70th anniversary and Ecolab’s 100th anniversary celebrations in its spaces.
“An NFL football stadium as a backdrop is an incredibly unique setting for any type of event,” says Ann Dunne, assistant general manager for U.S. Bank Stadium. “Our team can provide assistance in securing tours of U.S. Bank Stadium and appearances from the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders, Skol Line [a drum corps], Vikings legends, and even Viktor, the Vikings’ mascot. Some planners choose to lean in on the football theme, where others are searching for an elevated experience to impress their guests in our luxury spaces.”
Target Field and Target Center are named for the retail giant headquartered just a few blocks away. Target Field is home to MLB’s Minnesota Twins and has sweeping views of the downtown skyline, as well as flexible spaces that range from outdoor concourses and club-level suites to the stadium’s luxurious Legends Club. Plus, its catering menu includes selections from Kramarczuk’s Sausage Co., walleye fingers, wild rice, and beers from several craft breweries.
Nearby, Target Center hosts the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves, plus the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx. This stadium provides a similarly impressive setup for both sporting and nonsporting events. And no matter the size of your gathering, Target Center has you covered. The arena’s modern lighting, acoustics, and adaptable seating arrangements accommodate everything from concerts and large conferences to intimate meetings and private receptions.
Cultural Connections
Those looking for upscale ambience with a local touch can turn to Minneapolis’ distinctive hotels, each of which offers a personalized approach to every event. In Minneapolis’ North Loop neighborhood, the boutique Hewing Hotel partners with regional sculptors to create custom ice sculptures of company logos, and it can host sauna experiences on its rooftop. The nearby Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis’s high-end accommodations and light-filled meeting spaces are further elevated by its on-site restaurant Mara, helmed by famed Minneapolis chef Gavin Kaysen. Hotel Ivy has an intimate style complemented by a lauded on-site spa and its own private skyway, easily linking attendees to the rest of the city’s offerings. Dedicated to finding creative partnerships with Minnesota makers, Hotel Ivy has included custom wood notebooks, leather coasters, and even a personalized craft cocktail from a local distillery into its events.
Minneapolis is also known for its arts and cultural experiences, and there is no better way to immerse attendees in the flavor of the city than to host an event in one of its many acclaimed educational and historic venues. The McNamara Alumni Center—a modern architectural marvel— and the Minneapolis Institute of Art are event spaces that double as artistic experiences. For theater lovers, the Orpheum Theatre and Guthrie Theater bring an elegance ideal for evening events, while the Weisman Art Museum and Walker Art Center allow guests to peruse the works of modern artists. Other venues, like the Machine Shop and the Glass House, cater to event planners looking to host in converted industrial spaces with a contemporary aesthetic and that perfectly illustrate Minneapolis’ storied milling past and modern flair.
“Minneapolis’ food scene has flourished in popularity and diversity over the past few years,” says Heidi Sohn, senior director of sales at the Hewing Hotel. “The city, especially the North Loop community, now boasts a wealth of new and award-winning restaurants, offering some of the finest dining options in Minneapolis. Meeting planners frequently choose the Hewing Hotel due to its prime location within walking distance of these culinary hot spots, as well as nearby shopping and major venues for sports and special events.” North Loop eateries like Bar La Grassa, Thr3 Jack, and Spoon and Stable are popular picks for group dinners. Beyond North Loop, Minneapolis boasts many restaurants that perfectly blend local character with hosting capabilities, ideal for meetings, events, and dinners for out-of-town attendees. With walkable neighborhoods full of dining and meeting spots, it is easy to find a place to connect over a meal in the city, no matter what your style is. Aster Cafe, located along the scenic Mississippi River in Northeast Minneapolis, is beloved for its warm, vintage atmosphere, perfect for social receptions. Brit’s Pub downtown accommodates up to 500 guests and brings a touch of British charm to the city with its classic pub fare and rooftop bocce ball lawn. Elegant Loring Park dining spots like Cafe and Bar Lurcat and Murray’s provide sophisticated private dining experiences for large groups. For a unique and culturally enriching experience, Owamni by The Sioux Chef showcases Indigenous cuisine with an intimate capacity for 60 guests along the historic Mississippi riverfront.
glasshousemn.com
guthrietheater.org
hennepinarts.org
hewinghotel.com
thehotelivy.com
machineshopmpls.com
minneapolis.org
mlb.com/twins/ballpark
new.artsmia.org
targetcenter.com
usbankstadium.com
walkerart.org
wam.umn.edu
