Portal Lounge, a new tech-forward airport lounge concept reimagining how travelers spend time in transit, opened on May 28, 2026, inside Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP). Created by Jordan and Emma Walbridge, the entrepreneurs behind Gameway—the airport gaming lounge brand now operating in 9 U.S. airports with plans to expand to 11 locations this year—Portal Lounge represents a new chapter for the founders and a broader expansion into hospitality. While Gameway introduced dedicated gaming lounges for travelers looking to play during layovers and delays, Portal Lounge builds on those consumer insights to create alarger-scale social lounge concept centered around hospitality, atmosphere, dining, music, technology, and cultural relevance.
Backed by more than $4 million in development investment, Portal Lounge was built around a growing shift in traveler behavior asyounger consumers increasingly seek atmosphere, engagement, and cultural relevance alongside traditional lounge amenities. The concept also reflects the growing overlap between gaming and travel culture, with adults ages 30-39 now representing the single largest gaming demographic in the U.S., accounting for 26% of all gamers nationally. MSP welcomed approximately 36 millionpassengers last year, with a large percentage originating at the airport and arriving with meaningful preflight waiting time, positioning the location as an ideal launch market for the concept.
“Gameway showed us travelers were hungry for something more engaging than the standard airport experience,” says Emma Walbridge, cofounder of Portal Lounge, in a prepared statement. “Portal Lounge builds on that insight in a much bigger way. We wanted to create a space where people could genuinely enjoy spending time, whether that means sharing cocktails before a flight, playing with friends, discovering something unexpected, or simply feeling transported for a few hours.”
“We’re excited to be the first airport for this premium lounge concept that delivers on what our passengers want to experience when they travel through MSP,” says Isabella Rhawie, vice president and commercial revenue officer for the Metropolitan Airports Commission, which owns and operates MSP. “Beyond typical and standard, this new lounge stands out in its design, amenities, and features that are sure to create a welcomed energy for a broad mix of our travelers.”
Spanning 3,800 square feet with capacity for 114 guests, the lounge was intentionally designed to feel dynamic and transportive rather than quiet and transactional. Guests enter through a custom portal-inspired entrance before stepping into an environment layered with cinematic lighting, Art Deco-inspired interiors, curated music programming, custom furnishings, social seating areas, and 600 square feet dedicated to gaming.
The gaming component includes 17 dedicated stations featuring Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, and custom-built gaming PCs with access to nearly 30 popular titles across casual, multiplayer, streaming, and competitive gameplay.
Portal Lounge also introduces the first robotic bartender of its kind inside a U.S. airport lounge, developed in Italy and integrated alongside a traditional bar program. The robotic bartender prepares a range of cocktails and mocktails while creating a highly visual centerpiece within the lounge, reinforcing the concept’s focus on technology, design, and interaction.
The culinary program was developed to feel distinctly different from conventional airport fare, pairing chef-driven small plates and customizable flavor profiles with regional beverage offerings and destination-inspired cocktails. Signature drinks include the “LagFree,” a Minnesota-inspired margarita layered with Honeycrisp apple, maple, and citrus notes, alongside “Prince’s Lemonade,” a vibrant, zero-proof cocktail inspired by Minnesota music icon Prince. The menu also features curated local beers, regional wines, and an elevated mocktail selection designed for modern travelers seeking premium nonalcoholic options.
“Traditional lounges were designed around exclusivity and waiting. We designed Portal Lounge around energy, discovery, and how people actually want to spend their time today,” says Jordan Walbridge, also a cofounder of Portal Lounge. “Travel has become increasingly experience-driven, and we saw an opportunity to build something that feels culturally connected, visually memorable, and genuinely enjoyable from the moment you walk in.”
Unlike airline-specific lounges, Portal Lounge operates as an independent common-use concept accessible through Priority Pass and participating credit card programs including Chase, American Express, and Capital One. Walk-in access is also available for $70. The lounge will operate daily from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m.
