Target Center


Target Center is a multi-purpose arena located in 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.
The arena is home to the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association and the Minnesota Lynx of the Women's National Basketball Association. 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



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. Glen Taylor acquired the Timberwolves in 1994 and the Lynx in 1999.
In 2000, SFX took over the contract. The management was changed in May 2004 from Clear Channel to Midwest Entertainment Group, a joint venture of the Timberwolves and Nederlander Concerts.
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.

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 video screen and LED signage, LED signage on the upper deck fascia, a new lounge and improved access for fans with disabilities.
Target Center was once one of three NBA arenas with parquet floors, including TD Garden in Boston, and Amway Arena in Orlando—the floor was replaced prior to the 2007-08 NBA season.
Target Center is the first arena to have a green roof. It was unveiled on September 15, 2009. 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. The plan was approved in 2012 by the Minnesota Legislature, as part of the bill that authorized a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings.
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. The renovated building reopened in October 2017.

Naming rights

On August 7, 1990 it was announced that Target 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 extended its naming rights agreement through 2014 in September 2011.
In 2012, a "Target Dog" neon sign was installed to face towards Target Field as a home run celebration sign.

Basketball

It hosted the 1994 NBA All-Star Game, the 1995 NCAA Women's Final Four, 2000 NBA draft and the 2018 WNBA All-Star Game. In 2021, it will host an NCAA Men's Regional Final.
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.

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. The NCHC moved the tournament to the Xcel Energy Center in nearby St. Paul starting in 2018.
DateWinning TeamScoreLosing TeamScoreOTAttendance
Dallas6Ottawa1
Philadelphia4Boston3
Detroit6Tampa Bay3
Winnipeg6Ottawa1
Buffalo2NY Islanders2
New Jersey5Quebec2

Notable events

Concerts

The arena has been a popular venue that has hosted many concerts, including artists like Billy Joel, Celine Dion, Garth Brooks, Justin Bieber, Elton John, Katy Perry, Metallica, Paul McCartney, and Minnesota legend Prince.
concert.

Concert history

;1990
;1991
;1992
;1993
;1994
has held many events at this venue and is best known for SummerSlam 1999, Judgment Day 2005, Bragging Rights 2010, Elimination Chamber 2014, &.
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.

Gymnastics

In 2016, the arena hosted the Kellogg's Tour of Gymnastics Champions.

Other 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.
The Professional Bull Riders held a Built Ford Tough Series event at Target Center during the 2003 and 2006 seasons.
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.
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 2018, Dave Matthews performed a short set at the event.
President Donald Trump rally October 10, 2019.

Attendance records

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.

Transportation and location

Target Center is a block away from the following Metro Transit stations:
The arena is also across the street from the well-known Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue. 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.