At the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce, we believe this is a great outcome for Minneapolis, our region and the entire state of Minnesota, securing the Vikings’ for the next 30 years and putting thousands of construction workers back to work.
As many know, securing the Vikings and ensuring the community had a gathering venue that could compete for national attractions and serve a variety of Minnesota uses has been a top priority for this Chamber. We have also fought for the renovation of the 23-year-old Target Center, a move that saves more than $300 million when compared to new construction. The Target Center is not only home to the Timberwolves and world champion Lynx; it also hosts more than 100 other events. The building serves more than 1 million visitors annually.
You do not have to be a Vikings fan to appreciate the value of this new facility, the improvements of Target Center and the newly dedicated economic development money available to the City in 2021.
Thanks to so many of our board members and Chamber members who got involved in the process by attending hearings and communicating with the Legislature. Gov. Dayton, Sen. Julie Rosen, Rep. Lanning, Mayor Rybak, Council President Johnson and our business and labor partners at Home Field Advantage all deserve tremendous credit for leadership, perseverance, and the dedication to see this project through.
