Target Center

The Target Center is an arena in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota sponsored by Target Corporation that is home to the National Basketball Association’s Minnesota Timberwolves and Women’s National Basketball Association’s Minnesota Lynx. In 1996 it was home to the Arena Football League team Minnesota Fighting Pike. The City of Minneapolis has owned the arena since 1995, although management has changed hands a few times. Most recently, the management was changed in May 2004 from Clear Channel Entertainment to Midwest Entertainment Group, a joint venture of the Timberwolves and Nederlander Concerts. The Timberwolves originally built and owned the arena in 1990.

Seating Capacity: Basketball: 20,500, Hockey: 17,500
Owner: City of Minneapolis
Operator: Midwest Entertainment Group
Surface: Multi-surface
Construction cost: $104 million USD
Architect: KMR Architects

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 state-of-the-art 9-by-16 foot video screen and state-of-the-art LED signage, LED signage on the upper deck fascia, a new luxury lounge (Club Cambria) and improved access for fans with disabilities. Today Target Center seats 20,500 for basketball and from 13,000 to 19,000 for end-stage concerts, 19,500 for center-stage concerts and 17,500 for ice hockey.

Target Center is one of three NBA arenas with parquet floors, including TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, and TD Waterhouse Centre in Orlando. It hosted the 1994 NBA All-Star Game, WWF SummerSlam 1999, WWE Judgment Day 2005 and the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) RAW and SmackDown! Super Show, which became a tribute show to Eddie Guerrero.

Target Center can convert into a 3,000-to-7,500-seat theater known as the U.S. Bank Theater. The Theater contains a moveable floor-to-ceiling curtain system that allows the venue to by transformed based on specific show needs. In addition to concerts, the U.S. Bank Theater can also be used for family and Broadway shows.

Target Center is a block away from the Warehouse District/Hennepin Avenue terminus of the Hiawatha Line. The arena is also across the street from the well-known Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue and an entertainment complex known as Block E.

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Target Center wikipedia entry
Minnesota Timberwolves website
Timberwolves Central Fansite
Minnesota Lynx website
Lynx Lane Fansite

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