Live At The Target Center Blogs

I received an email last week from Joe Spector who launched the dating site QuieroLatino.com, targeted to the Hispanic market. He was put off by AdCenter's lack of targeting ability toward one of the fastest growing segments of the US population and wrote about his experience here.

Target Center
Location	600 First Avenue North Minneapolis, MN 55403-1416
Opened	October 13, 1990
Owner	City of Minneapolis
Operator	Midwest Entertainment Group
Surface	Multi-surface
Construction cost	4 million USD
Architect	KMR Architects
Tenants	Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA) (1990-present) Minnesota Lynx (WNBA) (1999-present) Minnesota Fighting Pike (AFL) (1996)
Capacity	Basketball: 20,500 Hockey and Arena Football: 17,500 Center-stage Concerts: 19,500 End-Stage Concerts: 13,000-19,000

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.

History

The Timberwolves originally built and owned the arena in 1990. The City of Minneapolis purchased the arena in 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.

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. AEG's operational capabilities include complete staffing services, vendor evaluation and selection, as well as technical services and support.

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.

Prior to the renovation, the minimal amenities of the arena (such as a "club level" consisting of a flat deck populated by folding chairs), led some critics to characterize the building as "the type of arena a Target store might sell."

The Target Center has been the host of the Minnesota State High School Boys' and Girls' State Basketball tournament.

Target Center is one of three NBA arenas with parquet floors, including TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, and Amway Arena in Orlando. It hosted the 1994 NBA All-Star Game and the 1995 NCAA Women's Final Four.

In the summer of 2006, the Target Center was one of the audition locations for the FOX reality series American Idol; the episode aired on January 16, 2007.

U.S. Bank Theater

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 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.

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. In addition, the new Minnesota Twins baseball stadium will be located just across Highway 394 from Target Center, and will likely share the public parking that Target Center uses.