The fruits of that labor has been evident this summer as we began with the 2017 USA Volleyball Open Championships over Memorial Day. That was followed by the 2017 USA Volleyball Girls' Junior National Championships that just wrapped up in Minneapolis. And now ESPN's Summer X Games are set to go at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Minneapolis last hosted the USA Volleyball Girls' Junior National Championships in 2014. Then, as now, multiple cities in the metro area assisted in housing athletes, parents, officials and spectators. The Minneapolis Convention Center (MCC) was once again the competition venue. More than 70 courts were laid out throughout all five exhibit halls and the ballroom.

Brent Foerster, Meet Minneapolis' senior vice president of destination sales, who oversees all sales operations (including Sports Minneapolis) has noted how sporting events fill hotels and restaurant seats as well as support other businesses particularly during periods of time that are traditionally less busy.

While the 17 percent increase in hotel occupancy and an 11 percent increase in average daily rate year-over-year for the week the tournament was in town would herald success, keep in mind that we've also had a 16 percent increase in hotel supply over that same period. This means that we're able to fill more of our hotel rooms in Minneapolis and not have to compress as many to surrounding communities.

ESPN’s Summer X Games take place July 13-16. U.S. Bank Stadium is the featured venue for 200 of the world’s best action sports athletes competing for medals and prize money in BMX, Skateboard and Moto X disciplines. We expect 100,000 to attend events over these days and more than 8,000 jobs will be supported by this massive event.

A recent unanimous Minneapolis City Council resolution accentuated the level of public and private cooperation that culminated in securing the event. Minneapolis City Council Member Jacob Frey, who chairs the Sports Minneapolis board, read the resolution. City Council President Barbara Johnson also participated in the presentation.

Although we are currently in the midst of executing the 2017 X Games, planning for the 2018 Summer X Games are already under way. And we want to make sure that this high-profile event returns for many years to come.

Future prospects for sporting events are very promising. Minneapolis has carved out a special niche for itself in the areas of youth and amateur sports. The continuing support of our private businesses and local governmental entities will help us achieve many more summers of sports, and continue bringing more people to the destination.

The fruits of that labor has been evident this summer as we began with the 2017 USA Volleyball Open Championships over Memorial Day. That was followed by the 2017 USA Volleyball Girls' Junior National Championships that just wrapped up in Minneapolis. And now ESPN's Summer X Games are set to go at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Minneapolis last hosted the USA Volleyball Girls' Junior National Championships in 2014. Then, as now, multiple cities in the metro area assisted in housing athletes, parents, officials and spectators. The Minneapolis Convention Center (MCC) was once again the competition venue. More than 70 courts were laid out throughout all five exhibit halls and the ballroom.

Brent Foerster, Meet Minneapolis' senior vice president of destination sales, who oversees all sales operations (including Sports Minneapolis) has noted how sporting events fill hotels and restaurant seats as well as support other businesses particularly during periods of time that are traditionally less busy.

While the 17 percent increase in hotel occupancy and an 11 percent increase in average daily rate year-over-year for the week the tournament was in town would herald success, keep in mind that we've also had a 16 percent increase in hotel supply over that same period. This means that we're able to fill more of our hotel rooms in Minneapolis and not have to compress as many to surrounding communities.

ESPN’s Summer X Games take place July 13-16. U.S. Bank Stadium is the featured venue for 200 of the world’s best action sports athletes competing for medals and prize money in BMX, Skateboard and Moto X disciplines. We expect 100,000 to attend events over these days and more than 8,000 jobs will be supported by this massive event.

A recent unanimous Minneapolis City Council resolution accentuated the level of public and private cooperation that culminated in securing the event. Minneapolis City Council Member Jacob Frey, who chairs the Sports Minneapolis board, read the resolution. City Council President Barbara Johnson also participated in the presentation.

Although we are currently in the midst of executing the 2017 X Games, planning for the 2018 Summer X Games are already under way. And we want to make sure that this high-profile event returns for many years to come.

Future prospects for sporting events are very promising. Minneapolis has carved out a special niche for itself in the areas of youth and amateur sports. The continuing support of our private businesses and local governmental entities will help us achieve many more summers of sports, and continue bringing more people to the destination.