Midsummer Classic will bring estimated $75 million economic impact in a banner year for the city

(MINNEAPOLIS) Aug. 29, 2012The Minnesota Twins have been awarded Major League Baseballs (MLB) 2014 All-Star Game and will host the 85^th Midsummer Classic at Minneapolis Target Field, Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig announced today at a news conference at Target Field. Meet Minneapolis, Convention & Visitors Association, was instrumental in securing the winning bid that will bring an estimated $75 million in economic impact to the city that see at least 90 conventions and major events in the year of 2014.

The July 15, 2014, main event, along with a series of associated events including the MLB All-Star Fan Fest at the Minneapolis Convention Center and the All-Star Futures Game, Legends & Celebrity Softball Game, Workout Day and Home Run Derby at Target Field will bring an estimated 160,000 visitors who will stay in 27 Minneapolis hotels (and throughout the region) and enjoy the hospitality of downtown Minneapolis many restaurants, bars, entertainment venues and the natural beauty of the Mississippi River in the walkable, clean, eco-friendly Minneapolis, City by Nature.

The third-ever All-Star Game hosted by the Twins is the cherry on top of a banner year for the City of Minneapolis as a convention and event destination. Meet Minneapolis has secured events and conventions in 2014, so far, with an estimated attendance of more than 369,000 people who will consume more than 285,000 total room nights in area hotels. The total economic impact of these currently booked events totals over $175 million. Large events in 2014 include the 2014 National Collegiate Hockey Conference Championship, the 2014 USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championships, The Shriners of North America annual meeting, annual conference of the Government Finance Officers Association, Industrial Fabrics Association International Expo, Northern Lights Qualifier Volleyball and many more.

Minneapolis is becoming the destination of choice for conventions and events, said Melvin Tennant, president and CEO, Meet Minneapolis. The fact that Major League Baseball recognized that Minneapolis was capable of hosting their signature Midsummer Classic and at least 89 other meeting planners so far have selected the city for 2014 stands out in this post-recession, competitive market. With the additional infrastructure coming online within a few years in the new Vikings stadium and renovated Target Center, Minneapolis is poised to take on more and more events of this size and stature.

Meet Minneapolis expects the City by Nature to gain further international exposure with this 2014 All-Star Game, expected to be viewed on television by approximately 35 million people worldwide.

It is time for the world to see Minneapolis for the spectacular host city that it is, said Mayor R.T. Rybak. We are more than ready to welcome the All-Star Game fans, and all visitors, to experience all Minneapolis has to offer as one of the great American cities.

Minneapolis is no stranger to large national and international events, having hosted the Republican National Convention (with Saint Paul) in 2008, NCAA 2006 Regional mens Basketball, 2010 NCAA First/Second Rounds Womens basketball, 2009 PGA Championship, 2009 Lions Club International Convention, 2011 American Legion Convention and 2008 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in recent years. Previously, the city played host to the 1987 and 1991 MLB World Series and the 1992 NFL Super Bowl.

The MLB All-Star Game has been in the sights of the Minnesota Twins, Meet Minneapolis and county and city leaders since at least 2008 as Target Field was just beginning to take shape in downtown Minneapolis. The stunning ballpark is in its third season providing open-air baseball to visitors in a facility rooted in nature and the outdoors while perfectly situated in its downtown location. Fittingly, the Twins efforts made Target Field become the first professional sports facility to receive LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Silver Certification for both construction and maintenance/operations.

Click here to view the Meet Minneapolis Facts and Figures Kit.

Click here to view the Minnesota Twins press release.

PHOTO ATTACHED CUT-LINE

Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins and the 2014 MLB All-Star Game, in Minneapolis. Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn. Photo courtesy of Minnesota Twins, MLB and Meet Minneapolis.

ABOUT MEET MINNEAPOLIS

Meet Minneapolis is a private, not-for-profit, member-based association. It actively promotes and sells the Minneapolis area as a destination for conventions and meetings, works to maximize the visitor experience and markets the city as a desirable tourist destination to maximize the economic benefit of the greater Minneapolis area.

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MEDIA CONTACT

Kristen Montag, media communication manager, 612.767.8038, kristenm@minneapolis.org, Minneapolis_PR on Twitter

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