Vikings and Twins games make for an exciting weekend Downtown

It's going to be a busy and exciting weekend in downtown Minneapolis, with the Vikings season opener and Twins games both taking place Sunday. These events will draw big crowds, so it's a good idea to know your transportation options and plan ahead, whether you plan to drive, take transit, bike or walk.

• Minnesota Twins vs. Cleveland Guardians at Target Field
  1:10 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11 - doors open at 11:10 a.m.
• Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium
  3:25 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11 - doors open at 1:25 p.m.

Freeway construction

Ramps from North Third Street to westbound I-94 and from eastbound I-94 to North Fourth Street are closed to traffic. These closures are necessary so crews can repair bridge joints and resurface the ramps. Motorists should plan their routes and follow the signs for detours.

• North Third Street to Westbound I-94 detour: Second Avenue to Washington Avenue to ramp from 22nd Avenue to westbound I-94.
• Eastbound I-94 to North Fourth Street detour: Eastbound I-94 to Lyndale Avenue to Seventh Street to First Avenue.

Ramps connecting Hiawatha Avenue to downtown Minneapolis are also closed as crews replace bridge decking. This includes the northbound ramp from Hiawatha Avenue to South Seventh Street and the ramp to Hiawatha Avenue from South Eighth Street.

Be sure to visit 511mn.org and allow plenty of time to get to your destination.

Getting where you're going

Downtown provides transportation opportunities to meet everyone's desired experience, whether you want to drive, ride a bus, take a train, bike or walk.

Below are tips people should remember when visiting downtown Minneapolis to minimize delays and maximize enjoyment of all the activities going on.

• Know your parking options - There is parking availability throughout the downtown area. If you're parking on the street, make sure to check for signs to be sure of the time limit and hours of enforcement for your parking space. Also note that many of the metered on-street parking spaces in the area of U.S. Bank Stadium have event rates and enforced maximum parking times.
• Cycling to games - There are bike racks you can use at U.S. Bank Stadium and Target Field. Bicyclists are reminded to use headlights and taillights after dark and, if possible, to wear light or reflective clothing.
• Come early, stay late - The areas near both stadiums are ready to welcome fans. Take part in activities, shopping, dining, and other entertainment before and after games and concerts. Enjoy the extra time to experience all each area has to offer, and avoid traffic congestion. The Warehouse District and North Loop look forward to welcoming fans before and after the games.

Taking transit to events

• The METRO Blue Line runs from Bloomington to downtown Minneapolis. It serves large Park & Ride facilities at the Fort Snelling and 30th Avenue stations. Note: Buses continue to replace METRO Blue Line trains between the Mall of America and Terminal 2 stations. To avoid transferring, Park & Ride customers should use the Fort Snelling Park & Ride lot instead of the 30th Avenue Park & Ride lot.
• The METRO Green Line runs from Union Depot in St. Paul, along University Ave, into Minneapolis. There are no Park & Rides on the Green Line.

Along with the METRO lines, many bus routes travel along Hennepin and Nicollet avenues. Online tools and other information to help plan your trip are available at metrotransit.org/vikings and metrotransit.org/twins.

Managing traffic congestion

The City of Minneapolis takes a number of steps to manage traffic congestion during big events Downtown. The volume of pedestrians, bikes, and cars Downtown before and after these events means increased congestion, but there are several ways the City works to improve operations and reduce delays, including:

• Police and traffic control agents are at many intersections during peak times before and after the events.
• Special traffic signal timing patterns are used to move high numbers of people during events.
• Dynamic messaging signs provide drivers with real-time information as they move around the area. They notify drivers when key parking ramps fill, and to help drivers find their way around.

Events calendar makes it easy to plan ahead

Whether you want to go to a game, catch a play, or see a concert, finding just the right events and activities for your family is easy when you use the mpls downtown council's online events calendar.

The calendar is on the mpls downtown council's website at mplsdowntown.com/events. The list includes events and entertainment at dozens of venues, big and small, throughout Downtown. The list can be viewed and sorted to help you find what you're looking for, including by day, week or month. The calendar includes sporting events, live performances, theater events, festivals and parades, exhibits and many other entertainment options. The calendar makes it easy to find out if there are lots of events on a given day, and knowing what else is happening in downtown Minneapolis will help you plan ahead to minimize transportation delays.

Help prevent car break-ins

The Minneapolis Police Department encourages you to protect yourself from vehicle break-ins and "Put Your Junk In Your Trunk." Get in the habit of keeping all of your belongings in the trunk of your car, prior to arriving at your destination, and never leave belongings in plain view. Remember to always call 911 if you see suspicious behavior.

Making event days a great experience

Many City departments, the Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Ballpark Authority, Target Center, the Minnesota Vikings, the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Hennepin County, Metro Transit, ABC Ramps, the University of Minnesota, the Warehouse District Business Association, mpls downtown council, Mpls Downtown Improvement District, the Hennepin Theatre District, the Minneapolis Convention Center, the Guthrie Theater and others are all taking steps to make event days in Downtown success.

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