Vikings and Twins games make for an exciting Sunday in downtown Minneapolis

It's going to be a busy and exciting Sunday in downtown Minneapolis, with the Vikings and Twins both having afternoon games. Those 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 Vikings vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers at U.S. Bank Stadium
  12 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10 - doors open at 10 a.m.
• Minnesota Twins vs. New York Mets at Target Field
  1:10 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10 - doors open at 11 a.m.

Freeway construction

People heading to downtown Minneapolis should be aware of two weekend construction closures on metro area freeways. Those closures begin 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8 and last through 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 11.

The dates and times of these closures may change due to weather or other factors. Be sure to plan ahead by checking 511mn.org for updates 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.

• Plan ahead-To learn about your transportation choices to and from games, visit metrotransit.org/vikings for U.S. Bank Stadium and metrotransit.org/twins for Target Field. Check out the mpls downtown council's events calendar, available at mplsdowntown.com/events.
• Know your parking options - There is parking availability throughout the downtown area. If you're parking in a ramp, most downtown facilities allow for reservations. Go to mplsparking.com/parking-reservations for more details. If you're parking on the street, make sure to check for posted 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 and Target Field have event rates and enforced maximum parking times.
• Extended Skyway Hours - The U.S. Bank Stadium Extended Skyway Hours route is in effect Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. This route provides direct skyway access to approximately 9,800 parking spaces and 1,000 hotel rooms on game days. Additional information, including a map of the skyway route, is available at SkywayAccess.com/USBankStadium.
• 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. Park & Ride customers can use the Fort Snelling Park & Ride and the 30th Avenue Park & Ride lots.
• 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, 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, U.S. Bank Stadium, 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 successful.

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