AAA's guide to surviving the Super Bowl
At this time of year, Minnesotans are normally looking to escape the winter doldrums. But this year, Minneapolis is the hot destination for thousands.
While it’s pretty much impossible to avoid anything to do with the Super Bowl these days, there’s a lot more to consider than the game. Minneapolis is hosting one of the most popular events in the world, and AAA is here to help you figure out how much (or how little) you want to be involved.
Wait … What’s Happening?
In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past year, Minneapolis will be hosting the 52nd Super Bowl, Feb. 4, at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Super Bowl has turned into a multifaceted, 10-day event attracting people from around the world.
Minneapolis is forecasted to host more than a million visitors from 130 countries and thousands of members of the media representing more than 150 worldwide broadcast outlets. These visitors will occupy 41,000 hotel rooms and rent houses from locals citywide. To help the event run smoothly, there will be 10,000 volunteers, known as Crew 52, to assist at the game and Super Bowl-affiliated events. The game will be on NBC and is expected to draw more than 100 million viewers. Super Bowl XLIX was the most-watched program in U.S. television history with 114.5 million viewers.
U.S. Bank Stadium, which opened in July 2016, seats 66,200 people. The last time Minnesota hosted the Super Bowl was 1992 at the Metrodome, when the Washington Redskins defeated the Buffalo Bills. For comparison, U.S. Bank is almost double the square footage at 1.75 million compared with the Metrodome’s 900,000.
Join the Party
For the select few able to attend the game, congratulations. For those wishing they could and who want to be part of the action, there are still a lot of events leading to the game both near the stadium and around town.
Minneapolis is hosting the 10-day Bold North festival, with a host of activities and events that are both Minnesota-themed and related to the game. The theme Bold North represents the “diverse and innovative culture of Minnesota” and signifies the Minnesota spirit of embracing winter.
Local Minnesota-themed events include the St. Paul Winter Carnival, outdoor ice bars, the City of Lakes Loppet Ski Festival and a range of other sporting events. There will also be a few NFL-sponsored events, including Super Bowl Experience and Super Bowl LIVE.
The NFL Super Bowl Experience is an interactive event that will take up about 500,000 square feet at the downtown Minneapolis Convention Center. Highlights will include hands-on activities such as an obstacle course and football agility tests, plus the chance to see Super Bowl rings and the Lombardi Trophy.
Super Bowl LIVE is free and will feature an array of events, from parties with NFL alumni to nightly concerts with headlining bands. And who can forget the hugely popular Puppy Bowl? Events will be held in various locations around the city, including the renovated Nicollet Mall.
The Minneapolis Armory will host several events and concerts and the traveling pop-up nightclub Club Nomadic, which will also be located at its new home, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Mystic Lake Hotel Casino. The club is 64,000 square feet spread over three stories and holds up to 9,000 people. It has brought in high-profile performers in the past, and this year is expected to be no different.
A Super Getaway
Some people have no desire to be near the mayhem and want to get out of town for the weekend. For a family weekend getaway, consider a road trip to the Wisconsin Dells or to Duluth and the North Shore. For a more quaint option, the AAA Minneapolis travel team recommends a weekend in Red Wing, Winona or across the state line in Lacrosse, Wis.
If that still sounds too close, get a ticket to Chicago (book soon, as prices may go up as others look to escape as well) for nightlife, jazz and shopping. Hate to fly? Or worried about airport congestion? Consider taking Amtrak. It could be a perfect time for that Mexican getaway you’ve been dreaming about as well.
