Target Center

Lore & Background

The arena has been the home to the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA) since its opening and is currently also the home of the Minnesota Lynx of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The Minnesota Myth and the Target Center announced that the Myth would be playing their home games there for the 2024 Arena Football Season though only one game for the team was played in the Arena until the team folded during the season. The facility has also hosted the LFL's Minnesota Valkyrie, the RHI's Minnesota Arctic Blast, the IHL's Minnesota Moose, and the Arena Football League's Minnesota Fighting Pike in the past. Original Timberwolves owners Marv Wolfenson and Harvey Ratner built, owned and operated the arena for five years beginning in 1990. The venue was managed by Ogden Entertainment after the city of Minneapolis purchased the arena in 1995. Glen Taylor acquired the Timberwolves in 1994 and the Lynx in 1999. In 2000, SFX (later Clear Channel Entertainment) took over the contract. The management was changed in May 2004 from Clear Channel to Midwest Entertainment Group, a joint venture of the Timberwolves and Nederlander Concerts. On May 2, 2007, AEG Facilities assumed the management contract of Target Center. The city of Minneapolis owns the arena and AEG Facilities manages day-to-day operations.

Reader's Guide

Target Center underwent a major renovation in 2004 that saw the replacement of all 19,006 of its original seats plus the addition of nearly 1,500 new seats as well as the reconfiguration of the lower bowl. The arena's original scoreboard was replaced with a new 9 by 16 ft video screen and LED signage, LED signage on the upper deck fascia, a new lounge (Club Cambria) and improved access for fans with disabilities. Target Center was once one of three NBA arenas with parquet floors, including TD Garden in Boston, and Amway Arena in Orlando—the floor was replaced prior to the 2007–08 NBA season. Target Center is the first arena to have a green roof, unveiled on September 15, 2009. In February 2011, the Timberwolves and the city of Minneapolis introduced a $155 million proposal to remodel the Target Center. Plans included shifting the main entrance to the corner of 6th Street and First Avenue, two large glass atriums, another restaurant, and a complete remodel of the interior. The plan was approved in 2012 by the Minnesota Legislature, as part of the bill that authorized a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings. On April 3, 2015, the Minneapolis City Council gave the final approval for renovation plans for Target Center. The total cost was $140 million, which upgraded the exterior, seats, technology and loading bays, among other areas. The city contributed $74 million. Glen Taylor, owner of the Timberwolves and Lynx, paid a total of $60 million; AEG contributed $5.9 million. As a result, the Timberwolves' lease will run until 2035. The renovated building reopened in October 2017. On August 7, 1990, it was announced that Minneapolis-based retail chain Target had purchased the naming rights of the Timberwolves' arena and that it would be called Target Center. Since then, the naming rights have been renewed every five years. Target last renewed its naming rights in October 2015 for an undisclosed length of time.

Did You Know?

• Target Center hosted the 1994 NBA All-Star Game, the 1995 NCAA Women's Final Four, the 2000 NBA draft, and the 2018 WNBA All-Star Game.
• The Minnesota Lynx won their first WNBA Championship at Target Center in 2011.
• The arena hosted the 2022 NCAA Women's Final Four.
• Target Center hosted the 2024 US Olympic Trials for gymnastics for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris from June 27 to 30.

Architectural Evolution and Management

Opened in 1990 as a modern multi-purpose facility, Target Center has undergone significant transformations to remain relevant. Originally built and operated by Marv Wolfenson and Harvey Ratner for five years, the City of Minneapolis purchased the venue in 1995. Management responsibilities cycled through Ogden Entertainment, SFX (later Clear Channel), and Midwest Entertainment Group before AEG Facilities assumed control on May 2, 2007. The arena's physical footprint saw a major overhaul in 2004, replacing all 19,006 original seats with nearly 1,500 new ones and reconfiguring the lower bowl. This era introduced a new 9-by-16-foot video screen and LED signage. A landmark environmental addition occurred on September 15, 2009, when it became the first arena to feature a green roof. Most recently, a $140 million renovation project approved in 2015 modernized the exterior, technology, and loading bays. Funding included $74 million from the city, $60 million from owner Glen Taylor, and $5.9 million from AEG, securing the Timberwolves' lease through 2035. The renovated building reopened in October 2017.

Basketball Heritage and Championship Glory

As the second-oldest arena currently operating in the NBA, Target Center holds a distinguished place in basketball history, serving as the permanent home for the Minnesota Timberwolves since its inception. Its legacy extends to the WNBA, hosting the Minnesota Lynx since 1999. The venue has been a stage for marquee events, including the 1994 NBA All-Star Game, the 2000 NBA draft, and the Women's Final Four in both 1995 and 2022. A defining moment occurred during the 2011 WNBA Finals, marking the first championship event held within its walls as the Lynx secured their inaugural title. The arena once featured one of only three parquet floors in the league alongside TD Garden and Amway Arena; this historic flooring was replaced prior to the 2007–08 NBA season. Beyond professional leagues, it hosted the 2018 WNBA All-Star Game and is scheduled to host the Big Ten women's basketball tournament in 2023 and 2024, and the men's tournament in 2024.

Diverse Sporting Tenants and Ice Hockey

While primarily known as an NBA and WNBA stronghold, Target Center has hosted a wide array of sporting franchises. In its early years, it was home to the IHL's Minnesota Moose (1994–1996) and later hosted teams like the Arena Football League's Minnesota Fighting Pike and the LFL's Minnesota Valkyrie. The arena also welcomed the RHI's Minnesota Arctic Blast and briefly served as the home for the 2024 Arena Football Season team, the Minnesota Myth, though only one game was played there before the team folded. Ice hockey history is marked by a notable absence; the NHL's Minnesota North Stars refused to move in upon opening due to conflicting soft drink rights (Met Center had Pepsi, Target Center had Coca-Cola). However, after the franchise relocated to Dallas, the arena hosted six neutral-site NHL games during the 1993–94 season. It also served as a venue for the Boys' State High School Hockey Tournament in 1998 and 1999, and hosted NCHC tournament games from 2014 until the event moved to Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul in 2018.

Entertainment Legacy and Corporate Identity

Beyond athletics, Target Center has established itself as a premier destination for concerts and live entertainment, hosting an extensive roster of global superstars including Taylor Swift, P!nk, Beyoncé, Prince, Metallica, and KISS. The venue is deeply embedded in professional wrestling culture, having hosted major WWE pay-per-view events such as SummerSlam 1999, Judgment Day 2005, Bragging Rights 2010, and multiple TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs shows (2017, 2019). It also saw AEW tape an episode of Rampage and host Full Gear in November 2021. The arena's corporate identity is uniquely tied to Target Corporation; founded in Minneapolis in 1902, Target has held the naming rights since August 7, 1990, renewing this agreement every five years with the last renewal occurring in October 2015. This partnership underscores the venue's role as a community anchor, facilitating everything from major graduations and private events to family shows and the Target Corporation Annual Sales Meeting.