MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — Minneapolis is buzzing ahead of a huge weekend for the city.
The Timberwolves are bringing their NBA playoff run home, tipping off Game 3 against the Denver Nuggets Friday night. Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday night.
Law enforcement will also be busy, making sure everything stays safe both inside and outside of Target Center. Both the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) and the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) said they will have increased staffing in downtown Minneapolis.
Inside, off-duty MPD officers and on-duty deputies (HCSO contracts with Target Center) will also be working with Target Center security.
"I don't want to go into specifics, but obviously we'll have an increased staffing like we have been having at the stadium because of all the extra people that are coming in," HCSO Lt. Bill Gottwaldt said.
According to MPD Sgt. Garrett Parten, in the past year, more than 10 million ticket holders have come into Minneapolis for everything from sporting events, to concerts, to special events.
That includes the Twins playoffs, Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour, and the Big Ten Women's and Men's Basketball Tournaments.
"Minneapolis PD, the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, and all the stadiums down here... we're used to having big events down here. This is just real exciting with the Timberwolves doing as well as they are that we're having a lot of people come down to watch them in the playoffs," Lt. Gottwaldt said.
Sgt. Parten said last weekend was packed downtown with Kenny Chesney's concert at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Lamsit Vang, a traffic control agent with the city's traffic regulatory services, was directing traffic after the Twins game on Thursday. He will also be working Friday's Timberwolves game.
"It's very exciting and, at the same time, it's very challenging," Vang said. "We want to make sure that everybody gets to their vehicles, and gets home, and enjoys the night of the game."
Metro Transit spokesperson Drew Kerr said they will be providing additional light rail trips on the Blue Line and Green Line on Friday night.
"Those who want to take the train after Friday night's game are asked to get to the Warehouse District/Hennepin Avenue Station as soon as possible after the game ends. Multiple bus routes serving downtown Minneapolis, including the METRO D Line, also provide late-night trips. People traveling to downtown Minneapolis on the Blue Line should be aware that, due to previously scheduled rail maintenance, buses are replacing trains between Fort Snelling and Mall of America stations until Monday morning. To avoid using a replacement bus, Blue Line riders should use the Park & Ride at Fort Snelling Station."
Kerr said for those planning to use public transit, an All-Day Pass is the most cost-effective and convenient. An All-Day Pass costs up to $5 and allows riders to take as many trips as needed until 2 a.m. the next day.
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