MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis has a proven track record as a city that knows how to host big events, from the Super Bowl to NCAA and Big Ten Tournaments.
And now, the Mini-Apple will have a chance to build on its reputation, with the announcement that two major NCAA happenings will be coming to Minneapolis. Organizers announced Wednesday that the 2028 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships will be held in March at U.S. Bank Stadium, while Target Center will host the first and second rounds of the NCAA DI Men's Basketball Tournament in March of 2027.
The wrestling championships are a make-good of sorts, as the event was slated for "The Bank" in 2020 before it was canceled by the pandemic.
“Minneapolis continues to be a top choice for hosting premier sporting events,” said Wendy Blackshaw, President and CEO of Minnesota Sports and Events. “After the pandemic upended the NCAA Wrestling Championships in 2020, MNSE sought to re-secure the event for Minnesota as soon as possible. We are proud to deliver on that goal, and we look forward to hosting a championship that will be unlike any other.”
Wednesday's announcement comes on the heels of multiple major events in Minneapolis this year including the 2024 U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials and 2024 Big Ten Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments, all hosted at Target Center. Those events drummed up more than $127 million in economic impact for the region.
And there's more to come. Minnesota Sports and Events has secured the 2026 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Hockey Championship and 2026 WWE SummerSlam.