Exterior photo of the Target Center. Home of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Image Credit: Jeramey Jannene (CC BY 2.0)

For many years, the Target Center was a rather irrelevant venue in the NBA. There was really nothing that stood about it. The Twin Cities’ other three professional teams all have much newer stadiums than the Minnesota Timberwolves. In fact, the Target Center began to miss out on performers and other acts that were opting for the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul instead. However, the Minnesota Timberwolves are nearly 70% finished with a $140 million renovation of the Target Center that is expected to conclude by the start of the 2017-2018 Timberwolves season.

Virtually every aspect of the Target Center is being refreshed or upgraded. These improvements include

  • New seats and railings on the lower and upper levels of the Target Center.
  • Widening of the main concourse to allow for better traffic flow and navigation for fans.
  • A new ice floor (accommodates hockey).
  • New restrooms including replacing troughs with urinals in the men’s restrooms.
  • The lobby and main entrances are being built into a new layout.
  • Windows were added to the main concourse to allow for better views of downtown Minneapolis.
  • Player locker rooms are being rebuilt and will increase in square footage. The Minnesota Timberwolves had one of the smallest locker rooms in the NBA, according to reports.
  • The northeast corner of the Target Center will feature a multi-story atrium that will allow more natural sunlight into the building.

 

Improvements to the arena’s suites and club seats were completed last season and will fit nicely with the replacement of the seats in other seating areas. Renovations to the Target Center were conducted by Thor Construction and M.A. Mortenson, both are Minnesota-based businesses. The bulk of the Target Center’s renovation costs were fulfilled by the local taxpayers ($74 million). AEG, the Target Center’s operator, as well as Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor, contributed money towards the project as well.

 

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