There have been many times when Minnesota has captured a nationwide and worldwide audience because of a major event that had taken place here. The following is a listing of those major events.
- Interstate 35W (I-35W) Bridge Collapse
The 35W bridge collapse on August 1, 2007 became a nationwide wake-up call to the deterioration of our nation’s infrastructure, and resulted in 13 deaths and 145 injured. The reconstructed bridge opened to the public about 13.5 months later on September 18, 2008, and at a cost of approximately $234 million. It spans 1223 feet (more than 3.5 football fields and is actually shorter than the bridge it replaced. (Source: MNDOT).
- Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Game
Minnesota has hosted two MLB baseball games. The first was in 1965 at Metropolitan Stadium, in Bloomington that the National League won by a score of 6-5. The second All Star game hosted in Minnesota was in 1985 at the Hubert Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis. The National League won by score of 6-1. The third All Star game hosted in Minnesota will be held at Target Field in Minneapolis on Tuesday, July 15, 2014. - Major League Baseball (MLB) World Series
The Minnesota Twins have been in the MLB World Series three times; 1965, 1987, 1991; and have won it twice. In 1965 they were defeated by Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games. In 1987 the Twins defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. In 1991 the Twin defeated the Atlanta Braves in seven games.
- National Basketball Association (NBA) All-Star Game
There has only been one NBA All Star Game hosted in Minnesota. It occured in 1994 at Target Center in Minneapolis. The East won 127-118. Scottie Pippen of the Chicago Bulls was the MVP. - National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals
Minnesota has hosted the NBA Finals five times; 1950,1952, 1953, 1954, 1959. They won the championship all five times that they appeared. They also won the 1949 Basketball Association of America (BAA) championship. The BAA became the National Basketball Association (NBA) later on that same year. - National Football League (NFL) Super Bowl
Minnesota has only hosted the Super Bowl once. In Super Bowl XXVI on January 26, 1992 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. The game placed the Washington Redskins vs. Buffalo Bills. Washington won by a score of 37-24. - National Hockey League (NHL) All Star Game
There have been two NHL All Star Games played in Minnesota. The first was held in 1972 at Met Center in Bloomington, won by the East team 3-2. Bobby Orr was the MVP. The second All Star game was in 2004 and played at Excel Energy Center in St. Paul. The East team won by a score of 6-4. Joe Sakic was the MVP.
- National Hockey League (NHL) Stanley Cup Finals
NHL teams from Minnesota have appeared (and hosted) the Stanley Cup Finals twice. Once in 1981 when the Minnesota North Stars lost to the New York Islanders in 5 games, the other appearance by the North Stars came in 1991 when they lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games. - NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship (Final Four)
The Final Four Championship had been hosted in Minnesota three time. The first in 1955 at Williams Arena in Minneapolis; and in 1992 and 2001 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, also in Minneapolis. - Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship
St Paul hosted the Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship in 2012. Skaters raced down a 400-metre-long ice track, four-at-a-time, which began alongside the St. Paul Cathedral. It’s a combination of ice hockey, downhill skating and boardercross. This event was re-broadcast on NBC television on January 21, 2012. - Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention has been hosted in Minnesota twice. The first time was in 1892 at the Industrial Exposition Building in the Old St. Anthony area of Minneapolis. The nominee was Benjamin Harrison who went on to become the the 23rd President of the U.S. The second RNC hosted in Minnesota was in 2008 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. John McCain of Arizona was the Presidential nominee, with Sarah L. Palin of Alaska as his choice for a running mate (V.P.). - Special Olympics World Games
The Special Olympics World Games are an international sporting competition for athletes with intellectual disabilities. Minneapolis/St. Paul hosted the Eighth Special Olympics World Summer Games. More than six thousand athletes over 100 countries participated. The Opening Ceremonies were held in The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, and broadcast on ABC Television on the evening of September 3, 1991.