Twin Cities Gateway Area: Close to the Action, Far From the Noise

Just north of downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul lies the Twin Cities Gateway — a stretch of 11 vibrant communities where the heartbeat of Minnesota’s sports culture echoes year-round. It’s more than just a collection of fields and rinks; it’s a living, breathing hub of competition, camaraderie, and community that is the premier destination in the U.S. for youth and amateur sports with a variety of venues capable of hosting virtually any event, tournament, or competition with the most sports facilities for events in the Midwest.

It is quantity with quality that sets the Twin Cities gateway area apart from other areas and makes it the sports mecca of the Midwest.

Crown Jewel in Blaine

The crown jewel of the area is the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minnesota. It is the world’s largest amateur sports facility and is dedicated to providing exceptional sports and athletic experiences to a multitude of athletes in different sports. The NSC produces over 100 events in a variety of sports as well as hosting numerous national and international competitions, making it one of the most diverse amateur facilities in the world. These events draw over 4 million visitors each year, the most for any sports facility in the state.  The NSC boasts 54 full size soccer fields (18 of which have turf) and is host to the Target USA Cup, the largest youth soccer tournaments in the world with 20 countries, 25 states and more than 1,200 teams represented.

The NSC Super Rink, meanwhile, is the world’s largest ice arena with 8 rinks that hosts hockey, figure skating and broomball events along with being the home of the USA Women’s Olympic hockey team and the All-American Girls hockey tournament. NSC also boast The M Health Fairview Dome, a seasonal indoor synthetic field dome that is the largest dome in the Western hemisphere. It has enough room for two full size soccer fields as well as two full sized softball/baseball fields, and at a whopping 110 feet high, a ball hasn’t hit the roof yet.

Spirit To Match The Facilities

While the NSC serves as the heartbeat, the Gateway has lots more to offer for sports fanatics. There are 11 top notch golf courses including the TPC Blaine that hosts the PGA 3M Golf Tournament in July and will take place this year from July 20-26. TCG also has over a hundred ball fields scattered across the region. Curlers at the Four Seasons Curling Club — a past training ground for Olympic athletes — slide stones across gleaming sheets of ice, perfecting the subtle art of precision and teamwork. Sand Creek Athletic Complex is the biggest softball complex in the state with lighted fields and a great concession and meeting room building.

In addition to the 3M Open, the Special Olympics USA Games will be held at the NSC and Bowlero Blaine from June 20-26, and the the Target USA Cup Soccer Tournament will take place in Blaine from July 10-18.

What makes the Twin Cities Gateway remarkable isn’t just the facilities, it’s the spirit. Every tournament, from youth soccer to hockey, brings together families, volunteers, and athletes from every background. Hotels fill, restaurants buzz, and for a few unforgettable days, the area becomes a global village united by the love of sport. When booking your next sporting event, look no further than the Twin Cities Gateway for the biggest and the best. Contact Al Stauffacher ([email protected]) for more information.