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Your Minneapolis travel guide (go for it)
I’ve been to Minneapolis many times. Great city. And if you’re worried about the weather, the forecast for the weekend is favorable: highs in the mid-50s.
UD plays West Virginia in the first round of the NCAA tournament at 3 p.m. Friday at the Metrodome. That’s good news if you’re thinking about buying tickets today. I checked out gophersports.com and found two really good seats (Section 134) for a total of $386. That’s for all sessions Friday and Sunday.
If you want to deal with scalpers, I highly recommend hanging out at Hubert’s, a famous sports bar right across from the dome. I picked up two sweet Vikings tickets last fall just outside the front door. Paid just over face value. Then again, the scalper was really hungover and wanted to go home.
Basketball tickets aren’t a problem, but plane tickets could be an issue. I checked this morning, and a round-trip ticket out of Dayton (leaving Friday morning, returning Sunday) starts at $648. They’re not much better out of Cincinnati ($502) or Columbus ($485).
If you do fly, THE BEST bit of advice I can offer about Minneapolis is this: DO NOT rent a car or flag down a taxi. Take the light rail from the airport to downtown. It is fantastic, and last fall when I was in the Twin Cities the fare was less than $2. The light rail is clean, efficient and stops right at the Metrodome. Other downtown stops get you within a few blocks of dozens of hotels and restaurants. It’s about a 20-minute train ride from the airport to the dome.
Finding a hotel shouldn’t be an issue. I usually stay at the Embassy Suites, a nice place that is a 10-minute walk from the dome. There are plenty of other options, including the upscale Graves 601 across from Target Center. I stayed there once and felt like I was dropped in the middle of a chic music video shot in Amsterdam. Never again.
Downtown Minneapolis is pretty vibrant on the weekends. Plenty of options for food and drink. If you’re looking for something you wouldn’t see in Dayton, I suggest Brit’s Pub, which features lawn bowling. It’s at 1110 Nicollet Ave., across from Target’s world headquarters.
Frankly, the procrastinating UD fan couldn’t have picked a better venue than Minneapolis. It’s easy to get to and it’s easy to get around. Prices are reasonable, too.
So if you’re thinking about heading north, go for it.
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Comments
By rah rah
March 16, 2009 11:27 AM | Link to this
A talking head on ESPN picked UD to beat W. Virginia, then lose to Kansas……..Doug, How many red sweaters will you be taking?By udhoopsfan
March 16, 2009 1:56 PM | Link to this
Thanks for the advice. I just got game tickets through the Metrodome and a deal at the Hilton in downtown Minneapolis. I’ll be driving halfway Thursday night with a stop in Chicago. Go Flyers!By Jeff
March 16, 2009 4:34 PM | Link to this
If flights are too expensive and you don’t want to drive, Ideal Travel has a great bus/hotel package. e-mail idealtravel@sbcglobal.netBy Mack
March 16, 2009 6:27 PM | Link to this
Brits pub is also a great place to watch the English football matches early Saturday morning.By kevin
March 16, 2009 6:50 PM | Link to this
i will also be at the hilton. Minneapolis has a really nice downtown area in the nicollet mall areaBy Steve
March 17, 2009 12:14 AM | Link to this
I heard Joe Lunardi tell Doug Gottlieb that “[UD] was going to get drilled”. Yikes. I hope the Red Scare is there anyways. I’ll be cheering from the arena!By Jim O'Hora
March 17, 2009 8:16 AM | Link to this
If you have never been to the Metro Dome HEAR THIS! BRING EAR PLUGS!. The noise is unbearable in that place to the point of pain so protect yourself and wear earplugs. You won’t even be able to understand the announcers regardless the noise is deafening. But worth it all To support the Flyers.By Let's Go 'Eeeeerrssss
March 19, 2009 1:59 AM | Link to this
ESPN reporting: “[UD] is going to get drilled!”