Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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With the 2018 Super Bowl already coming to the new Minnesota Vikings stadium, state leaders have now set their sights on getting an NCAA Final Four.

Gov. Mark Dayton, business executives and sports celebrities held a news conference today to say more about their plans to lure the men’s college basketball championship to Minneapolis.

They’re trying to get the Final Four in 2019 or 2020, as well as the tournament’s regional games in other years. The bid was submitted last month.

David Mortenson, a co-chair of the state’s bid committee, said the stadium that his company is building was designed with the Final Four in mind. He said one of those features is extra locker rooms for the participating teams.

“We would not be submitting this application if we didn’t have this brand new, state-of-the-art, one-of-a kind facility,” Mortenson said.

Mortenson said the estimated economic benefits of hosting a Final Four range from $70 million to $200 million. The new stadium will seat 70,000 when configured for basketball.

The honorary co-chairs of the bid effort are Minnesota Lynx Guard Lindsay Whalen and former NBA player Trent Tucker. Both played their college basketball at the University of Minnesota. Whalen said she was happy to be involved.

“A Final Four here would just be tremendous for our community and for our state,” Whalen said.

Tucker said he thinks it could be the greatest Final Four in the history of the NCAA.

“To have a basketball Mecca be a part of your city for the weekend is special,” Tucker said. “I think Minneapolis has all of the amenities to make sure that this NCAA tournament, if it’s hosted here in 2019, will be second to none.”

Dayton stressed that no state money will go into the effort, and unlike the Super Bowl, there are no requested tax breaks.

Minneapolis is among eight finalist cities. NCAA officials will make a site visit in August and announce their selections in November.

The Metrodome hosted Final Fours in 1992 and 2001.

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Tim Pugmire

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With the 2018 Super Bowl already coming to the new Minnesota Vikings stadium, state leaders have now set their sights on getting an NCAA Final Four. Gov. Mark Dayton, business executives and sports celebrities held a news conference today to say more about their plans to lure the men’s college basketball championship to Minneapolis. They’re…

Dayton, Whalen, Tucker praise bid for Final Four

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