Ready for the big day? So are we! We’re making it easier: all day-of events will take place at the same address. Travelers that we are, our very own downtown Minneapolis is still among our favorite destinations, and as we celebrate at the Minneapolis Events Center, we hope you’ll agree.
The Minneapolis Events Center is located in the Saint Anthony Main district, right on the edge of downtown. For those looking for an adventure (and some of the most picturesque views of downtown Minneapolis), the mighty Mississippi river and its famous Stone Arch Bridge are just a block away. Get there a little early if you want to stroll the cobblestone road, shops, and restaurants along the historic Saint Anthony Main.
Venue
Minneapolis Events Center – The Grand
212 2nd Street Southeast, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414
Note: there are multiple venues in the same complex. We are in The Grand. If entering from outside, it is the furthest door to the East. (Furthest left door, for those less compass-oriented.) The part of the building that looks like the below photo (though we don’t think Google Street View does it justice).
Parking and Transit Options
There are currently no plans for a shuttle. (That could change, so check back closer to the event.) We encourage guests to utilize the information below to help with planning:
Walk / Bike / Run
If you’re close enough (or don’t mind a little exercise) the venue is in a walkable area, with sidewalks leading to all directions of the city. If you’re ambitious, the entire stretch has sidewalks/safe crossings, so you could even walk from the recommended hotels, but we would guess it’s a bit far for most to endeavor — particularly while all glammed up!
While you’ll need to enter the venue on 2nd Street, we recommend you stroll include the stretch along the cobblestone Saint Anthony Main and the Mississippi River.
Bus / Transit
MetroTransit is a great option for transportation in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, as well as getting to/from the airport with light rail stations in each terminal. Fares vary, but a standard non-rush hour fare is just $2 and is good for unlimited transfers for 2.5 hours after first use. Learn how to ride here.
MetroTransit is typically cleaner and safer than most other cities we’ve experienced — and we’ve tried many! For a night like this, Isaac would probably hop in an Uber/Lyft, but he trusts transit here enough to have sold his car in favor of transit years ago. (It’s admittedly better inside the two major cities though — suburbs get spotty.) Start/stop location and times via Trip Planner and/or NextTrip are usually reliable, but be sure to pay attention to frequency since some lines run less often.
The 6U, 6D, 10, 10U, 10N, 17D, and 17W lines are all within 2 blocks of the venue. Use the MetroTransit Trip Planner tool to find the best (fastest/cheapest/least walking/etc.) route from your exact location. Put your stop number into NextTrip to see real-time when the next arrival is.
Plane
Bryan and his dad (Kurt) are probably working on making this an option, but as of now, we can’t recommend you commute to the venue via plane. Bryan says companies like Joby and Archer are working on it. 👍
Uber / Lyft / Taxi / Rideshare
The venue has one way, drop-off driveway for ground transportation, making pickups/drop offs easier. Uber/Lyft are most common and accessible. Fares vary, but typical fares from point A to B within city limits of Minneapolis will typically range from $12 to $30 based on trip.
Uber and Lyft recently threatened to leave the Twin Cities, but regional governments called their bluff. As a result of a poorly executed bluff, the two companies inadvertently encouraged half a dozen or so new competitors to enter the market. We can’t vouch for those since we haven’t yet tried them, but if you try them let us know — we like options! We also like that it started to drive prices down again.
Personal Vehicle and Parking
The venue has a one way, drop-off driveway for ground transportation, making pickups/drop offs easier. If driving with someone who is mobility impaired, this driveway offers the most accessible entry to the building.
For parking, we recommend the parking ramp on the diagonal corner from the venue. Cost is about $7.50 / 12 hours or $12 / 24 hours. You may exit the ramp outside and cross to the main entrance, or there is an underground tunnel connecting the ramp to the venue. For the tunnel, follow signs for the Minneapolis Events Center (MEC) and The Grand venue. The tunnel is also accessible, albeit further away. Overnight parking is allowed if you need to trade the car for a safe ride home.
Ramp Address:
201 2nd St SE Garage
201 2nd Street Southeast, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414
Enter here off Southeast 2nd Avenue:
Street parking is also available. A mix of metered and free street parking is available in the surrounding blocks. The spots are plentiful, but the availability varies. Since meters are timed, we’d recommend the ramp, but if parking in a metered space, we highly encourage downloading the MPLS Parking app in advance. This works for meters across the city; there are pay boxes as well, but the app allows recharging the meter from anywhere with Internet access. Overnight parking in most areas is allowed if you need to trade the car for a safe ride home, but you will still need to keep meter fed unless posted.
** Prices based on August 2024 pricing for all transit options listed.