On Wednesday, July 30, the City of Minneapolis and Target Center announced that a major project to upgrade the acoustics at the arena has been unanimously approved by the Minneapolis City Council and signed by Mayor R.T. Rybak.  The project bid was awarded to a Chicago-based company - Chicago Flyhouse.  Installation of a variety of acoustical treatments and state-of-the-art systems will begin immediately and will be completed by late October 2008 in time for a full schedule of fall/winter concerts, special events and the upcoming NBA schedule.  

"The City of Minneapolis and our management is committed to providing our fans with the best, most state-of-the-art systems and amenities available in our industry," said Steve Mattson, General Manager, Target Center.   "In addition to various other enhancements currently being implemented at Target Center, we know these acoustical upgrades will immensely enhance the experience for concert fans as well as the experience of artists, promoters and media.  The goal is to have this project completed when legendary artist Celine Dion performs on October 30 if not before."

The technical objective of the project is to lower the venue's low frequency reverberation times and eliminate echos and discrete reflections inside Target Center's arena bowl, thus making it acoustically superior.  In order to accomplish this, the scope of the acoustical upgrade includes installing acoustical baffles in the ceiling, covering hard concrete surfaces throughout the arena bowl and covering exposed steel surfaces in the high ceiling of the arena.  Over 150,000 square feet of material will encompass this project with a total projected cost of approximately $1 million.

"Acoustical technology and its importance have vastly changed since 1990 when Target Center opened and that change has accelerated even more over the past decade," Mayor R.T. Rybak said. "The City of Minneapolis is committed to continual improvement of Target Center - a place that we feel is a vital asset to this community and region."

"We are improving our City-owned arena for its long-term success in a manner that meets our partners, the Timberwolves and AEG's goals for a first-class quality facility and our goals of investment in infrastructure and sustainability," said Council Member Lisa Goodman, Ward 7.

"We're making the commitment to ensure that the City-owned Target Center will continue to draw top notch entertainers to downtown Minneapolis. Enhancing the center's acoustics is just one of many investments that the City is making to ensure the Target Center will remain a first-class entertainment venue for years to come," said Council Member Scott Benson, Ward 11.

Target Center is owned by the City of Minneapolis and managed by AEG Facilities.  Since being awarded management of the arena on May 1, 2007, AEG has worked closely with the City of Minneapolis to maintain and enhance the venue in many ways including event booking, aesthetic changes, staff training and capital upgrades.

"We are thrilled with the City of Minneapolis' continued commitment to providing the resources and vision needed to support Target Center's reputation as one of the nation's best arenas," said Bob Newman, Chief Operating Officer, AEG Facilities.  "Upon completion of this major renovation, Target Center will truly be one of the most acoustically superior arenas in the United States.  The Twin Cities deserves this and our fans deserve this."