Minneapolis Convention Center Celebrates a Banner Year

Credit: Meet Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Convention Center

The Minneapolis Convention Center (MCC) has big goals for 2018, as it marks its best year ever for revenue in 2017. By hosting 380 meetings, conventions and trade shows and sustaining nearly 7,500 hospitality jobs in the community last year, the MCC continues to be a key jobs creator for hospitality employees in Minneapolis. Additionally, 2018 is shaping up to be a stand-out year, following its success as a Super Bowl events venue and with numerous marquee conventions scheduled, including the 100th annual American Legion National Convention, the National Education Association Annual Meeting and the Annual Session of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.

Minneapolis Convention Center highlights for 2017 include:

• Produced $19.6 million in revenue, $1 million more than ever before, and 105 percent of the year’s goal.
• Generated an estimated $18 million in tax revenue for the City of Minneapolis.
• Welcomed 819,000 attendees came to 380 events.
• In an industry where 70 percent occupancy is considered fully-booked to allow for move-in and move-out days, the MCC maintained 60 percent occupancy for 2017; 10 percent higher than other convention centers of similar size.**

The MCC is also reaching new milestones with its sustainability program. Beginning in 2018, event planners will receive a post-show report detailing their event’s sustainability efforts including water, energy and waste. This will allow planners to understand the impact of their event and also highlights the MCC’s ongoing environmental programs.

Sustainability wins for 2017:

• First convention center in the U.S. to earn Version 4 LEED certification — the most stringent certification yet.
• Earned Green Meeting Industry Council Certification.
• New storm water system prevented 5 million gallons of untreated water from flowing into the Mississippi River.
• Exceeded waste recycling goal of 60 percent by achieving a rate of 61 percent for 2017.

Event space with view of the city. Credit: photo by Dan Anderson, courtesy of Meet Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Convention Center

Looking ahead:
The MCC started 2018 as a key venue during the Super Bowl festivities, with 107,000 people attending the Super Bowl Experience in late January and early February. It will also play to host to major conferences and conventions throughout the year, including the National Education Association with 16,000 attendees, the American Legion National Convention with 10,000 attendees, the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc. with 20,000 attendees, and the Society of Women Engineers with more than 6,000 attendees.

** Source: Price Waterhouse Coopers survey

Visit Meet Minneapolis