From the Target USA Cup to the 3M Open, marquis sporting events have had a huge impact on the city and the North Metro.
These days everyone is gushing about Blaine.
“The city of Blaine is sports city USA,” said Governor Tim Walz (DFL).
“Blaine is great,” said ex-Minnesota Viking Randall McDaniel, who is in the Pro Football HOF. “Look at all the stuff going on here in Blaine. We’re here at the 3M Open. What was it six years ago that it all started? It’s gotten bigger and better each year. I think I was there for the first one. I’ve gotten more involved each year.”
Thanks to youth soccer and pro golf, Blaine is now a magnet drawing celebrities and fans from across the globe
“The city of Blaine, the north metro is just absolutely hopping during the month of July,” said Blaine Mayor Tim Sanders.
Cashing in
The city is definitely cashing in on this sports windfall.
“We have the Target USA Cup which is about a $50 million economic impact,” Sanders said. “You add the 3M Open on top of that, which is probably a $30 to 35 million impact. It’s just a tremendous impact in the North Metro, to the region and the state.”
That is welcome news for hotels, restaurants and retail businesses in the area.
“It absolutely is a pinpointable moment for the economic impact in for our city,” Sanders said.
“It brings out a lot of money to the community,” said John Randle, another ex-Viking also in the HOF. “It brings out the governor.”
Golf mecca
The sixth annual 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities is a golf mecca.
“This is such a vibrant place and I think having the 3M is a major tournament,” Walz said. “Bringing it out here I want to keep it. I’m grateful to 3M.”
“I think it really has put Blaine on the market,” Randle said. “When people think of Minnesota you think of Mall of America, the Minnesota Vikings and all of our sports teams. But now you think of Minnesota for golf.”
“They’re getting it done out here,” McDaniel said. “The people at 3M, the tournament and everybody out there, the board members are doing such a great job.”
The 3M Open has clearly put Blaine on the map and the city wants to pounce on the chance to promote all the positives about being in the North Metro.
“We use this opportunity to really showcase the rest of Blaine and to show what Blaine has to offer,” Sanders said. “We use this entire week to really bring out developers and restaurants and grocers and other businesses across the spectrum of industries to try and recruit them here.”
Sanders is ecstatic to have these soccer and golf events in the city.
“It’s amazing to truly have the world come to the city of Blaine,” Sanders said. “To come to Minnesota to play.”
