World City Guide

Sport

Minnesota is the ‘land of lakes’ and 22 of them lie within the Minneapolis city limits. If people are not on them or in them – swimming, fishing, boating and enjoying watersports – they are walking, jogging, skating or cycling around them, utilising an extensive system of bike and pedestrian paths. More than 2400 hectares (6000 acres) of the city are devoted to parklands and St Paul also has an impressive number of beautiful parks. Large regional parks lie on the western and southern edges of the metro area. Outdoor recreation does not stop in the winter, as downhill and cross-country skiing and other wintersports are highly popular.

Three Rivers Park District (tel: (763) 559 9000; website: www.threeriversparkdistrict.org) operates 14 county parks in the metropolitan area, with nature centres, campgrounds, boat launches, golf courses and trails for hiking, biking and cross-country skiing. Como Park, Hamline Avenue and West Jessamine Avenue, St Paul, is a popular city park laid out in Victorian times, with a boating lake, concert pavilion, carousel, conservatory and a small zoo. The Minneapolis Chain of Lakes comprises the parkland surrounding Lake Calhoun, Lake Harriet, Lake of the Isles and Cedar Lake, which are connected by bicycle and walking paths.

The Alternative Bike and Board Shop, 2408 Hennepin Avenue South (tel: (612) 374 3635), hires out bicycles, skateboards and snowboards. Bay Rentals (tel: (952) 474 0366) provides snowmobile and jet-ski hire on Lake Minnetonka and elsewhere. Canoes are available for hire from Ketter Canoeing (tel: (612) 560 3840) or Midwest Mountaineering (tel: (612) 339 3433).

The baseball teams are the major league Minnesota Twins (tel: (612) 375 7454 or (800) 338 9467; website: www.twinsbaseball.com) and the northern league St Paul Saints (tel: (651) 644 6659; website: www.spsaints.com). The baseball season runs from April to October. The American Football League team, the Minnesota Vikings (tel: (952) 828 6500; website: www.vikings.com), plays from August to December. Both the Twins and the Vikings play at Hubert H Humphrey Metrodome, 501 Chicago Avenue South in Downtown Minneapolis (tel: (612) 332 0386), while the Saints play at Midway Stadium, 1771 Energy Park Drive, St Paul (tel: (651) 644 6659).

The Target Center, 600 First Avenue North, Minneapolis (tel: (612) 673 1300; website: www.targetcenter.com), is home to the cities’ two basketball teams. The men’s team, Minnesota Timberwolves (tel: (612) 337 3865; website: www.timberwolves.com), plays from October to April, while the women’s team, MinnesotaLynx (tel: (612) 673 8400; website: www.wnba.com/lynx), plays from May to August. The Minnesota Wild (tel: (651) 222 9453; website: www.wild.com) NHL ice hockey team plays at the Xcel Energy Center, 175 W Kellogg Boulevard, St Paul (tel: (651) 265 4800; website: www.xcelenergycenter.com), from October to April. The soccer team, Minnesota Thunder (tel: (763) 785 3668; website: www.mnthunder.com), plays in Blaine, Minnesota, from April to September.

Locals enthusiastically support a number of professional sports teams based in the city, which offer year-round entertainment. Visitors should contact the individual venues or sports organisations for seasons, schedules and ticket information. Ticket agencies for sporting events include TicketMaster (tel: (651) 989 5151; website: www.ticketmaster.com) and Ticket Exchange (tel: (800) 800 9811; website: www.openseats.com).

Fishing: Fishing is allowed in many of the parks. Those over 16 years old must be in possession of a fishing licence (tel: (651) 296 4506).

Fitness centres: Firm, 245 Aldrich Avenue North, Minneapolis (tel: (612) 377 3003/7), and The Sweatshop Fitness Training Center, 171 Snelling Avenue North, St Paul (tel: (651) 646 8418; website: www.sweatshopfitness.com), are two busy studios with gym facilities and daily fitness classes. Day visitors are welcome.

Golf: Baker National Golf Course, 2935 Parkview Drive, Medina (tel: (763) 473 0800), has an 18-hole championship course and a nine-hole executive course and is a certified Audubon Co-operative Sanctuary, with wildlife management. Edinburgh USA, 8700 Edinbrook Crossing, Brooklyn Park (tel: (763) 315 8550; website: www.edinburghusa.org), is a luxurious facility designed by Robert Trent Jones, with many challenging water and sand hazards. Theodore Wirth Golf Club, 1301 North Wirth Parkway, Golden Valley (tel: (763) 522 4584), is located in a city park, amid hills and offers beautiful views. Green fees range from US$17 for city courses to US$44 for more upmarket courses, such as Edinburgh USA. Membership is not required.

Tennis: Nicollet Tennis Center, 4005 Nicollet Avenue South, Minneapolis (tel: (612) 825 6844; e-mail: info@nicollettennis.com; website: www.nicollettennis.com), has 11 indoor courts and a number of facilities that are open to the public. Players must reserve courts in advance and these cost US$16.50 per court per hour.