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Minneapolis keeps momentum with Big Ten men’s tournament
After a sellout women’s tournament, the men’s tournament is making its first appearance ever in Minneapolis this week.
MINNEAPOLIS — For the second weekend in a row, the Big Ten Conference took over downtown Minneapolis.
Following last week’s sellout of the women’s tournament, the city is hosting the men’s tournament this week for the first time in history. Despite the early exit from the University of Minnesota on Thursday, up to 120,000 people are expected to visit Minneapolis this week between the Big Ten Tournament and several large events at the Convention Center.
It’s a barometer of progress for the city, which shut down four years ago this week when COVID upended daily life in March 2020.
“To go from four years ago, to today, is phenomenal, amazing, and makes all of us smile,” said Kathy McCarthy of Meet Minneapolis. “The success of events such as this one, or large conventions, helps us bring in additional business. Many times, we use this as a selling point.”
According to an analysis by Meet Minneapolis, the city set a record last week with nearly 10,000 hotel rooms occupied on Tuesday, March 5. The hotel occupancy rate throughout the week increased 115 percent from 2023, driven not only by the Big Ten women’s tournament but also by a major American Physical Society meeting.
With the men’s tournament in town, thousands more fans took road trips from nearby states to catch more basketball action this weekend.
Keri Dodson, an Illini fan from Western Illinois, said she had been planning this trip since November. It’s her first time visiting Minneapolis.
“Really beautiful downtown. We love staying downtown,” Dodson said. “We’ve seen a lot of Illini fans here, and it’s very cool. It’s nice to feel that connection again (after COVID).”
Omar Brown, a senior vice president with the Big Ten Conference, said Minneapolis is a “big part” of the league – which is set to expand its footprint even further next year.
“The city is magnificent. Minneapolis is one of the best sports cities in America,” Brown said. “For us to be able to bring our tournament here and have all the fans here, it’s the right place at the right time.”
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Police are investigating after three men were shot early on Saturday morning.
MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis police are investigating after three men were shot in the Ventura Village neighborhood early Saturday morning.
According to Minneapolis police, officers were called to the area around East 21st Street and South 15th Avenue around 5 a.m. Saturday.
Officers found three men had been shot. One of the men died and the two others were taken to the hospital with what police described as life-threatening injuries.
Officials said the shooting happened at a small homeless encampment.
Police have not announced any arrests as of Saturday morning.
KARE 11 will update this story as more information is made available.
This Halloween the chocolate shop is getting very festive.
MARINE ON SAINT CROIX, Minn. — A small sweet shop in a Minnesota river town has won some BIG awards for its chocolates.
St. Croix Chocolate Company in Marine on St. Croix has won national and international awards including Best of Show in this year’s America’s Division of the International Chocolate Awards.
Their chocolates are available at the St. Croix Chocolate Company kitchen or online.
This Halloween they are selling a Halloween Countdown Calendar that features 14 prize-winning recipes made into ghosts, bats, skulls and other spooky configurations. They also have a Boo Bag-handled tote that comes with their “best of” Halloween assortment.
Owner and Chocolatier, Robyn Dochterman, joined KARE 11 Saturday to share what St. Croix Chocolate Company has to offer.
MINNEAPOLIS — Making pasta at home is relatively simple, as long as you have the right tools.
October is National Pasta Month and Red Rabbit‘s Corporate Chef, Adam Lerner, joined KARE 11 Saturday to show us how to make homemade noodles in the confines of your own kitchen.
