Timberwolves Game Night: Getting to Target Center Without Paying $75 to Park
TL;DR: Getting to and from Target Center for Timberwolves games in Minneapolis. Located downtown on First Avenue, with multiple parking and transit options.
Target Center sits on First Avenue in downtown Minneapolis, right in the middle of the entertainment district. It shares the neighborhood with Target Field, the North Loop restaurants, and about a dozen parking ramps that know exactly how much you're willing to pay on game night.
Parking
Target Center parking has gotten genuinely expensive. When the Wolves were bad, you could park two blocks away for $10. Now that they're competitive, the pricing reflects it.
Close-in ramps and lots near Target Center charge $25-75 on game nights depending on the opponent and how deep the playoff run goes. The Butler Park surface lot across from the entrance has been spotted charging $45 for a regular season Wednesday game.
Further out (5-8 blocks), you can find garage spots for $10-15 on apps like SpotHero. The trade-off is the walk, which in January is not nothing.
The downtown trap: Target Center games start at 7 PM on weeknights. You're driving into downtown during the last gasp of rush hour, competing for ramp space with people leaving work late, going to dinner, and heading to the game. Budget time.
Light Rail
Target Field Station (Blue and Green lines) is about a 5-minute walk from Target Center. Same station, different venue. Light rail is the best budget option - $2.50 peak fare, $5 round trip.
Post-game crowds on the platform are real but manageable. Wolves games draw about 18,000, not 66,000 like the Vikings. You'll get on a train within 10-15 minutes of leaving the arena.
Rideshare
Works fine for Wolves games. Smaller crowd than football means post-game surge is usually $5-10 above normal, not the 2-3x multiplier you see at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The pickup zone is on 2nd Avenue. After the game, walk a block, grab your ride, gone.
Car Service
Target Center is in the heart of the entertainment district, which means the streets around it are a mess of one-way traffic, construction, and pedestrians on game nights. A driver who knows downtown Minneapolis makes a real difference - they know which blocks to avoid, where to stage for pickup, and how to get back to the highway without sitting through six light cycles on Hennepin.
For the premium fan: If you're sitting courtside or in a suite, the car service matches the experience. You're not standing in a parking ramp elevator after spending the evening in a premium seat.
For groups: Four people going to a Wolves game from Edina or Plymouth. Split a car service four ways and it's competitive with parking + gas per person - and nobody drives home after the pregame.
For weeknight games: Leave work, get picked up, arrive at Target Center relaxed instead of stressed from fighting I-394 traffic. Get dropped off after. Simple.
| Option | Cost | Post-Game Wait |
|---|---|---|
| Close ramp | $25-75 | Ramp line |
| Distant garage | $10-15 | 10-min walk |
| Light Rail | $2.50-5 | 10-15 min platform |
| Uber/Lyft | $15-30 | 5-15 min |
| Car Service | Contact for quote | Staged, minimal |
Tips Locals Know
The 1st Avenue ramp is the move. It's attached to First Avenue (the music venue), one block from Target Center. On non-concert nights, it's often overlooked because people search for "Target Center parking" specifically. Rates are competitive and the exit puts you right on 1st Ave heading to I-394.
Take I-394 west, not I-94. After games, the I-94 on-ramps near Target Center back up. I-394 west is two blocks away and flows better for anyone heading to the west suburbs (Plymouth, Minnetonka, Eden Prairie, Wayzata).
Wolves games are great for walkups. Unlike Vikings games where everything sells out, Wolves games often have reasonable parking available day-of, even for popular opponents. Don't overpay for prepaid spots unless it's a playoff game.
Target Center and Target Field share the same neighborhood. If there's a simultaneous event (Wolves game + concert at First Ave, for example), parking gets significantly worse. Check the events calendar for the whole area, not just Target Center.
NS Limo provides game day transportation to Target Center, U.S. Bank Stadium, Target Field, Xcel Energy Center, and all Twin Cities venues. Book online or call (320) 223-8146.
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