Minneapolis (April 28, 2016) – The Minneapolis Convention Center is being transformed into 80 volleyball courts as the city prepares to welcome 22,000 volleyball players, family members and fans to town for the 2016 Northern Lights Qualifier.

Hosted by the Midwest Volleyball Warehouse, the event runs April 29 through May 1 and brings high school athletes and coaches from 672 girls’ volleyball teams from 23 states to Minneapolis. Its 7,000 players and 15,000 spectators will have an estimated $20 million economic impact on Minneapolis and its businesses.

“The Northern Lights Qualifier has been a huge success for Minneapolis for several years, and we’re thrilled to have them back for another great year,” said Scott Romane, executive director, Sports Minneapolis. “Bringing so many high schoolers and their families from across the country is a great way to raise the profile of Minneapolis as a sports destination, and it’s going to be a perfect time for participants to get to know Minneapolis and everything it has to offer.”

#AskMPLS your questions!

While visitors are in town, Meet Minneapolis encourages them to tweet to #AskMPLS to ask questions about the city. Meet Minneapolis team members can provide recommendations on what to do, where to eat, how to get around, and just about anything you’d like to know about the city. Visitors should also be sure to stop by Minneapolis Visitor Information on Nicollet, located in the center of the action at Nicollet and Fifth Street. It’s the perfect place to plan your time in Minneapolis, learn about transportation options, or find the perfect gift made by a Minnesota artist.

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ABOUT SPORTS MINNEAPOLIS

Sports Minneapolis, powered by Meet Minneapolis, works to recruit, enhance and produce sporting events in the Minneapolis area for the benefit of our community. We do this by partnering with event rights holders to assist them with venue selection, event services, volunteer identification, marketing and promotional support and on-site recognition opportunities in order to ensure a successful event. For more information, visit www.sportsminneapolis.org.

MEDIA CONTACT

Kristen Montag, Media & Communication Manager, 612.767.8038, kristenm@minneapolis.org