Minneapolis, (October 4, 2018) – Today, Sports Minneapolis, powered by Meet Minneapolis, is pleased to announce legendary Star Tribune sports columnist Sid Hartman will be the first person in 12 years to be inducted into the Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame. The honors will take place during this year’s Minnesota Sports Awards, presented by Sports Minneapolis, on Wednesday, Oct. 24, at U.S. Bank Stadium.

“Sid has seen it all in Minnesota sports. And he has done it all, too. As a columnist, Sid has a unique voice. He’s never been about criticizing athletes or coaches. Instead, he prefers to reach important newsmakers and let them tell their stories. This is his winning formula,” said Star Tribune Assistant Managing Editor of Sports, Glen Crevier, who has been Sid’s boss for more than 20 years. “As he rounds the corner toward his 99th birthday, he is as relentless as ever pursuing news. His impact on the Minnesota sports scene is as great as any athlete he ever covered.”

Hartman’s career in the news business began during the Great Depression, when he became a delivery boy at nine years old – tossing two-cent newspapers from his bicycle. In 1944, he took his first job on the sports desk, for the Minneapolis Times. When the Times folded in 1948, Hartman went to work for the precursor of the Star Tribune, starting a run that continues to this day.

Along the way Hartman became chief cheerleader for Minnesota sports, playing a leading role in bringing professional sports to Minneapolis with his influential columns, managing the Minneapolis Lakers for a brief stint, and he has been a ubiquitous voice on WCCO radio for more than 60 years. Throughout his career, Hartman has remained a “close, personal friend” of team owners, coaches and athletes nationwide.

Hartman’s induction during the Minnesota Sports Awards will re-introduce the Star Tribune Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame, which was inaugurated in 1958 but has not included a new inductee since 2006.

The second annual Minnesota Sports Awards – created to shine a spotlight on the impact of sports throughout the state – provides fans from across Minnesota with an opportunity to nominate athletes and coaches in designated categories. This year, the Minnesota Sports Awards, presented by Sports Minneapolis, will honor Minnesota athletes and coaches in the following categories:

• High School Athlete of the Year (Male/Female) – presented by Mall of America
• Collegiate Athlete of the Year (Male/Female)
• Professional Athlete of the Year – presented by FOX Sports North
• Courage Award – presented by TRIA
• Coach of the Year
• Minnesota Sports Moment of the Year

The public is invited to attend this event which includes a silent auction, dinner and an entertaining awards ceremony featuring the athletes, coaches and high-profile, Minnesota sports celebrities.

• Oct. 24 at U.S. Bank Stadium
• Purchase online Doors open at 5:00 p.m.
• Dinner served at 6:30 p.m.
• Awards show begins at 7:30 p.m.

A portion of the proceeds from the Minnesota Sports Awards will benefit the Sanneh Foundation, created by former Major League Soccer player and native Minnesotan, Tony Sanneh. The Sanneh Foundation seeks to support and empower youth through programs targeting both physical and emotional well-being.

The second annual Minnesota Sports Awards will be carried live by FSN across multiple digital platforms and rebroadcast at a later date.

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ABOUT SPORTS MINNEAPOLIS

Sports Minneapolis is focused on recruiting, enhancing and producing sporting events in the Minneapolis area for the benefit of our community. In addition to generating significant estimated economic impact, amateur and professional sports events can help connect the community through sport, fostering health and wellness.

Minneapolis is on a winning streak in securing upcoming major sports events over the last several years, including the Super Bowl LII in 2018, the X Games 2018, 2018 WNBA All-Star Game and the NCAA Men’s Final Four in 2019, among others. Sports Minneapolis has played a major role in bringing these events to Minneapolis, along with events like Northern Lights Junior Volleyball Qualifier, USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championships and many other professional, collegiate and amateur sporting events.

For more information, visit sportsminneapolis.org.

ABOUT MEET MINNEAPOLIS
Meet Minneapolis is a private, not-for-profit, member-based association. It actively promotes and sells the Minneapolis area as a destination for conventions and meetings, works to maximize the visitor experience and markets the city as a desirable tourist destination to maximize the economic benefit to the greater Minneapolis area.

Anticipated attendance numbers are provided by partner organizations and are subject to adjustment based on meeting planner projections and post event results. Forecasted room night numbers reflect historical averages of room nights for the meeting or event.

Meet Minneapolis is accredited by the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) of Destinations International.

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Kim Insley, Meet Minneapolis Public Relations and Communication Manager, 612-767-8118
KimI@minneapolis.org
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