The Minnesota Lynx in between Dinner and Dessert

Two weeks ago, I wrote an article about if you were attending a baby shower that you should try to find a sporting event on route. These rules also apply for a wedding. This weekend Nicole and I are in Minneapolis, MN for one of our best friend’s weddings. In fact, I am in the wedding party. But that would not deter me from finding an event to attend.

We had the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner on Friday night and the wedding Sunday evening – leaving Saturday night open for an event. I scoured the internet for events to attend, but the only event I found was the Minnesota Lynx game at the Target Center. Then the invitation came – Pre-Nuptial dinner was scheduled for Saturday night at 6 pm. What the hell! With the Lynx game starting at 7 pm, I figured there was no way to go to the game.

However, the dinner on Saturday night was scheduled for Palomino’s – a restaurant within two blocks of the Target Center. Knowing my rules of sporting event attendance, I figured I could eat dinner and make it in time for the second half of the game. Since I would not arrive until halftime (at that time the box office would be closed) I bought my ticket on Friday afternoon from the box office. I paid $10 for the cheapest seat in the arena.

I arrived at the Target Center during halftime. I walked up to the gate (thinking they may not even be checking tickets at this point) and saw fans were being checked by security and the ticket takers were scanning tickets. The security guard checked my bag and said, “Is that a video camera?” “Yes,” I said. He said that video cameras were not allowed in the arena. I told him, “You’re kidding, right? This is the WNBA!” I walked away and rather than heading back to the hotel to drop off the camera, I thought I would find a different gate. Next, I walked into the NBA City Restaurant and asked if there was an entrance to the arena. They pointed me to the entrance and instead of walking through the security entrance, I walked through the exit. No security scan. No checked ticket. Instead of a safe fan with a video camera entering the arena, I was a rogue fan entering the exit.

The Lynx beat the Houston Comets handily 85-71 and Seimone Augustus was by far the high scorer with 27 points. Although the Target Center does not have all the amenities of the newer arenas it is in a great location within downtown Minneapolis.

I made it back to the dinner within an hour and most people had no idea I had left. Some just thought I was in the bathroom for awhile! So as with all trips, there is always a way to make it to a game if you can plan creatively.