Marketing organization Meet Minneapolis is predicting that the MLB All Star Game in Minneapolis next month could bring in about $75 million, but how much the game is actually costing the city is anybody’s guess, the Star Tribune reports.
Although the actual game isn’t until July 15, events in conjunction with it run for five days, the paper says. Costs of additional security, street closings, traffic control and food will reportedly run the city about $119,000, but the Minneapolis Police Department declined to estimate how much more police overtime would cost. However, Minneapolis Police Chief Janee Harteau said she would provide costs after the event.
Scoping out likely costs, the Star Tribune says Kansas City budgeted around $900,000 to host the All-Star Game in 2012 – which included costs to demolish dilapidated buildings near the ballpark. Of that amount, an estimated $250,000 was expected in police overtime costs, KMBC reported.
San Francisco, meanwhile, reportedly paid out $500,000 in police overtime and other expenses prior to the 2007 All-Star Game, but that wasn’t the only expense. The San Francisco Gate says the city’s Municipal Transportation Agency – which oversees the city’s parking and traffic operations – amassed $818,000 in direct and indirect costs.
An estimated 160,000 fans are expected to visit the Twin Cities during the week of the All-Star Game. To accommodate the extra business downtown, the state Legislature earlier this year passed a special law to allow bars to stay open until 4 a.m. instead of the normal closing time of 2 a.m.
In addition, the Twins and Major League Baseball have asked the city that 6th Street from 1st to Hennepin Avenues be shut down for a five-day block party the week of the game.
Fans who still hope to attend the All-Star Game should be prepared to dole out big bucks to scalpers. After-market ticket brokers tell the Pioneer Press that prices range from $300 for standing-room-only tickets, to thousands of dollars to the best seats at Target Field.
Those who paid for the tickets at face-value for the game at the 40,000-seat ballpark spent anywhere from $125 to $400, the Pioneer Press says.
