In the years since Bruce Springsteen first played the metro, at the old Guthrie Theater in September 1975, the Boss has been a frequent visitor to the Twin Cities and has performed more than two dozen local shows over the decades.
His Tuesday concert at Target Center is likely to be a memorable one.
It’s the opening night of his Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour with the E Street Band, which will attract fans and attention from out of the state. It also follows Springsteen’s recent Minnesota activity, which included calling out ICE and dedicating “The Promised Land” to the late Renee Good at a New Jersey benefit show, releasing the protest song “Streets of Minneapolis,” making a surprise appearance at a lunchtime benefit show for the families of Good and Alex Pretti at First Avenue and returning to the state to sing his new song at the No Kings rally in St. Paul on Saturday.
If you’re planning to see the show, or if you’re still on the fence about buying tickets, here are some things to know:
Springsteen’s touring history
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He’s logged eight shows in the late St. Paul Civic Center, three at the late Met Center, three at Target Center, 10 at Xcel Energy Center (11 if you include his 2004 Vote for Change show) and a pair of solo performances at Northrop Auditorium,
In 1984, he kicked off his Born in the U.S.A. Tour in St. Paul with four shows at the Civic Center. The day prior to opening night, he filmed his Brian De Palma-directed music video for “Dancing in the Dark” on the stage with then-unknown actress Courteney Cox and 200 extras.
RELATED: Watch Bruce Springsteen dance in the dark with 91-year-old St. Paul fan
Tickets
While he won’t be performing on an in-the-round stage, Springsteen did open up sales to seats behind the stage. The good seats available at face value through Axs are long gone, but there are tickets still available in the far corners of the building as well as through resellers.
As of Monday afternoon, the lowest get-in-the-door price was $63.87 for 200-level seats behind the stage. Expect to see some scalper prices drop Tuesday as the concert’s start time approaches.
Getting there
Fans are in luck, as both U.S. Bank Stadium and Target Field do not have events Tuesday night, nor does the Armory, which can cause post-concert traffic snarls for those returning to St. Paul.
There are nearly 25,000 parking spaces in 38 parking lots and ramps throughout downtown, with most providing a short walk or bus and light rail connections to Target Center. The venue suggests using the SpotHero app to book “convenient and affordable parking in advance.”
Target Center is served by both Uber and Lyft, with surge pricing all but guaranteed.
There are dedicated bike lanes throughout downtown and numerous bike rack options near the arena.
Metro Transit provides the easiest, and cheapest, way to get to the show. Target Center is serviced by the Blue and Green light rail lines as well as numerous buses. A mere $4 is good for a round trip. See metrotransit.org or call 612-373-3333 for further details.
Getting inside
As should be expected for any large venue, Target Center has a long list of prohibited items, most obvious (fireworks, outside food and beverage, weapons, laptops), some not so much (selfie sticks, strollers, apparel with “explicit wording and/or graphics”).
Concertgoers can bring bags no larger than 5” x 9”; reusable, plastic drinkware with lid; collapsible umbrellas; binoculars in a cloth case; service animals; e-readers and tablets.
One thing to know if you plan to get something to eat or drink, Target Center is a cashless venue. That means only a credit or debit card or a contactless option like Apple Pay or Google Pay will be accepted.
What to expect from the Boss
Springsteen is famous for his lengthy, but energetic, performances. He typically draws selections from throughout his career and mixes up the set lists from night to night.
Tour rehearsals took place last week in New Jersey, according to USA Today. They included the songs “Streets of Minneapolis,” “Across the Border” (a rarely-performed track from Springsteen’s solo album “The Ghost of Tom Joad”) and a cover of Edwin Starr’s “War,” which he last performed in 2003. Springsteen also covered Bob Dylan’s “Chimes of Freedom” and played his own politically charged tracks “Youngstown,” “Murder Incorporated” and “American Skin (41 Shots).”
He’ll be joined on stage by the E Street Band, a four-piece horn section and five-person choir as well as a special guest appearance from Tom Morello, with whom he played First Avenue in January.
