
Several major events drawing hundreds of thousands to downtown Minneapolis
You can hear it, and you can see it, Downtown Minneapolis was buzzing with action Saturday. The Minneapolis Downtown Council estimates there'll be about 100,000 people in the city Saturday night.
Kendrick Lamar and Sza are set to shake the U.S Bank Stadium as they launch their Grand National Tour with more than 48,000 tickets sold.
"It's super important to me seeing community come together," said Joely Nelson.
Meanwhile, just a few blocks away, local bars are getting ready for the rush- preparing to welcome thousands more who will be taking in the Timberwolves take on the Los Angeles Lakers in game one of the NBA playoffs.
Issac Lebens-Englund is the service manager at Tom's Watch Bar. He said his team has been gearing up for the nights festivities by ordering more beverages and scheduling the entire staff to keep up with the crowds.
"We can expect this to be one of our busiest times of the year," he said. "It was last year, and we are planning on the same thing this year."
Duininck said concerts and sporting events are needed to revitalize the city.
"It's a lot of people coming down for dinner, drinks, and cocktails meeting with friends," said Adam Duininck, of the Minneapolis Downtown Council. " It's also great for social fabric for community and city to have that many people on street seeing for themselves how vibrant and safe downtown can be."
In 2024, the Downtown Council said downtown welcomed about 10 million people who were attending events, concerts, and sports.
Above all Duininck said all the foot traffic is fuel for the local economy making all these events even more memorable.
In the next 90 days, there will be nearly 300-thousand people attending events at U-S Bank Stadium. They predict, people will spend more than $40 million dollars while in town.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx among honorees at 2025 BET Awards: Full winners list (updating live)
The 2025 BET Awards, hosted by Kevin Hart, took center stage Monday night to honor Black excellence across music, film, television, and sports. Dubbed "Culture's Biggest Night," the star-studded event showcased the best of the best in creative achievement. Heading into the ceremony, Kendrick Lamar led the nominations with an impressive 10 nods, including Album of the Year for GNX, Video of the Year, Viewer's Choice Award, Best Collaboration, Video Director of the Year, and Best Male Hip Hop Artist. Close behind were Doechii, Drake, Future, and GloRilla, each receiving six nominations. Metro Boomin came in with five bids, while SZA and The Weeknd tied with four nominations apiece. More from GoldDerby Billy Bob Thornton on 'Landman's' overnight 'international hit' status and how he's 'afraid' to read reviews 'Sly Stone was way ahead of the game': Questlove explains the 'genius' legacy of the late funk-rock master Pickleball, punchlines, and personal growth: 'Hacks' stars Megan Stalter and Paul W. Downs on their bond and what's next Lamar's fellow Album of the Year nominees are Chris Brown for 11:11 (Deluxe), Doechii for Alligator Bites Never Heal, Beyoncé for Cowboy Carter, GloRilla for Glorious, the Weeknd for Hurry Up Tomorrow, Drake and PartyNextDoor for Some Sexy Songs 4 U, and Future and Metro Boomin for We Don't Trust You. The eight films nominated for Best Movie are Bad Boys: Ride or Die, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, Luther: Never Too Much, Mufasa: The Lion King, One of Them Days, Rebel Ridge, The Piano Lesson, and The Six Triple Eight. Adding to the night's celebration, BET previously announced that Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx, Snoop Dogg, and Kirk Franklin will receive the prestigious BET Ultimate Icon Award. The honor recognizes their decades of groundbreaking contributions to music, entertainment, advocacy, and community impact. The 25th annual BET Awards will air live on BET from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles at 8 p.m. ET/PT. See the full list of 2025 BET Awards winners below. ALBUM OF THE YEAR 11:11 (Deluxe) — Chris Brown Alligator Bites Never Heal — Doechii Cowboy Carter — Beyoncé Glorious — GloRilla GNX — Kendrick Lamar Hurry Up Tomorrow — The Weeknd Some Sexy Songs 4 U — Drake and PartyNextDoor We Don't Trust You — Future and Metro Boomin VIDEO OF THE YEAR '3AM in Tokeyo' — Key Glock 'A Bar Song (Tipsy)' — Shaboozey 'After Hours' — Kehlani 'Denial Is a River' — Doechii 'Family Matters' — Drake 'Not Like Us' — Kendrick Lamar 'Timeless' — The Weeknd featuring Playboi Carti 'Type Shit' — Future and Metro Boomin featuring Travis Scott and Playboi Carti VIEWER'S CHOICE AWARD 'Residuals — Chris Brown 'Denial Is a River — Doechii Nokia — Drake 'Like That — Future and Metro Boomin featuring Kendrick Lamar 'TGIF — GloRilla 'Not Like Us — Kendrick Lamar 'Luther — Kendrick Lamar featuring SZA 'Brokey — Latto BEST COLLABORATION '30 for 30' — SZA featuring Kendrick Lamar 'Alter Ego' — Doechii featuring JT 'Are You Even Real' — Teddy Swims featuring Giveon 'Beckham' — Dee Billz featuring Kyle Richh, Kai Swervo and KJ Swervo 'Bless' — Lil Wayne, Wheezy and Young Thug 'Like That' — Future and Metro Boomin featuring Kendrick Lamar 'Luther' — Kendrick Lamar featuring SZA 'Sticky' — Tyler, the Creator featuring GloRilla, Sexyy Red and Lil Wayne 'Timeless' — The Weeknd featuring Playboi Carti BEST MALE R&B/POP ARTIST Bruno Mars Chris Brown Drake Fridayy Leon Thomas III Teddy Swims The Weeknd Usher BEST FEMALE R&B/POP ARTIST Ari Lennox Ayra Starr Coco Jones Kehlani Muni Long Summer Walker SZA Victoria Monét BEST FEMALE HIP HOP ARTIST Cardi B Doechii Doja Cat GloRilla Latto Megan Thee Stallion Nicki Minaj Rapsody Sexyy Red BEST MALE HIP HOP ARTIST BigXthaPlug Bossman Dlow Burna Boy Drake Future Kendrick Lamar Key Glock Lil Wayne Tyler, the Creator BEST NEW ARTIST 41 Ayra Starr BigXthaPlug Bossman Dlow Dee Billz Leon Thomas III October London Shaboozey Teddy Swims BEST GROUP 41 Common and Pete Rock Drake and PartyNextDoor Flo Future and Metro Boomin Jacquees and Dej Loaf Larry June, 2 Chainz and the Alchemist Maverick City Music BET HER AWARD Beautiful People — Mary J. Blige Blackbiird — Beyoncé Bloom — Doechii Defying Gravity — Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande Heart of a Woman — Summer Walker Hold On — Tems In My Bag — Flo and GloRilla VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR Anderson .Paak B Pace Productions and Jacquees Benny Boom Cactus Jack Cole Bennett Dave Free and Kendrick Lamar Dave Meyers Foggieraw Tyler, the Creator BEST GOSPEL/INSPIRATIONAL AWARD 'A God (There Is)' — Common and Pete Rock Feat. Jennifer Hudson 'Amen' — Pastor Mike Jr. 'Better Days' — Fridayy 'Church Doors' — Yolanda Adams Feat. Sir The Baptist and Donald Lawrence (Terry Hunter Remix) 'Constant' — Maverick City Music, Jordin Sparks, Chandler Moore and Anthony Gargiula 'Deserve to Win' — Tamela Mann 'Faith' — Rapsody 'Rain Down on Me' — Glorilla Feat. Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT Any Gabrielly (Brazil) Ayra Starr (Nigeria) Bashy (United Kingdom) Black Sherif (Ghana) Ezra Collective (United Kingdom) Joé Dwèt Filé (France) Mc Luanna (Brazil) Rema (Nigeria) Sdm (France) Tyla (South Africa) Uncle Waffles (Swaziland) BEST NEW INTERNATIONAL ACT Abigail Chams (Tanzania) Ajuliacosta (Brazil) Amabbi (Brazil) Dlala Thukzin (South Africa) Dr Yaro (France) Kwn (United Kingdom) Maglera Doe Boy (South Africa) Merveille (France) Odeal (United Kingdom) Shallipopi (Nigeria) Txc (South Africa) BEST MOVIE Bad Boys: Ride or Die Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F Luther: Never Too Much Mufasa: The Lion King One of Them Days Rebel Ridge The Piano Lesson The Six Triple Eight BEST ACTOR Aaron Pierre Aldis Hodge Anthony Mackie Colman Domingo Denzel Washington Jamie Foxx Joey Bada$$ Kevin Hart Sterling K. Brown Will Smith BEST ACTRESS Andra Day Angela Bassett Coco Jones Cynthia Erivo Keke Palmer Kerry Washington Quinta Brunson Viola Davis Zendaya YOUNG STARS AWARD Akira Akbar Blue Ivy Carter Graceyn 'Gracie' Hollingsworth Heiress Harris Melody Hurd Thaddeus J. Mixson Tyrik Johnson Vanvan SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR A'ja Wilson Angel Reese Claressa Shields Coco Gauff Dawn Staley Flau'jae Johnson JuJu Watkins Sha'Carri Richardson Simone Biles SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR Aaron Judge Anthony Edwards Deion Sanders Jalen Hurts Jayson Tatum LeBron James Saquon Barkley Stephen Curry SIGN UP for Gold Derby's free newsletter with latest predictions Best of GoldDerby Brandon Scott Jones on CBS' 'Ghosts': 'I enjoy playing characters that are desperate' 'She's got tunnel vision': Wendi McLendon-Covey reveals what she loves most about her character Joyce on 'St. Denis Medical' Marlon Wayans on laughing through tragedy in 'Good Grief' and why social media has made comedy 'toxic' Click here to read the full article.


Fox News
an hour ago
- Fox News
North Carolina great Rashad McCants dishes on the NBA Finals, Michael Jordan, Bill Belichick and more
Rashad McCants is a former McDonald's All-American who continued his basketball career at the University of North Carolina, where he established himself as one of the Tar Heels' all-time greats, winning a National Championship in 2005 and twice being named an All-American. His collegiate success led to him being selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2005 NBA Draft, 14th overall. Following an NBA career that saw him average 10 points per game between stops in Minnesota and Sacramento, McCants became the first-ever pick in Ice Cube's Big3 league. His team won the league's inaugural championship and McCants was named championship game MVP. On Monday, McCants, who previously wrote a book on the exploitation of student athletes - Plantation Eduction: The Exploitation of the Modern-Day Athlete-Student, joined OutKick exclusively on Monday to talk NBA Finals, Bill Belichick's fit at UNC, playing alongside Kevin Garnett, the NCAA Transfer Portal and more. Anthony Farris: With the NBA Finals currently tied at one game a piece between Oklahoma City and Indiana, who do you have coming out as the eventual winner and in how many games? Rashad McCants: I have Indiana in seven (games) because (head coach) Rick Carlisle's not going to allow certain things to happen where (the Pacers) don't have an opportunity to win, like you saw in Game One. I think OKC's lack of experience will have them put in situations where they'll compromise games and I think that alone will allow Indiana to creep in. And the (Indiana) fanbase can propel a new story to the front of the tabloids instead of OKC doing so by having the MVP (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander). Farris: If you're starting a team today, do you do so with SGA or Tyrese Haliburton? McCants: There's preference on what type of team you want to build. But right now, if I'm a winner, and I want a team with chemistry, I'm gonna pick Haliburton because he distributes the ball. He shares the sugar, makes sure everyone gets involved. And he's not afraid to take the last shot. That has nothing to do with Shai, it just has everything to do with the advantages of Haliburton being a team-oriented guy. Farris: You played your first two NBA seasons with Kevin Garnett on the Timberwolves. What was that experience like? McCants: My experience with him was completely different than everyone else's because I got to see the raw element of who he is in downtime when he's not wearing the mask and he's not performing. A lot of people can say through their experiences, "this is how he is," "this is how he's that." But if he hasn't let you through the door to let you see who he is, you'd see that he's just a fun dude. He likes to do everything that everyone else likes to do, but he's very competitive, very intense and very funny. So if you get past a lot of those little areas where he can scare you or intimidate you, you'll find that he's just a funny ass dude that's cool as hell… Farris: As hard a worker as everyone says? McCants: Absolutely. He understands the dynamics of details similar to Kobe. I think having Kev as my mentor and vet, felt like I had Kobe Bryant as the same type of guy. I knew they were cut from the same type of cloth, both being my heroes. It was not a drop-off at all when it came to competitiveness, details, footwork, all of those things. Farris: You played against Kobe, LeBron, Wade, Arenas, others. Who was the best you played against during your NBA career? McCants: Kobe Bryant was the best. I was a big student of his. But when it comes down to just hard to guard a chess master. (He was) like Bobby Fischer. He was just one of those guys you had to prepare two-to-three days ahead for. Outside of him, probably Vince Carter. …Just that era period. You talk about shooting guards and small forwards, from Paul Pierce to Tracy McGrady to Ray Allen to Dwyane Wade to Michael Redd, we had to see a lot of (star) guys, so it's hard to just pinpoint one or two guys. But then again, it's actually really, really easy because there was one guy that was better than all of those guys - Kobe. Farris: Switching over to college athletics, what are your thoughts on the transfer portal? Do you think it's a good thing? McCants: Whether it's a good thing or a bad thing, there's just no structure to it. …I think it can be a good thing if it's done right and if kids are not entitled to just show up and do nothing and demand things. There has to be a contractual obligation. For you to get this money, you've gotta show up and go to practice, you've got to be attentive. There are things now: boundaries, restrictions. It's not just that you can make money, and you act like you're a millionaire, you don't have to come and perform. In my book I talk about performance-based requirements and academic-based requirements. If you're here for basketball, you gotta do all these things before you transfer. If you're Caleb Love and you wanna leave North Carolina and go to Arizona, alright, did you fulfill all your requirements? Farris: When you were at UNC, was Michael Jordan ever around and were there open communication lines? McCants: He came by. It was Michael Jordan so we didn't have access to him like that (laughing), but he definitely came by to practices to say hello. He'd come back and say hello to everybody and bet us to shoot from halfcourt and keep it movin. Farris: Who was winning that? McCants: Me, of course. Farris: So you beat Jordan? McCants: Well, I hit (the shot attempt) first. Farris: How are you feeling, as a Tar Heel, with A) having Bill Belichick as the school's football coach? And B) with everything that surrounds him right now?McCants: (laughing) I like Belichick a lot. I think the UNC move was a good move for him. But I think with his morale and everything around him now, (his girlfriend Jordon Hudson) and everything, it's just controversy waiting to happen. It's more pressure on him than ever before, because if he doesn't win, it's the distractions that around him and he's not really focused. And if he does win, this is maybe a little bit too easy. You came down to the college ranks to dominate. I love the fact that he's in North Carolina to give some prestige back (to the program). Mack Brown tried. It's an opportunity for him to build something. But Belichick, I just think…he's gonna be a man. He's gonna be a man and do what you wanna do. I'm not gonna tell him not to do it. You know, we all want to do it but you gotta have enough money to do it. And if you don't, you don't. Cool. But salute to Bill. He's having fun. He's living his life. Farris: One last question. Ice Cube's Big3 returns this weekend. You won a championship in the league's first season. How big of an adjustment is it going from playing 5-on-5 full court to 3-on-3 half court? McCants: When you talk about preparation for it and the half court and the difference, you play a lot harder because you can get exposed a lot quicker. There's not a lot of help (defense). With 5-on-5 you've got a lot of extra help with two extra guys on the court. You can cut the court (angles) off and kind of rest a little bit. But 3-on3, as soon as a shot goes up, somebody gets the rebound, and you can throw it to (a player at) the three point line and shoot it (immediately). So everyone's constantly running around. You have to be in (good) cardio (shape). It's not what everyone thinks it is. It's definitely harder than 5-on-5. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.


USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
BET Awards winners list: Kendrick Lamar, Doechii and Drake lead nominations
BET Awards winners list: Kendrick Lamar, Doechii and Drake lead nominations Show Caption Hide Caption 2024 BET Awards: Drake gets snubbed while Usher, SZA win big The 2024 BET Awards saw several snubs and surprises, most notably Drake, who came with seven nominations and left with zero awards. unbranded - Entertainment The BET Awards will mark 25 years of celebrating Black excellence during the June 9 ceremony in Los Angeles. The awards celebrate achievements across music, movies, TV and sports. "Not Like Us" lyricist Kendrick Lamar leads the nominees with 10. "Deniial is a River" rapper Doechii, Lamar foe and genre peer Drake, "We Don't Trust You" rap star Future and Grammy-nominated "Type" hitmaker GloRilla follow with six nods each. Comedian Kevin Hart returns to host the show for the second time while Lil Wayne, Teyana Taylor, Playboi Carti and Leon Thomas are set to perform. The ceremony airs on BET at 8 p.m. ET/PT from the Peacock Theater in LA. BET Awards 2025 winners Album of the year "11:11 Deluxe" (Chris Brown) "Alligator Bites Never Heal" (Doechii) "Cowboy Carter" (Beyoncé) "Glorious" (GloRilla) "GNX" (Kendrick Lamar) "Hurry Up Tomorrow" (The Weeknd) "Some Sexy Songs 4 U" (Drake and PartyNextDoor) "We Don't Trust You" (Future and Metro Boomin) Video of the year "3AM in Tokeyo" – Key Glock "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" – Shaboozey "After Hours" (Kehlani "Denial Is a River" (Doechii) "Family Matters" (Drake) "Not Like Us" (Kendrick Lamar) "Timeless" (The Weeknd featuring Playboi Carti) "Type" (Future and Metro Boomin featuring Travis Scott and Playboi Carti) Viewer's choice award "Residuals" (Chris Brown) "Denial Is a River" (Doechii) "Nokia" (Drake) "Like That" (Future and Metro Boomin featuring Kendrick Lamar) "TGIF" (GloRilla) "Not Like Us" (Kendrick Lamar) "Luther" (Kendrick Lamar featuring SZA) "Brokey" (Latto) Best collaboration "30 for 30" (SZA featuring Kendrick Lamar) "Alter Ego" (Doechii featuring JT) "Are You Even Real" (Teddy Swims featuring Giveon) "Beckham" (Dee Billz featuring Kyle Richh, Kai Swervo and KJ Swervo) "Bless" (Lil Wayne, Wheezy and Young Thug) "Like That" (Future and Metro Boomin featuring Kendrick Lamar) "Luther" (Kendrick Lamar featuring SZA) "Sticky" (Tyler, the Creator featuring GloRilla, Sexyy Red and Lil Wayne) "Timeless" (The Weeknd featuring Playboi Carti) Best male pop/R&B artist Bruno Mars Chris Brown Drake Fridayy Leon Thomas III Teddy Swims The Weeknd Usher Best female R&B/pop artist Ari Lennox Ayra Starr Coco Jones Kehlani Muni Long Summer Walker SZA Victoria Monét Best female hip-hop artist Cardi B Doechii Doja Cat GloRilla Latto Megan Thee Stallion Nicki Minaj Rapsody Sexyy Red Best male hip-hop artist BigXthaPlug BossMan Dlow Burna Boy Drake Future Kendrick Lamar Key Glock Lil Wayne Tyler, the Creator Best new artist 41 Ayra Starr BigXthaPlug BossMan Dlow Dee Billz Leon Thomas III October London Shaboozey Teddy Swims Best group 41 Common and Pete Rock Drake and PartyNextDoor Flo Future and Metro Boomin Jacquees and Dej Loaf Larry June, 2 Chainz and The Alchemist Maverick City Music BET Her award "Beautiful People' (Mary J. Blige) "Blackbiird" (Beyoncé) "Bloom" (Doechii) "Burning" (Tems) "Defying Gravity" (Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande) "Heart of a Woman" (Summer Walker) "Hold On" (Tems) "In My Bag" (Flo and GloRilla) Dr. Bobby Jones best gospel/inspirational award "A God (There Is)" (Common and Pete Rock featuring Jennifer Hudson) "Amen" (Pastor Mike Jr.) "Better Days" (Fridayy) "Church Doors" (Yolanda Adams featuring Sir the Baptist and Donald Lawrence) "Constant" (Maverick City Music, Jordin Sparks, Chandler Moore and Anthony Gargiula) "Deserve to Win" (Tamela Mann) "Faith" (Rapsody) "Rain Down on Me" (GloRilla featuring Kirk Franklin and Maverick City Music) Best new international act Abigail Chams (Tanzania) Ajuliacosta (Brazil) Amabbi (Brazil) DLALA THUKZIN (South Africa) Dr. Yaro [fr] (France) KWN (United Kindgom) Maglera Doe Boy (South Africa) Merveille [fr] (France) Odeal (United Kingdom) Shallipopi (Nigeria) TxC (South Africa) Best international act Any Gabrielly (Brazil) Ayra Starr (Nigeria) Bashy (United Kingdom) Black Sherif (Ghana) Ezra Collective (United Kingdom) Joé Dwèt Filé (France) MC Luanna (Brazil) Rema (Nigeria) SDM (France) Tyla (South Africa) Uncle Waffles (Swaziland) Video director of the year Anderson .Paak B Pace Productions and Jacquees Benny Boom Cactus Jack Cole Bennett Dave Free and Kendrick Lamar Dave Meyers Foggieraw Tyler, the Creator Best actor Aaron Pierre Aldis Hodge Anthony Mackie Colman Domingo Denzel Washington Jamie Foxx Joey Badass Kevin Hart Sterling K. Brown Will Smith Best actress Andra Day Angela Bassett Coco Jones Cynthia Erivo Keke Palmer Kerry Washington Quinta Brunson Viola Davis Zendaya Sportswoman of the year A'ja Wilson Angel Reese Claressa Shields Coco Gauff Dawn Staley Flau'jae Johnson JuJu Watkins Sha'Carri Richardson Simone Biles Sportsman of the year Aaron Judge Anthony Edwards Deion Sanders Jalen Hurts Jayson Tatum LeBron James Saquon Barkley Stephen Curry Ultimate icon award Mariah Carey Jamie Foxx Snoop Dogg Kirk Franklin YoungStars award Akira Akbar Blue Ivy Carter Graceyn Hollingsworth Heiress Diana Harris Melody Hurd Thaddeus J. Mixon Tyrik Johnson Van Van Best movie