Wendy Blackshaw built Minnesota Sports and Events to bring world-class events to the state to drive economic impact, enhance Minnesota’s reputation, and create influential community initiatives—and it’s working. Since the regional sports commission’s 2020 inception, Blackshaw and her team have secured the 2022 NCAA Women’s Final Four, the 2023 Women’s Frozen Four, the 2023 and 2024 Big Ten women’s basketball tournament, the 2024 Big Ten men’s basketball tournament, the 2024 U.S. Olympic team trials for gymnastics, and the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. With a belief that large-scale sporting events can spur lasting economic vitality, Blackshaw worked with state legislators during the most recent session to secure $6 million to execute the U.S. Olympic team trials for gymnastics coming to Target Center, as well as an additional $13 million for future events.