MINNEAPOLIS- Minneapolis is one of three cities that are finalists in hosting a World’s Fair expo for 2023.
It has been more than 30 years since the World’s Fair was in the United States, when it was hosted in New Orleans in 1984. The other two finalist cities are Buenos Aires, Argentina and Lodz, Poland.
The World’s Fair that Minnesota is competing for is a ‘specialized expo’ which looks at a particular theme. The theme is “Healthy People, Healthy Planet,” ostensibly because of Minneapolis’s extensive bike trail system, as well as many beautiful parks and lakes. The expo would also focus on Minnesota’s medical device and technology industry, and the water conservation efforts by the city. The specialized expo will last for three months and is estimated to attract around 12 million visitors who would spend an estimated $4 billion.
Donald Trump helped in the process when he signed the U.S. Wants to Compete for a World Expo Act in April, which helps to push Minneapolis’ bid for the expo forward at the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE).
This continues President Obama’s support for the project back in December. The act does specify, however, that federal funds will not be used for the setup of the World’s Fair pavilion tents or exhibits. Furthermore, state officials have indicated that taxpayer dollars will not be spent on fair infrastructure either, meaning that it will come from private donors. The planning committee is headed up by former Secretary of State, Mark Ritchie and a vote was taken by the Minneapolis city council in support of hosting the World’s Fair.
The General Assembly of the BIE will decide which city will be hosting the expo during a meeting this November.
This event will be amongst the other mega events that Minneapolis will be hosting in the next few years, including the Super Bowl LII in 2018 and the 2019 Final Four Basketball Championships.
