U.S. Bank Stadium station
| Company type | Light rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | June 26, 2004 |
| Headquarters | Minneapolis , United States |
Area served | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Products | METRO Blue Line and Green Line services |
U.S. Bank Stadium station (previously known as Downtown East/Metrodome and Downtown East) serves as a light rail stop on the Metro Blue Line and Green Line within Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Positioned next to U.S. Bank Stadium at the eastern edge of downtown Minneapolis, this side-platform station began operations with the Blue Line on June 26, 2004.
In March 2016, the station adopted the name U.S. Bank Stadium station to align with the new stadium developed for the Minnesota Vikings. Metro Transit receives $300,000 each year from the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority and the team through naming rights agreements, which include promotional activities inside the stadium and marketing efforts aimed at increasing transit usage during stadium events.
Services and connections
Serving both METRO Green and Blue Lines, this station functions as the main interchange point between them and is the final shared stop for east/south-bound trains. Passengers traveling to the airport on Green Line trains are advised via posters to transfer to the Blue Line at Downtown East.
Prior to the Green Line’s launch, this station was a vital hub for University of Minnesota Twin Cities students commuting to East and West Bank campuses through nearby frequent bus routes. With the Green Line now providing a direct link between Minneapolis and St. Paul, only Route 3 bus continues to stop here.
Pedestrian bridge
After the Metrodome was demolished in 2014 to make way for U.S. Bank Stadium, which opened in 2016, plans for a pedestrian bridge were approved in 2015 to facilitate safe passage of stadium visitors over the light rail tracks. Originally projected to cost $7 million—with half of funding from the Vikings—the bids received by late 2015 increased expenses to $9.7 million due to a compressed schedule and limited contractor interest. Last-minute modifications further pushed the final price tag to $10.6 million.
Signalling
East of this station, beyond 4th Street and Chicago Avenue, trains operate under automatic block signaling (ABS). Unlike downtown light rail vehicles that must obey stop lights, this section uses signals showing vertical or horizontal white bars to guide operators.
The two METRO lines separate east of this location, crossing over Interstate 35W.
Art
A distinctive artistic element near the station is a series of large decorative arches and plaza brickwork created by artist Andrew Leicester. These arches pay homage to the nearby Stone Arch Bridge, an iconic structure spanning the Mississippi River. The brick patterns are inspired by textile designs worn by immigrants during the 19th century in Minneapolis’s Elliot Park neighborhood.
Notable places nearby
- Downtown East Commons
- Guthrie Theater (3 blocks)
- Hennepin County Medical Center (2 blocks)
- Hiawatha LRT Trail
- Minneapolis Armory (1 block)
- Former Star Tribune Headquarters (1 block)
- Mill City Museum (3 blocks)
- Samatar Crossing
- U.S. Bank Stadium