What Were the First Concerts at These Classic Minnesota Venues?

When new broke earlier this week that Luke Bryan's 'Kill The Lights' tour would be the first concert ever at the Vikings' new US Bank Stadium this August, it got me wondering about what the first shows were at these other familiar Minnesota venues.

While it's gone now, having been torn down to make room for the new US Bank Stadium, according to this article, a triple bill of the Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers was the first big concert held at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, taking place on Thursday, June 26, 1986. (And tickets cost an amazing $20!)

Closer to home, the next-oldest date I could find for a major show at a familiar venue took place right here in the Med City, and the then brand-new Taylor Arena at Mayo Civic Center. (While the Mayo Civic Auditorium had been around since the late 30's, the current Taylor Arena wasn't added until the mid 80's.) Yes, it was March 6, 1987, when Bon Jovi played a date in Rochester during their 'Slippery When Wet' Tour. And, yes, they shot parts of the video for their iconic song, 'Wanted Dead or Alive' when they were here, too.

Target Center in Minneapolis opened in the fall of 1990, and despite it not being a concert, the first-ever event held in the arena in downtown Minneapolis was held on October 13th and a charity event entitled “Jump Ball” which benefited the American Cancer Society. The first musical concert I could find was a Paul Simon show, which was held on February 23rd, 1991.

More recently, the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul opened its doors in September of 2000, and hosted its first concert on September 30th, when the Canadian group Barenaked Ladies played a show.

TCF Bank Stadium, which opened in 2009, was supposed to host its first major concert in July of 2010, featuring the Irish group, U2. However, many dates on the group's tour that year were postponed because of lead singer Bono's back surgery, so that show (and the first concert at the Bank) didn't happen until July 23, 2011.

And finally, Target Field, which opened in March of 2010, wouldn't host its first concert until July 8, 2012, when the Brothers of the Sun Tour co-headlined by Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw came to Minneapolis. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals were the opening act, and tickets sold out in just four hours.

Were you at any of these first concerts?