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Health & Fitness

Southwest Metro Governments and Entertainment Venues Join Forces to Launch Regional Brand

Today, four entertainment powerhouses in the southwest Twin Cities metro area and the cities in which they are located announced they are joining forces to develop a unified brand and vision for the area.  The collaboration includes the cities of Prior Lake and Shakopee, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Canterbury Park, Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, Renaissance Festival, and Valleyfair.

The initiative was spurred by the success of the 2012 joint marketing agreement between the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and Canterbury Park and conversations between Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Chairman Charlie Vig, Prior Lake Mayor Ken Hedberg, and Shakopee Mayor Brad Tabke.

“Collaboration leads to opportunities,” said Vig.  “We’ve seen it in our relationships with local governments and with Canterbury Park.  We are all deeply committed to this region and know that great opportunities will come from working together.”

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The northern Scott County area has been an entertainment destination for decades, and the number of visitors has increased throughout the years.  “This area has a history of fun, and has been entertaining visitors for more than a century,” said Hedberg.  “Our goal is to help people better understand everything this area has to offer, and create opportunities for the people who live, work and play here.”

The four entertainment destinations alone attract nearly 4.5 million visitors annually, which is 50% more visitors than the Wisconsin Dells or Duluth.

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“It is an exciting time for our region,” said Tabke.  “We are enjoying tremendous growth, and the entertainment industry is an important part of that equation.”

“We all share similar goals of wanting this region to thrive and attract quality employees and visitors from across the country,” said Dave Frazier, vice president and general manager of Valleyfair.  “We are excited to be at the table and explore ways that we may be able to market this unique region together.”

The group is just beginning discussions, but it hopes to announce a regional name and brand in the coming months. 
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