Report Reveals MN Sports Venues Are Some of the Grossest in the Country

ESPN's Outside the Lines released results from food safety inspections at 111 North American stadiums, ballparks and arenas and the results might make you think twice before ordering the next time you go to a game in Minnesota.  

The study provided results from Xcel Energy Center, U.S. Bank Stadium, Target Center and Target Field, and some of them might make your stomach turn. 

Before we get to the dirt, just know that Oracle Arena, the home of the NBA's Golden State Warriors, ranked No. 1 on the list with just one of 89 violations recorded in 2016 and 2017 considered a high-level violation. 

In short, high-level violations pose a threat for food-borne illnesses, according to the report. 

Now to Minnesota's violations...

Xcel Energy Center

Xcel Energy Center had the best ratings but ranked just 65th out of 111 venues. Forty-three percent of its violations (34 out of 79) were high-level issues, including discoveries of undercooked roast beef and duck, a cook not washing his hands after putting food in his mouth and mouse droppings found under a sink. 

Xcel Energy Center ranks 18th of 29 NHL arenas. 

Target Center

Target Center ranked 72nd overall with 26 of 57 violations considered high-level.

A January 2016 inspection cited the venue for failure to control insects, pests and rodents while another routine inspection found club suites failing to keep food at proper temperatures. Another inspection found that a manager failed to report incidents when employees were ill with diarrhea and/or vomiting. 

Target Center ranks 20th of 29 NBA arenas. 

Target Field

Target Field is 79th overall with 113 violations, 57 of them high-level, including concession stand employees not washing their hands, the Carew Buffet serving foods at improper temperatures and giving fans food that had sat out for more than four hours. It was also cited for rodents and insects in 2017. 

Target Field ranks 24th of 30 baseball stadiums. 

U.S. Bank Stadium

U.S. Bank Stadium ranked lowest of Minnesota venues, 90th overall, and had 195 violations, 116 of which were high-level violations.

The problems included a worker adding batter to rice with his bare hands, a kitchen employee not wearing a hair net, a walk-in cooler was 50 degrees during the 2017 home opener on Monday night against the Saints, and on Oct. 1, 2017 water wasn't working in one area of the stadium so employees couldn't wash their hands all day. 




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