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It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.

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Home Care In Shakopee, MN

Home Care Shakopee, MN

They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.

However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Pond Mission gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Shakopee, MN is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

 In-Home Care Shakopee, MN

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The Always Best Care Difference

Since 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.

Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.

The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.

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TESTIMONIALS

“I am a current client of this provider Always Best Care comes in to help my dad a shower at night. When the guy came out to interview, he was really good and helpful, but it was just hard to find someone to help with dad been a little bit bigger and heavier. They like the person that they had come out a couple of times. The caregiver is good.”

Gloria285054

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Shakopee, MN?

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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.

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When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

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The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

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At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

 Senior Care Shakopee, MN

Types of Elderly Care in Shakopee, MN

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal Care Services

If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.

Common personal care services include assistance with:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming

Respite Care Shakopee, MN
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.

Common home helper care services include assistance with:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
 Caregivers Shakopee, MN
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Memorial Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

  • Grocery Shopping
  • Transportation to Appointments
  • Nutritional Assistance
  • Conversation
  • Planning Outings
  • Completing Errands
  • Transportation to Community
  • Events and Social Outings
Home Care Shakopee, MN
Respite Care

Respite Care Services

According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Zuppa Cucina or visit Chief Sakpe Statue, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.

At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.

If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.

 In-Home Care Shakopee, MN

Benefits of Home Care in Shakopee, MN

Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:

Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.

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Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?

A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.

With the help of elderly care in Shakopee, MN, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.

Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.

In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

 Elderly Care Shakopee, MN

Affordable Care

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your MN's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.
Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.
Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.
 Senior Care Shakopee, MN

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers.

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Shakopee, MN understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

Assisted Living Referral Services

While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.

Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.


Respite Care Shakopee, MN

At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.

Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
 Caregivers Shakopee, MN

At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.

Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.

Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:

  • Suite Living Memory Care & Assisted Living of Shakopee
  • Emerald Crest Memory Care Shakopee
  • All Saints Senior Living
  • Shakopee Friendship Manor
  • Benedictine Living Community-Windermere
  • Benedictine Living Community-Shakopee
Home Care Shakopee, MN

For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.

 In-Home Care Shakopee, MN

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way

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A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

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Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

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Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Shakopee, MN 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

 Elderly Care Shakopee, MN

Latest News in Shakopee, MN

Minnesota's second social district now open in downtown Shakopee

You can now take your drink to go in downtown Shakopee, Minnesota. The city rolled out its first social district on Monday.The new rules mean patrons can take their alcoholic beverages beyond the bar and patio, out on the streets and even in some stores.Shakopee's social district is broken down into two areas: downtown between First and Second avenues and the Canterbury campus. You'll know where you can and cannot take your drink because businesses will have signs posted: blue for places selling alcohol, green if they allow dri...

You can now take your drink to go in downtown Shakopee, Minnesota. The city rolled out its first social district on Monday.

The new rules mean patrons can take their alcoholic beverages beyond the bar and patio, out on the streets and even in some stores.

Shakopee's social district is broken down into two areas: downtown between First and Second avenues and the Canterbury campus. You'll know where you can and cannot take your drink because businesses will have signs posted: blue for places selling alcohol, green if they allow drinks inside and red if they don't.

At least a dozen businesses have signed up.

"Downtown is great with all the other businesses," Damen Schuler with Shakopee Brewhall said. "We all work together, because when one of us does well, we all do well."

There is a 50-cent charge for the biodegradable cup, though, something Schuler says helps pay for the program.

The city is hoping the program boosts foot traffic for restaurants, breweries and shops.

"We have a lot of stuff here," Schuler said. "It brings people here, gives them a reason to stop in after Valleyfair, the casino, Canterbury, Renaissance Festival. It helps us out a lot. We need foot traffic."

Shakopee is the second city in Minnesota — behind Anoka — to open a social district under new state law. Stillwater is also currently considering opening a social district.

People can sip, stroll and shop in town through Oct. 31, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The social district will return for a weekend in December. After the 2025 season wraps, it will return for its first full year in May.

Beret Leone

Beret Leone is a native Minnesotan who joined the WCCO team as a reporter in September 2022 - and she's thrilled be back home in the Twin Cities! Beret grew up in Chaska and graduated from Bethel University.

More Firefighters Needed to Boost Response Times in Shakopee, MN

It takes Shakopee firefighters 11 minutes, 18 seconds to respond to 90 percent of fires.More than a year after an outside consultant found the Shakopee Fire Department was “inadequately staffed,” city leaders so far haven’t hired the recommended number of firefighters, raising questions about the department’s ability to swiftly respond to emergencies in the sprawling city.The February 2024 review, which former interim Fire Chief Mike Scott requested, urged the department to hire 25 “career personne...

It takes Shakopee firefighters 11 minutes, 18 seconds to respond to 90 percent of fires.

More than a year after an outside consultant found the Shakopee Fire Department was “inadequately staffed,” city leaders so far haven’t hired the recommended number of firefighters, raising questions about the department’s ability to swiftly respond to emergencies in the sprawling city.

The February 2024 review, which former interim Fire Chief Mike Scott requested, urged the department to hire 25 “career personnel” over the next four years, including firefighters, captains and battalion chiefs. But a Minnesota Star Tribune analysis of payroll data and interviews with former leaders found hiring continues to lag behind the study’s recommendations.

Former department leaders point to a fire station that still isn’t fully staffed and response times they contend should be faster. Former Fire Chief Mike Nelson said one metric of the department’s efficiency — the time it takes crews to respond to 90% of fires — was 11 minutes and 18 seconds in 2025. That number has been roughly the same since 2020.

“It isn’t going to change unless they open station two,” Nelson said, referring to a recommendation in the study the city hasn’t implemented.

City Administrator Bill Reynolds, who after last year’s review called for immediate changes to the department, said in an email that the study was a “roadmap, not a mandate.” He added that officials followed plenty of the recommendations besides the staffing suggestions and noted it’s up to the City Council to determine the level of investment “that taxpayers can accept.”

“No one should have been under the impression that the … Study was going to be wholly and immediately adopted in total,” Reynolds said.

The staffing situation is the latest challenge for a department that in recent years has faced high turnover and complaints about workplace culture. Nelson, the veteran firefighter whom the city tapped to lead the organization after the review, resigned as fire chief in July. Reynolds said Nelson’s abrupt departure forced him to postpone a meeting where city officials were set to discuss the report’s recommendations.

But Nelson said Reynolds’ “fiscal conservatism” was one factor among several that pushed him to leave. The city’s failure to follow the study’s hiring recommendations, he added, raises concerns about its ability to quickly fight fires in an area with a plethora of visitors — and a massive amphitheater on the way.

“People need to understand that in 2025,” he said, “they have the exact same daily staffing they had in 2020 with COVID.”

When a California-based firm presented the results of its study of the Shakopee Fire Department to city leaders last winter, officials agreed the organization needed a makeover. A culture of “ad hoc decisions,” a training program that strayed from state standards and understaffing weakened the department, according to the report from Citygate Associates.

Reynolds said officials swiftly worked to improve the department’s culture and training programs. And Nelson noted the organization in 2024 hired five full-time firefighters, which he called a “good step.” But he noted it was part of a broader reorganization that saw the department lose several part-time firefighters at the same time.

“So although they hired five full-time people, it didn’t improve their ability to cover calls,” he said.

Hiring slowed after that, Nelson said. The department didn’t bring on three captains and six firefighters this year, as the study recommended. Nor does the city plan to hire six more firefighters next year, as the review suggested.

Meanwhile, payroll data shows more firefighters began leaving the department last summer, and the ranks hadn’t fully recovered as of mid-July. The city currently has two stations, with 15 full-time and 27 part-time staff total. The second station is unstaffed, though Reynolds said the city is planning to renovate it.

Reynolds said the budget the department submitted for 2026 was “unrealistic,” with a fiscal impact that’s greater than every other department combined. The study estimates hiring 25 people would represent an annual net cost increase of $1.7 million over four years. The city’s total operating budget this year is $39.6 million.

“There are six other departments with needs as well,” he said.

Mayor Matt Lehman called the study’s hiring recommendation too “aggressive” for the 48,000-person city. Asked about the concern that certain response time metrics have remained the same over the past five years, Lehman said the department should adopt a regional model, with nearby cities combining their resources to respond to emergencies, rather than heavily investing in hiring more people.

“It’s not really about puffing up your chest and saying, ‘This is my jurisdiction,’” he said.

Still, Reynolds said the city followed the study’s suggestion to reorganize several roles, add an administrative assistant and fire inspector, move to a 24-hour staffing model and renovate a station. The city has applied for a federal grant to fund more firefighters, he added, noting that factors beyond staffing influence response times, including 911 service and geography.

“Simply picking out one area and saying it wasn’t addressed isn’t looking at the full range of things we have accomplished,” he said.

But Mike Scott, the interim leader who preceded Nelson and requested the study, said in an email that Shakopee’s failure to follow the staffing suggestions remains his “main concern.”

Scott complimented the department for making changes that “didn’t require substantial new budget dollars.” But he contended the city is “choosing not to make the financial commitment to follow the Citygate staffing model recommendations.”

“Failure to follow these recommendations,” he added, “causes me concern for the safety of the fire department staff and the community.”

When a lightning strike in April set fire to multiple buildings at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, a truck didn’t reach the scene for 14 minutes, Nelson said. It took seven more minutes for another truck to arrive.

Emails obtained by the Star Tribune suggest Reynolds remained concerned about the cost of investing in the department. In one July 2024 email, he expressed his frustration after learning an employee approved a raise for a fire department administrative assistant without consulting him.

In a follow up message, he said he needed to be aware of “anything” that impacts council because “I am likely to be on the chopping block again after the next election.”

“That doesn’t mean I will not take action or risks if it’s the right thing to do,” he added.

Asked about the email, Reynolds said every city administrator faces concerns about their political future.

About six months later, Nelson asked Reynolds if the council ever officially adopted the study’s recommendations. The chief said doing so would help the department track its progress implementing changes.

Reynolds said no, later telling the Star Tribune that council adoption wasn’t necessary because city leaders had discussed the recommendations in two meetings.

Nelson resigned a few months later.

In a farewell note, he expressed his “full confidence in this organization’s future.” And he touted its accomplishments in an interview, from reorganizing the incident command system to improving medical responses to strengthening relationships with neighboring departments.

“I firmly believe, from the most junior firefighter up through their current leadership, they have the right people there, and have really made a ton of progress as an organization,” he said.

Reynolds appointed Joe Simon, then a deputy chief, to lead the department in the interim after Nelson left. Simon didn’t respond to an interview request.

Reynolds said the organization should hire a long-term leader before revisiting the study’s recommendations.

©2025 The Minnesota Star Tribune. Visit startribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

Twin Cities to gain two new amphitheaters

In two years, Minneapolis and Shakopee will each have ideal spaces to host outdoor music, and they'll each fill different needs.SHAKOPEE, Minn. — It won't be much longer before a formerly flat lot near Canterbury Park in Shakopee is home to the state's largest amphitheater."It's just exciting to see it grow," said Mike Walsch, who works at the PawnXchange just across Canterbury Road. "I've seen some of the renderings and it just seems like an experience that no other amphitheater in the area can offer."...

In two years, Minneapolis and Shakopee will each have ideal spaces to host outdoor music, and they'll each fill different needs.

SHAKOPEE, Minn. — It won't be much longer before a formerly flat lot near Canterbury Park in Shakopee is home to the state's largest amphitheater.

"It's just exciting to see it grow," said Mike Walsch, who works at the PawnXchange just across Canterbury Road. "I've seen some of the renderings and it just seems like an experience that no other amphitheater in the area can offer."

Historically, that hasn't been a very high bar in the Twin Cities metro area. Despite having a wide variety of indoor venues of all sizes, the region has lacked many outdoor stages designed with music in mind.

"The Basilica Block Party was basically in a parking lot and that drew thousands and thousands of people every year," said Minnesota Star Tribune music critic Chris Riemenschneider. "That's because it's summer in Minnesota, we want to be outside."

Riemenschneider says he's thrilled to see the local lack of amphitheaters about to come to an end. As the Shakopee venue nears completion, another is beginning to break ground in North Minneapolis.

"Literally every diehard music fan I know is excited about both these amphitheaters that are coming," he said. "For me, I'm especially excited about the one in North Minneapolis."

Riemenschneider is referring to the North Side Community Performing Arts Center in Minneapolis, which received its final sign-off from the Minneapolis City Council this week.

It took nine years and 150 meetings to gain approval from community members, local and state leaders, but construction on the 8,000-person amphitheater along the Mississippi River is now a go.

"It looks like such a beautiful setting," he said. "And it will be run by a company we know, that puts on great concerts, which is First Avenue."

During the official announcement on Thursday, First Avenue CEO Dayna Frank said the venue will partner with the African American Community Development Corporation and the Minnesota Orchestra to schedule a mix of unique events and musical acts.

"This project is more than a venue," Frank said. "It's a long-term investment in local economic vitality, workforce development, and inclusive access to the arts."

Frank says $3 from each ticket will go towards community development projects on the northside, and that should add up since they plan to host up to 54 events a year.

"That's a lot. I mean, that's, that's a few every week, so it's going to have a big impact," Riemenschneider said.

The Shakopee amphitheater will be even bigger, and at least in terms of sheer size. Its 19,000 capacity will hold twice as many people, and it is being managed by LiveNation, meaning it will likely bring in large national tours.

Though the venue was originally scheduled to open this summer, it now appears likely that the music will begin in 2026.

"We know they had a date with Neil Young - that was on Neil Young's tour itinerary - for later this summer," Riemenschneider said. "That got scratched, which was the first indicator that the shock of the amphitheater was going to be delayed. They haven't given us any updates, but it is very safe to assume at this point that they are not going to have concerts this year."

Walsch said it's the kind of place he's willing to wait for.

"I know it's been a rainy year, but yeah, hopefully next year it should be up and running," he said. "For a bigger show, this is probably the place you'll want to be."

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