Family Experience Guide

1. To-Do Checklist: Before You Arrive
2. Resources
3. Transportation
4. Perks & Policies

Click the category above to go directly to that section.

Disclaimer: This information has been compiled to the best of our ability and may be subject to change. We recommend verifying all details before proceeding.

• Download the USA Games Champions App to:
  
  • Create Your Personal Schedule - including sports competitions and special events, e.g.:
    
    • June 20: Opening Ceremony
    • June 22: ESPN Unified Sports Challenge
    • June 24 & 25: Family Nights - View Family Options
    • June 26: Closing Ceremony
  • Review the Family Experience Guide (this document)
  • Download your Special Event Tickets
  • Generate your Family Digital Credential—this will be required to redeem some of the Family Experience Perks (see #4 below)
• What to Bring:
  
  • Must: sunscreen, good walking shoes, water bottle for refill, hat, medications, rain poncho, phone charger, bug spray and appropriate clothing for 59–100°F weather (record highs and lows in the last 10 years)
  • If you have: a small hand fan and portable phone charger
  • Backpacks are allowed at competitions but subject to random searches
  • Important! Bag Policies for Special Events:
    
    • Huntington Bank Stadium (HBS)
      
      • Clear tote – 12” x 12” x 6”
      • 1 gallon resealable plastic storage bag
      • Small bags / clutches – 4.5” x 6.5” x 1”
    • Allianz Field
      
      • Same as HBS except: Small clutch bags or purses up to 5" x 9" are allowed, with or without a strap
• What Not to Bring - click on links below for more detail:
  
  • HBS Prohibited Items
  • Allianz Field Prohibited Items
• Tent & Chair Policy:
  
  • Tents are NOT allowed.
  • Chairs:
    
    • Chairs are allowed at NSC in the designated spectator areas of:
      
      • Flag Football Fields
      • Soccer Fields
      • Softball Fields
    • Chairs must not impede the sightlines of other spectators, and spectators may be asked to move or remove chairs by management.
    • Chairs are NOT allowed in all indoor facilities. Nor will they be allowed in the UMN Track and Field Stadium as bleachers provide ample seating.
  • Stadium bleacher seats:
    
    • Those that can be placed on top of bleachers (no higher than 2 inches) are allowed for both indoor and outdoor venues.
    • Those with any metal as part of the product are not allowed.

• Special Event Ticketing
  
  • Please contact the Huntington Bank Stadium Box Office at (612) 624-8080 or email GopherSports@umn.edu for questions about ticketing. The Box Office will be open on event days for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, specifically, opening at 4:30 PM on June 20, 2026, and 5:00 PM on June 26, 2026. They will be open during weekdays from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
    
    • Tickets are available primarily online, but in-person sales for these ticketed events will be available on-site during these times.
• Questions at the Games
  
  • For questions here is the requested resource protocol:
    
    • Use “Ask Me Anything” functionality in app for any FAQs
    • Ask a Fan Services Volunteer located at all Fan Zones and all Sports Venues
    • Ask your Family Service Coordinator
    • Email the Family Services Helpdesk
• First Aid / Medical Emergency
  
  • Call 911 for medical emergencies
  • Visit a Medical Tent (big red tent) at Sports Venues / Fan Zones for minor first aid
  • Local pharmacies: CVS and Walgreens on the University of Minnesota campus and near NSC
  • Urgent Care needs: Boynton Health Urgent Care (7:45am to 4:30pm and later if needed) located at 410 Church St SE, Minneapolis
    
    • Click here to visit Boynton Health’s website: https://boynton.umn.edu/get-care-now
• Accessible Restrooms and Additional Assistance
  
  • Accessible restrooms are available throughout the Games venues. If additional assistance is needed, the following accommodation is available:
    
    • University of Minnesota Venues
      
      • At least one indoor, gender-neutral, single-use accessible restroom at each sports venue (see venue maps)
      • A public First Aid medical tent with a table available for quick emergency clothing changes
    • National Sports Center (NSC)
      
      • One gender-neutral, single-use accessible restroom in the Sport Expo Center and between the locker rooms in the Welcome Center
    • Lucky Strike Blaine
      
      • Men’s and Women’s ADA-compliant restrooms
• Special events are cashless, so bring a digital form of payment
• For miscellaneous items, the University of Minnesota Bookstore is a good local resource.
• Visitor Information
  
  • Visit the Meet Minneapolis website to see what is going on in town. They also have a brick-and-mortar Meet Minneapolis Visitor Center in downtown Minneapolis on the pedestrian-only, Nicollet Mall, with maps and restrooms.
  • Visit Explore Minnesota for more information about the Twin Cities and beyond.
  • Check out our supplier, Landscape Structures’ guide to adaptive playgrounds and splashpads for visiting families.
• Social Media Posting
  
  • Tag us at #CallingAllChampions and #2026USAGames
• Merchandise
  
  • Limited edition USA Games merchandise will be available for sale at Thrivent Fan Fest at UMN, Fredrikson Fan Zone at the NSC, MDI Fan Zone at Mall of America, as well as kiosks at Opening Ceremony.
  • You may also purchase online on our Official Merchandise Store.

Please plan by reviewing the approximate walking distances from the recommended parking garages to competitions and special events:

• Parking Options for Competitions and Special Events
• If you feel this may be a medical hardship to walk, we suggest you have someone drive you to a drop-off area close by to minimize your walk as much as possible.
• Wheelchair Rental – visit these recommended sites:
  
  • Minnesota Mobility Supply & Rental – (612) 482-5900
  • Dahl Medical Supply & Wheelchair Rental – (612) 334-3159
• For Opening and Closing Ceremony, Huntington Bank Stadium (HBS) will have two golf carts running from the University Avenue Ramp (ADA parking) to the gates.
• HBS also has staff who are paired with someone in a wheelchair that needs assistance when they get to the gate. They can take the guests from the gate to their seats. When that person is ready to leave, they will need to let a nearby staffer know, and then they will get an escort back.
• HBS does not check out wheelchairs.
• GopherTrip
  
  • Download the real-time transportation app for traveling around campus – it is free of charge to use the shuttles for campus visitors. During the Special Olympics USA Games, they will be operating their regular summer schedule as follows:
    
    • 121 - Campus Connector
      
      • 15 min service
      • 7am–6pm
    • 122 - University Ave Circulator
      
      • 15 min service
      • 7am–9:30pm
  • Note: There will be no service on June 19, June 20, or June 21
• Metro Transit App
  
  • General Overview and Light Rail Map: https://www.metrotransit.org/metro
  • METRO Trip Planner: https://www.metrotransit.org/trip-planner
  • For information on taking the Metro Transit Blue & Green light rail, bus schedules, and buses to Blaine, as well as paying your fare in advance, download the app.
    
    • For free light rail / bus passes for June 20th — please see the “Getting Around the Games” section of our Visit the Games page
    • If you prefer, talk to a transit expert at (612) 373-3333
    • Tell the phone representative your start and desired end location and visit Ride the Bus on the Metro Transit website to get information about schedules and fares
• MPLS Parking App
  
  • Metered Parking

Perks

*Your official digital family credential may be needed to access these Family Experience perks. Should you wish to add your email to your registration to get the Family Digital Credential, contact support@2026usagames.org and provide your name, email, and the athlete you are supporting.

• Free 2026 USA Games pin at Thrivent Fan Fest at UMN or the Fredrikson Fan Zone at NSC merchandise tents (*1 per person while quantities last).
• 20% off their Games merchandise purchase of $100 or more only at the onsite merchandise locations during Games week (*1 time use with each family credential).
• Complimentary tickets for the ESPN Unified Sports Challenge - for athletes / delegations, honored guests, and family members, June 22.
• Complimentary tickets for Lions Clubs Family Movie Nights – for athletes / delegation and limited family members per SO Program, either June 24 or 25.
• Discounted tickets to the Dodgers @ Twins baseball game for athletes / delegation and family members per SO Program, either June 22–24.
• Free athlete/delegation admission + Family $3 off / ticket for day time pass and $2 off / ticket for Night time Wanderlight at Minnesota Zoo (available for purchase through this link)!  
• Free Metro Transit or MVTA rides to Opening Ceremony
  
  • Visit our Huntington Bank Stadium page to access the survey required to redeem the free pass (Valid from 4:00 to 11:00 PM on June 20).
  • Click here to visit the MVTA page.
• Discount on Mall of America (MOA) Exclusive Attractions:
  
  • Registered families can access discounts at participating MOA attractions* during the 2026 Special Olympics Games (June 20–26 during normal hours of operation).
  • Redeeming Your MOA Discount – Family Experience
    
    • 2026 Special Olympics USA Games discounts are available exclusively in the Mall of America® App with an MOA Insiders® account.
      
      • Important MOA App Setup
        
        • Matching Email: The email address you provide in the form below must match the email address associated with your Mall of America App.
        • Discount Visibility: Discounts will appear in your app beginning June 19, 2026, and will only display on valid use dates.
        • Redemption: Members must present a Special Olympics USA Games/Family Credential to redeem these discounts.
      • Exclusive Discounts (valid from June 19-26, 2026)
        $36.50 (+tax)| All-Day Unlimited Ride Wristband @ Nickelodeon Universe
        $31.00 (+tax)| 5-Hour Unlimited Ride Wristband @ Nickelodeon Universe
        $26.00 (+tax)| 3-Hour Unlimited Ride Wristband @ Nickelodeon Universe
        $10.50 (+tax)| Admission to Moose Mountain Adventure Golf
        $10.50 (+tax)| Admission to Rock of Ages Blacklight Mini Golf
        $23.00 (+tax)| Admission to Crayola Experience
        30% OFF| Single Show @ Matrix 5
      • Complete the form below to automatically unlock these exclusive discounts/deals:
        Click here to fill out Discount Registration Form.
  • SEA LIFE at Mall of America Promotion Details (valid from June 18–30, 2026)
    
    • Athletes and Unified Partners: Free General Admission
    • Friends and Family, Coaches, Coordinators, and Volunteers: 30% off General Admission
    • For groups of fewer than 10 guests, tickets can be redeemed onsite by showing proof of participation or affiliation with the Special Olympics (e.g., accreditation badge, lanyard, event apparel, competition schedule, etc.). Guests using this offer will receive priority entry.
    • For groups of 10 or more, please contact one of our Group Booking Coordinators in advance to arrange reservations:
      
      • Alex Pyritz – Alexander.Pyritz@merlinentertainments.biz
      • Carter van Vliet – carter.vanvliet@merlinentertainments.biz

Policies

• Dorm Reminder
  
  • To ensure athlete focus and safety, dorms and dining halls are restricted to official credentialed delegation members only. No family or friends are allowed.
• Athlete Checkout and Communication Reminder
  
  • Family members must work with their Family Services Coordinator (FSC) or Head of Delegation (HOD) on their Program’s athlete checkout policy.
• Outside food and beverages
  
  • No outside food or beverages are allowed inside sports venues at the University of Minnesota or Lucky Strike Blaine.
  • Outside food and beverages are allowed at National Sports Center venues.
• Lost and Found
  
  • Each Fan Fest, Fan Zone and Sporting Event venue has a Sports Information and/or Fan Services booth where there is a Lost and Found bin. Please check there first!
  • At the end each of each day, if you’ve lost a:
    
    • Valuable item (i.e., phone, wallet, camera) - those will be turned into Security:
      
      • National Sports Center: “Mini-MOC” in Lot J
      • University of Minnesota: UMNPD (called Public Safety) mobile station on 1st floor of the Washington Ave Ramp, phone: (612) 624-COPS (2677)
    • Non-valuable items (i.e., pens, water bottles) - those will stay in their individual Lost and Found bins
  • At the end of the week, all valuables will remain at the following locations
    
    • National Sports Center: Welcome Center
    • University of Minnesota: UMNPD (Public Safety) mobile station
• Service Animals
  
  • Trained service animals are permitted in accordance with applicable law, and all attendees are encouraged to plan in advance for service animal needs across venues. Pets and emotional support animals are not permitted at USA Games venues or events.
• Posters at Opening Ceremony
  
  • No posters are allowed at Opening Ceremony. They ARE allowed (and encouraged!) at sporting venues to cheer on your athlete.
• Family Experience Code of Conduct