CONvergence 2019: The Next Celebration is all about reboots and re-imagining. This is no coincidence as CONvergence is re-imagined in a brand new, upgraded venue. Get ready to experience the convention you know and love in a dynamic, diverse, new-to-us downtown hotel on July 4-7 at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis.
What can you expect from this 2019 reboot of our now 21-year-old convention?
The Hyatt offers more programming and hotel space than CONvergence has ever had before. Photo courtesy Anime Detour
Better Transportation
One of the biggest advantages of CONvergence’s move to downtown Minneapolis is the availability of public transportation to get you to and from the convention, or even just to easily get around downtown to grab supplies or enjoy a meal. The Hyatt Regency is located on several major bus routes, a few blocks from the green and blue light rail lines, steps from a Nice Ride bicycle rental dock and several more bike racks, near major interstate highways, and just 30 minutes from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) by car or light rail.
On top of that, in partnership with Metro Transit, CONvergence members can get free bus and train passes for Friday and Saturday! You can easily plan your trip using Metro Transit’s trip planner, or download the free app. Visit our Bus & Train page for more information and to download your free Metro Transit passes.
Better Food Options
Once cut off from the greater Twin Cities community, CONvergence now sits at the doorstep of downtown Minneapolis—on Eat Street, no less. This means members have more food options than we could possibly sample in the next 20 years of the convention.
- On-site: The Hyatt Regency and next-door Millennium Minneapolis feature several restaurants, cafes and coffee shops within their walls, ensuring you can stay well-fed and highly caffeinated without straying far from panels, party rooms or programming.
- Off-site: Venture out of CONvergence space and you’ll find restaurants abound in the downtown area. From the city’s finest like Brit’s Pub, the Melting Pot, and the Capital Grille, to the coolest food experiences like Hell’s Kitchen, Fogo de Chao, Crave’s downtown rooftop, and Glam Doll Donuts, to nearby bites including Lotus Vietnamese Restaurant, Eggy’s Minneapolis, and the Nicollet Diner, options are nearly limitless.
- On our doorstep: What’s more, moving to downtown Minneapolis means having food trucks at our doorstep—literally. Steel your stomach for the savory schedule of food trucks planned to visit us during CONvergence 2019.
Want the full run-down on food options during the convention? Check out the Food and Shopping page.
Skyways
Designed to give pedestrians a safe way to traverse downtown Minneapolis, more than nine miles of skyways connect 80 city blocks and 140 restaurants and cafes above the streets, offering an incredible bird’s-eye views of the city. Avoid the hot and humid weather of summer in Minneapolis by getting where you need to go via Skyway. Plus, photo opportunities abound in these labyrinthine corridors! Visit our Getting to the Convention page for some more information about the Minneapolis Skyway system.
The skyways connect CONvergence to Downtown Minneapolis, and offer birds-eye views and photography opportunities. Photo courtesy Anime Detour
Don’t Miss The Parks
Named the country’s number one city park system by the Trust for Public Land six of the last seven years, Minneapolis offers CONvergence members countless opportunities to explore one-of-a-kind natural features. Within a short walk from the Hyatt, you can experience the unique way nature meets urban Minneapolis at the Loring Greenway, Loring Park, Walker Sculpture Garden, Mill Ruins Park, the Stone Arch Bridge, and more. Hop a bus, train, or rented bicycle or scooter and visit Shingle Creek Falls, Powderhorn Park, Minnehaha Falls, and the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes. This is a great option if you are ever feeling like you need a break from the convention for a few hours, so you can decompress and come back refreshed!
To Infinity and Beyond
If you are attending CONvergence 2019: The Next Celebration, you will be part of CONvergence history by being part of the convention’s first year in its new downtown Minneapolis home. This is the year to forge new traditions and re-imagine what CONvergence is and can be for you. There is so much opportunity and so many new toys at our fingertips. This is a very exciting time, and very truly the next celebration.
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