3,000 athletes are in the Twin Cities and thrilled to be part of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games.

“So big, and you’re almost in tears; it’s so exciting,” said Christine Duffin, who’s cheering on her son Jeremy, who is participating in the bowling competition.

The weeklong event is expected to draw 1,500 coaches, 10,000 volunteers, and 75,000 fans and spectators.

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Organizers say the games could have an economic impact of $70 million in the metro.

“It just makes people come together,” says Savannah Carr, a Special Olympics participant, posting events on social media. “When people come together, they spend a lot of money.”

For the Minneapolis economy, this weekend is a two-fer.

The Stone Arch Bridge Festival typically draws 75,000 people over two days.

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Anna Schoenecker, from Como Park, says she visits the festival almost every year.

“I just think it’s really fun getting everybody together. Everybody’s buying art and helping the community,” she explains. “I think people will event-hop and just kind of go everywhere. A lot of people are coming from out of town to go to these things. Helps with the economy for sure.”

Erik Forsberg, the owner of the Devil’s Advocate restaurant, just off Nicollet Mall, says his business was impacted by the ICE surge earlier this year.

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He says with these summer events, his numbers have quadrupled since January and February.

“It (helps) tremendously,” he explains. “We’ll see around 300 people coming through versus a normal night we see 100 to 129.”

Duffin, who is traveling with a group from Utah, says she’s already spent a few dollars on meals and souvenirs.

Her contingent has already visited Mall of America, gone to a few restaurants, and even has shopped at a local grocery store.

Multiply her visit by thousands of people, and you get an idea of the economic impact of these two events.

“We’ve gone out to eat already, we’ve tried to enjoy ourselves,” Duffin says. “In the last couple of days, I’ve spent $100 on food and everything and going to the store.”

For Related Stories: 2026 Special Olympics  Economy  Minneapolis  Richard Reeve  Stone Arch Bridge