Minnesota and U.S. congratulate Serbia on selection as 2027 World Specialized Expo site

Message from Mayor Busse

By now you know: the U.S., specifically Minnesota and Bloomington, did not receive the bid for Expo 2027. That means our city will not be hosting the world’s fair in 2027. I would like to congratulate all of the finalist countries that were in the running.

Of course, we’re disappointed, but I’d like to tell you how proud I am of our exceptional efforts and what we’ve gained in the process.

First, to use a baseball metaphor, we can’t get a run without taking a swing. My friends, over the years Bloomington has scored runs – home runs. And we will in the future, but to do so we have to keep swinging.

For decades, Bloomington has been a leader in supporting - and completing - large, successful projects. We have had, and currently have, forward-thinking leaders and partners who continue to be innovators and who think big and bold.

Much of our current development is a product of that way of thinking, including Mall of America that is not only a success in itself, but led to light rail and other significant spin-off developments and major transit investments in our city.

We bet on Bloomington with the Expo bid and, though we didn’t win it, we have been successful. Here’s how.

First, the world now knows about Bloomington, Minnesota. The two-year effort for the bid has introduced Bloomington to people from many countries and their leaders. Thousands of people who were not aware of us before now know what we have to offer.

And with every connection we made, we strengthened our relationships – on the world’s stage, and also locally and nationally - with key partners at the white house, the state department and the department of commerce, the Minnesota governor’s office and many others.

We also raised awareness of Bloomington in the development community, which will help us take advantage of the many exciting opportunities for redevelopment not only for some of the property in south loop but redevelopment citywide. Bloomington is a critical contributor to the economic success of the region and the most significant economic activity in recent years has been the continual work of building the south loop district. The fact that we have large, available, developable sites in south loop means Bloomington is attractive to developers and well positioned for the future.

We didn’t get the Expo, but the future is bright for Bloomington. We took a swing. We gave it our best shot. In true Bloomington fashion, we set the stage for more exciting things to come.

Minnesota USA Expo 2027 bid to bring event to Bloomington was among five competing countries

PARIS (June 21, 2023) –  The Minnesota USA World Expo bid committee today congratulated Serbia on its selection as host of the 2027 World Expo to take place in Belgrade.

Representatives of the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE) selected Serbia for its World Expo 2027 bid at its 172nd General Assembly in Paris, the culmination of a strenuous two-year review and promotion process. The Minnesota USA bid was among five competing countries.

“While we’re disappointed that we will not have the opportunity to host the world this time, we congratulate Serbia on their successful bid for Expo 2027. We know that they will create a memorable Expo experience,” said Bob Clark, Minnesota USA World Expo bid committee co-chair. “While Minnesota may not have been chosen as the host, we are incredibly proud of the effort, passion, and commitment that went into our bid.”

The Minnesota USA World Expo bid committee had proposed a multi-faceted experience centered on “Heathy People, Heathy Planet.” The three-month summer event had been expected to draw an estimated 14 million visitors from across the country and around the world.

John Stanoch, president and CEO of Minnesota USA Expo 2027, said while Minnesota was not selected, the bid effort succeeded greatly in putting Minnesota on the map as a destination and as the source of an impressive legacy of medical and food system innovations.

“Our ‘Healthy People, Healthy Planet’ event would have been the first-ever Expo focused on global health and wellness. Through our meetings and presentations with the international community, we were able to focus attention on the importance of innovative and united approaches to address some of the planet’s greatest challenges,” Stanoch said. “This process also created strong national and global relationships that will benefit Bloomington, the Greater MSP region, Minnesota and the United States for years to come.

The Minnesota USA Expo 2027 Bid Committee extends its thanks to the BIE Executive Committee, BIE member states, President Biden, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) and all members of our state’s congressional delegation, Minnesota Legislative leaders, the U.S. State Department Expo team, and a myriad of local, state and national elected officials, business, academic, medical and civic leaders who actively supported the proposal.

The U.S. rejoined the BIE in 2017 after a 15-year hiatus. It has continued to participate in World Expos, most recently with a pavilion at Dubai’s 2021-22 event.

Contact Bess Ellenson at bellenson@tunheim.com for further information and to request interviews.

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About Minnesota USA Expo 2027

Minnesota Expo USA 2027 bid to hold a Specialized World Expo in Bloomington, Minn. during the summer of 2027. An Expo is most often referred to as a World’s Fair in the United States. Having been selected as the official bid of the United States in June 2021, the international campaign it was a joint effort between the bid committee and the United States federal government. The United States faced competition from Argentina, Serbia, Spain and Thailand. The last World’s Fair held in the United States was hosted by New Orleans in 1984.