The Fargo Area’s ‘Vibe’ is an Easy Sell

By Charley Johnson

My co-workers and I have the best jobs in Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo because we get to tell the rest of the country, and the world, why this is such a fabulous place to visit.

Naturally, our pitch varies with the type of business we’re after, but we always lead with our marketing mantra: Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo are North of Normal in all the best ways. Of course, we cherish our beautiful spring, summer and fall, but we embrace the cool of winter, too, and that includes “cool” in all its definitions.

Yes, the temps can be cool — maybe even cold — but the people and vibe here are definitely cool, as well. Are we a little quirky? Maybe, but always in a fun-loving and entertaining way.

Different aspects of that cool vibe can be found all over our three communities, starting with Fargo’s revitalized downtown — an attraction unto itself — and extending across the river to places such as Moorhead’s Junkyard Brewery, one of a list of outstanding new breweries that have grown up before our eyes in the past few years.

You also will find our cool in other locations, including the booming Veterans Boulevard corridor between West Fargo and Fargo, or the attractions so many of us who live here sometimes overlook. Those include the top-notch Fargo Air Museum, the Red River Zoo, the Plains and Rourke art museums, Bonanzaville, the historical and cultural Hjemkomst Center, the Children’s Museum at Yunker Farm, the Roger Maris Museum and, of course, the historic Fargo Theatre.

We also love to tell potential visitors about the vibrant arts and culture scene in our communities: public and private art galleries; a thriving local theater, opera and symphony culture; concerts of all sizes and genres at wonderful venues such as the FargoDome, Bluestem and the Fargo Theatre; and a burgeoning, eclectic local music scene. If you visit, or live in Fargo-MoorheadWest Fargo, you have a wide and ever-changing menu of entertainment options from which to choose.

And let’s not forget sports and athletics. How many other cities of our size can boast Division I, II and III college sports, United States Hockey League hockey and American Association baseball? How many have played host recently to the Olympic Curling Trials or the NCAA Division I West Region Hockey Tournament? How many play host to an annual marathon that routinely attracts 20,000 runners from all over the world? And how many are home to a world-class swimming and diving facility such as the Hulbert Aquatic Center, set to open in West Fargo this fall?

It’s not a hard sell for us really because, in our experience, the Fargo area is in a good place right now. More people know who we are, are curious about what it’s like here, and are willing to check it out for themselves.

What do we need to make it an easier sell? More meeting space, for sure. Yes, I’m a broken record on this topic. When it comes to attracting conventions and trade shows, we are at a disadvantage to our primary regional competitors, including Bismarck, Grand Forks, Sioux Falls, Duluth, St. Cloud and Rochester. But while we push city leaders to help us out with that issue, we don’t sit around and feel sorry for ourselves. We work hard to bring more visitors of all kinds to the cities we’re proud to call home. PB

Charley Johnson PRESIDENT, CEO FARGO-MOORHEAD CONVENTION & VISITOR’S BUREAU 701.365.4567 CHARLEY@FARGOMOORHEAD.ORG