Unity Seats Brings Hennepin County Together Through Football and Conversation

Wayzata High School hosted Edina High School on Thursday, Sept. 10, for a Friday Night Lights matchup that brought together more than two football teams. The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office partnered with US United to host a special Unity Seats experience in Plymouth, using high school football as a setting for conversation, connection and community pride.

Sheriff Witt, other law enforcement representatives and community members from different backgrounds joined local families, students and football fans for the game. Participants with differing viewpoints sat alongside one another as neighbors, focusing not on what might divide them but on the shared experience unfolding in front of them. Before kickoff, Sheriff Witt also took part in the coin toss.

Throughout the evening, the Unity Seats group enjoyed the game while talking and getting to know one another outside the traditional interactions people may have with law enforcement. The football atmosphere offered a familiar and welcoming backdrop. Sharing the same seats, cheers and moments gave participants room to listen, exchange perspectives and discover common takeaways.

One of the night’s most memorable moments came when Sheriff Witt and guests gathered at midfield for a moment of silence. The tribute honored those who lost their lives in the Sept. 11, 2001. Standing together in reflection reinforced the evening’s message of unity, respect and shared responsibility.

The impact of the Unity Seats experience extended beyond the final score. It created space for law enforcement and community members to connect in a setting centered not on a crisis or enforcement action, but on something familiar across Hennepin County: gathering for a high school football game. By bringing people from different walks of life together, the evening showed how sports can open doors to conversation and help neighbors build understanding across their differences.