As one of the fifteen events in the 2023–24 FIS Cross-Country World Cup season, it featured top-ranked skiers from the global racing circuit.

[3][4] The United States had last hosted a World Cup cross-country ski event in 2001 at Soldier Hollow, Utah, as a test run for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

[6] Due to the efforts of Diggins and others, the Loppet Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was given the opportunity to host an event at Theodore Wirth Park on March 17, 2020, but it was canceled five days prior to its start as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

[7][8] The Loppet Foundation was given another host opportunity in the 2023–24 FIS Cross-Country World Cup season as part of a North American swing, with an event on the tour taking place the week prior in Canmore, Alberta, Canada.

[15][16] Harald Østberg Amundsen of Norway and Jessie Diggins of the United States earned points from their race finishes to help maintain their leads in the overall 2023–2024 season standings for male and female skiers, respectively.