Who doesn’t love a good tailgate?
“All of the concept drawings of the now-approved Vikings stadium proposal include large swaths of dedicated tailgating lots near the stadium. If Minneapolis builds these lots, the new facility will simply repeat the development mistakes of the area surrounding the Metrodome.” – Sam Rockwell at MinnPost Who doesn’t love a good tailgate? Back in the … Read more
Minnesota Wild, St. Paul and the definition of insanity
If the Minnesota Viking’s quest for a $1 billion taxpayer funded stadium wasn’t enough sports related drama for the year, the Minnesota Wild ownership group is asking for for a practice facility that “would cost $45 million to $55 million and would be linked by tunnel or skyway to the Xcel Energy Center” [Pioneer Press, … Read more
Everything you need to know about failed economic development policy
This photo, taken in 2009, should tell you everything you need to know about failed economic development policy in the United States. The stadium construction, parking lots, pedestrian overpass, shopping mall, the dozen lanes of interstate and the indoor ski slop. Yes, an indoor ski slope. While I’ve always been fascinated by indoor ski slopes; … Read more
It’d Take Up Mostly All of Downtown #Bemidji
The Sanford Center (as discussed here and here) is a $75 million convention center in Bemidji, Minnesota. As it turns out, it’s about the same size as downtown (minus a few blocks). And, this doesn’t include the “green space” next to the site. The parking lot is 10 blocks large (as displayed here). Financing of … Read more
Bemidji’s Mistake on the Lake
Last week The Atlantic Cities asked if it is time to stop building convention centers? Here’s a quick recap: Over the last 20 years, convention space in the United States has increased by 50 percent; since 2005, 44 new convention spaces have been planned or constructed in this country alone. That boom hasn’t come cheap. … Read more
