Minnesota’s Twin Cities Reenter the Arena Game
It is a new year, and the Twin Cities of Minnesota are once again at the center of the arena debate. Minneapolis and St. Paul now face competing venue ambitions from professional sports owners. Each wants public support. Each wants control of revenue. And neither appears interested in sharing. In Minneapolis, the ownership group of the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx is exploring the construction of a new arena.
Across the river in St. Paul, Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold wants funding to either renovate his current NHL arena or replace it entirely. From a taxpayer’s point of view, one shared arena might make sense. From an owner’s point of view, it does not.
Two Cities, Two Strategies
Leipold made his position clear. “We are going to stay in St. Paul and they’re going to stay in Minneapolis. Pretty hard to negotiate from that point,” he said.
That stance likely sets the tone for what comes next. Leipold and his lobbying team are expected to approach Minnesota legislators in St. Paul. Their goal will be public funding for upgrades to the Wild’s current arena. At the same time, Timberwolves and Lynx ownership will pursue their own discussions. They will seek state or city assistance for a new Minneapolis venue.
The problem is simple. There is only so much public money available.
A Crowded Public Funding Landscape
Minnesota lawmakers have already committed significant funds to major sports projects. The state helped pay for a baseball stadium. It funded a football stadium in Minneapolis. It also supported a college football venue. Each project reduced the pool of available public dollars.
Now two professional ownership groups want more. Both argue their venues are critical to long-term success. Both believe modern arenas are essential to staying competitive. Neither wants to split premium seating, sponsorships, or naming rights revenue.
Leipold’s Case for a New or Upgraded Arena
Leipold argues that building quality matters in the NHL. “In order to survive in the NHL, you not only have to be in a market, a great market, which we are in,” he said. “We need to be in a really good building.”
His focus is revenue. Modern arenas offer more suites. They offer better concessions. They also provide naming rights and sponsorship opportunities that older buildings lack. Leipold believes falling behind in facilities means falling behind competitively.
The Arena Game Continues
The Minnesota arena game is far from over. Minneapolis wants growth. St. Paul wants stability. Owners want revenue control. Lawmakers must decide how much public funding remains available.
What is clear is this. The Twin Cities are headed toward another long, political, and expensive arena debate.
Evan Weiner’s books are available at iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/author/evan-weiner/id595575191
Evan can be reached at evan_weiner@hotmail.com
Wild owner Craig Leipold