Quick – name the professional sports teams in Minnesota that could be located along the future “sports train” known as the Central Corridor Light Rail Transit line.
The answer is: all of them.
If a new Vikings stadium is built in downtown Minneapolis and the St. Paul Saints move to a proposed regional ballpark in downtown St. Paul, that would spell big news for the Central Corridor Light Rail Transit line. The train, which begins rolling in 2014, would be bookended by two new arenas, with the more-or-less new University of Minnesota Gophers stadium in the middle.
The Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Target Center and Target Field stadium in Minneapolis will all be just a hop off the line, as well.
“Almost literally, every night of the week, there will be a big sporting event along the Central Corridor — the ‘sports train,’ ” said Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak.
Rybak threw that and other olive branches to St. Paul on Monday afternoon as he walked back to the Capitol building, mango smoothie in hand, after refueling at a nearby food truck. St. Paul officials have been angsty over the Vikings stadium proposal that is on the verge of being approved or killed at the Capitol. They note that the bill includes new renovation money for Target Center in Minneapolis that could give it a huge competitive advantage over the Xcel Center in St. Paul.
The two arenas compete for national concert acts and other shows.
Rybak and others have suggested that the two cities join forces to figure out a way to stop national acts from playing Target Center and the Xcel Center off each other as a ploy for cheaper booking fees.
“I think it’s going well,” Rybak said of the stadium debate. “I’m really excited to get this issue beyond us, so we can hopefully work on some cooperative arrangements for Target Center and the Xcel. We have two great arenas in two great downtowns, and I want to figure out ways that we can all win.”