X = 10
(NOTE: I wonder how many other blogs will use my same subject line. We’ll see!)
So yes. Apparently the Xcel Energy Center turns 10 today. Do you have an emotion about it? Because the Pioneer Press has a huge news crush on the X.
The article says of the X’s story, “But mostly, it involves chutzpah. Mostly, it involves dreams. And mostly, it involves a group of people who wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
…umm, what? It’s an arena. Sure, it’s hosting the RNC. Sure, Obama chose it to accept victory. Sure, everyone worth seeing in concert has performed there, from Pavarotti to Bob Dylan (both of whom I’ve seen there. Hooray!). BUT, it’s basically a soulless building. It’s pretty boring, architecturally. And it doesn’t really host anything but the biggest and most mainstream of events.
Let me be clear: this is not a bad thing at all. I love trucks full of sacks with dollars signs on them to drive into St. Paul and leave their loads at the doors of the X. But dreams don’t enter into it. It was build to stimulate the economy of St. Paul (to much success, in fact). Dreams nothing. Dollars everything. Which is still good, but differently good. Let’s see fewer stories about the Dream of the X and more stories about “Aren’t we glad we built that arena? Look at all these piles of money!”
In other, completely unrelated news that doesn’t belong on this blog but I’m going to put it right here anyway: RIP George Carlin.
I do enjoy algebra. And that PiPress article is long as hell.
Where’s the stadium financing rant?
Oh stadiums. I could blog every day about public financing of stadiums, but no one wants to hear that. Do they?
It’s funny you didn’t mention MN Wild hockey or lacrosse. I wouldn’t have either.
When I write reviews about concerts at the X, I often use the term "acoustical marvel" to describe the gigantic arena that features little back wall reverb — especially compared to its sister arena across town, Target Center, which is HORRIBLE. Plus the marketing staff at the X are absolutely wonderful to work with. Congrats on making it 10 years, X!
If only the Vikings, Gophers or Twins could play inside you and save us tax payers some moola.
Not really into hockey or lacrosse. I suppose that makes me a bad Minnesotan. Oh well, I still like the rest of our shitty, shitty teams.
But you’re right, the X is an amazing place to see concerts, soulless though it may be. I guess the point is more that the X is a conduit through which St. Paul is able to put itself on the map with big political events. And a worthy conduit it is.
…but it still does not involve dreams, damnit.