After an understandably lukewarm reception of their initial $400 million ask for state funds to cover renovations at Xcel Energy Center, the city of St. Paul, and the Minnesota Wild have trimmed down their request to $50 million.
As reported by Pioneer Press,
The proposed $769 million makeover of the Xcel Energy Center has been slimmed down to a $488 million upgrade, freezing improvements to the adjoining RiverCentre convention center complex and Roy Wilkins Auditorium until an unspecified later date. The funding request to lawmakers has also been dropped from nearly $400 million in state bond funds to $50 million.
Of the trimmed price-tag, the city and “local partners” will provide $200 million, and the Minnesota Wild would provide $238 million, plus any cost overruns for the rest of the renovation, according to a statement released by St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter’s office on Thursday.
The revised project still includes the renovation of the entire Xcel Energy Center into a “modern, best-in-class facility,” according to the statement. The state’s contribution will help expand the north wall along Fifth Street to improve the northeast entrance security area, increase disability access, update restroom plumbing and reduce pedestrian congestion.
To move things along, the Minnesota Wild is running a campaign urging sports fans to ask lawmakers to support this $50 million request.
It is interesting to note that in addition to slimming down the project, both Minnesota Wild and St. Paul have upped their contributions.
The Minnesota Wild previously pledged $216 million, and have added another $22 million. In addition, The Wild will also cover any cost overruns. St. Paul and other local partners previously pledged $159 million, but have added $41 million.
So, maybe an Xcel Energy Center remake without state funds was, and still is, entirely possible.