RNC gets the keys; time for an X-treme makeover.. 4000 drivers with no place to park

[question everything]

StarTribune.com
RNC gets the keys; time for an X-treme makeover

By RANDY FURST and CURT BROWN, Star Tribune

July 21, 2008

Goodbye, hockey arena. So long, Neil Diamond, R.E.M. and other rock concerts.

At least for a while, let's play ... politics.

The keys to the Xcel Energy Center were turned over to the national Republican Party this morning in an informal ceremony, as construction crews begin a multimillion-dollar, six-week makeover, transforming the complex into the home of the party's national convention, Sept. 1 to 4.

After the arena's general manager Jack Larson handed over a ceremonial key to the facility this morning, about 100 workers began removing 3,500 seats and turning the hockey/concert venue into a massive TV studio where Sen. John McCain will be nominated as the Republican Party's candidate the first week of September.

(snip)

It will be a rush to get the complex far enough along for technical workers in the media to begin piling into the Xcel and adjacent RiverCentre on Aug. 4. Media trucks are scheduled to move into the nearby Travelers parking lot the week before, and one media company told Qwest it wants its operations up and running on Aug. 15... Qwest alone is bringing in five trailers of equipment today as it starts to wire the Xcel. "You could probably run one or two corporations for the equipment we are installing," said Trent Clausen, director of operations for the Qwest network at the convention. The company has been developing its plans for 14 months.

(snip)

http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/conventions/25671729.html?location_refer=$urlTrackSectionName


and

4,000 drivers will have to park someplace else during the convention

July 15, 2008

At least 15 parking ramps and lots in downtown St. Paul will be shut down during the Republican National Convention, city officials said Tuesday. The ramps and lots immediately surrounding the Xcel Energy Center will be closed from Aug. 30 through Sept. 5. Some surface lots that will be used by convention staff and media will close July 20.

The closures will affect about 4,000 drivers. Those who have contract parking, about 2,000 people, have been told they'll be moved to other lots around the city and shuttled into downtown. The city asks that the other 2,000 drivers make other arrangements to get downtown during the convention.

(snip)

http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/conventions/25489859.html?location_refer=$urlTrackSectionName


(Gee, thanks, but, no, thanks..)

[damntexdem]

1. When do they turn over the keys to the bathrooms at the Minneapolis airport?

And what is Sen. Craig's stance on that? ;-)

[monmouth]

2. Qwest!!! Wow, wasn't that the telecom company that refused to

wiretap and spy and all that good stuff?...Maybe I'm wrong here, just sounds familiar.