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Published on 03/25/2007 6:40 pm (Last Updated 03/28/2007 2:16 pm)

St. Paul Mayor's Vision Includes New Soccer Stadium

By Brian Quarstad

In a preview of Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman's State of the City address, which will be held on Monday, March 26th, the Saint Paul Pioneer Press was told that part of the Mayor's plans involve a possible new stadium for the Minnesota Thunder. This stadium could also incorporate a new Saint Paul Saints facility. There were two potential stadium sites listed in the article; both are along the river. The first is the coal-burning High Bridge power plant and the second is the Diamond Products site. The city is interested in redeveloping these areas along the river, especially with the development of the Central Corridor light-rail line.

The proposed sites are highlighted in red.

The city will be working with the Capitol City Partnership, and has hired the firm HOK Sport to draw up plans for parks at the two sites along with other possible locations such as the Midway Stadium site. HOK, originally based in London and now with offices in the U.S., have been the architects of some very high profile stadiums in the U.S. and around the world.

Djorn Bucholz, General Manager of the Minnesota Thunder, was contacted Sunday afternoon for a statement. He said, "We have been working very closely with the city of St. Paul to put together an events facility proposal that would incorporate soccer. We were well aware that the Mayor would be speaking about this piece at his speech on Monday. It's exciting news, but there is still a lot of work to be done". Bucholz added, "There will be no announcement on our end until things are more concrete".

The Mayor's State of the City address with take place at Dayton's Bluff Recreation Center, 800 Conway St. at 5 p.m. on Monday March 26, 2007.

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