Why the Democrats chose the St. Paul Xcel Center

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Last week the Democrats chose the St. Paul Xcel Center as the best venue for the Minneapolis/St. Paul bid to host the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Here are some details behind the choice:

"There are pros and cons to hosting a convention at any of the three facilities, [Minneapolis spokesman Jeremy] Hanson said. The Xcel Center is the newest of the three and is a state-of-the art facility, but it is located outside Minneapolis and will create logistical difficulties in having to shuttle attendees back and forth. The Target Center is in a prime location, but Hanson said the security perimeters around it would be the most difficult to arrange and several surrounding blocks would need to be closed off. The Metrodome has sheer size, but it is the oldest of the three facilities.

Very interesting. There's no doubt that having isolated arenas make it easier to set up security perimeters, and the lack of nearby buildings mean less effect on nearby businesses. Denver's Pepsi Center is similarly isolated. New York's Madison Square Garden is not, not to mention there's a major commuter hub sitting under the potential convention site. But there have been 4 conventions there in the last 30 years, so any issues have been already worked out.