Cutting a ribbon on one in Fergus Falls. Building a bigger one overlooking Gitchigume in Duluth. Stadiums, arenas and convention centers. Typically thought of as the toys of major cities, they are increasingly on the shopping list of smaller cities. From La Crosse, Wis., to Great Falls, Mont., cities in the Ninth District are looking to grab a piece of the sports, entertainment and tourism action, and spending hundreds of millions of tax dollars to build and improve the venues that make it possible.
Most proposals lead with an eye to local economic development.
Hosting a trade show or a minor league sports franchise brings with it a multitude of benefits, proponents argue, including new jobs and increased economic activity. At the same time local residents get more entertainment options and the opportunity to use the space when not occupied by major tenants or touring events. For some cities, such a strategy has been an economic lifeline. The city needed a new strategy, and fast. It found one in tourism and the new Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center.