Anyone who has walked across the Xcel Plaza knows that the stonework that abuts West 7th Street is an uneven nightmare for anyone riding a scooter, wearing heels, or simply doesn't enjoy turned ankles. Well, good news. The brick work is getting redone in an effort to create a level walkway.
It's a welcome change not only for pedestrians but also for fans, who will likely appreciate not having the little pits in the walkway that fill with water and freeze into tiny ice rinks every winter as people wait to get into the arena. Usually, the athletes are better on the ice than their fans.
This is likely the most visible upgrade to the always active arena this offseason. There don't appear to be plans for any internal renovations to the XCel, but this was definitely low hanging fruit. Re-bricking the plaza improves safety and the visual aesthetic, without costing much money, relative to other potential repairs.
Anyways, the rest of the Wild organization is an absolute disaster this offseason, so I thought maybe I would provide some good news.
