Minnesota Wild Time Line page2

Minnesota Wild Time Line page2
PUBLIC INVITED TO SUPPORT THE CIVIC CENTER RENOVATION AND RETURN OF THE NHL
WHAT: Public invited to rally to show support for Civic Center renovation and return of the NHL WHEN: 5 P.M. Wednesday, April 2, 1997 WHERE: Rice Park
	[April 2, 1997] -- A lively rally to renovate the Saint Paul Civic Center, including live music, free prizes, and the "World's Biggest Hockey Team Picture," is expected to attract hundreds of people to historic Rice Park on April 2. That is the same day the NHL's expansion committee will be in Saint Paul to continue its process of evaluating the Twin Cities area for a possible expansion team or relocation of the Hartford Whalers. Saint Paul is currently one of six finalists being considered for up to four expansion opportunities, in addition to the possible Hartford move. Committee members will view the rally, but are on a tight schedule and will not be available to the media during the rally. "It's time to show the NHL that our state is serious about bringing back pro hockey," said Mayor Norm Coleman. "The first organized hockey game in the United States was played in Minneapolis, and the first American to play in the NHL was from St. Paul. It's our game."
State Senator Randy Kelly and Representative Alice Hausman
	State Senator Randy Kelly and Representative Alice Hausman have introduced bills in the legislature to renovate and upgrade the Civic Center to make it a viable NHL arena. The $51 million would replace the old seats, provide bigger locker rooms, a better scoreboard, luxury boxes, better concessions, a new exterior and other improvements to the 24-year-old arena. High School and College athletes playing various tournaments in the arena would also benefit from the improvements, and fans from across the state are already telling their lawmakers they support the renovation plan. More information on the rally can be obtained by calling St. Paul's Hockey Hotline at 1-800-211-8411
ZAMBONI PARADE AND CELEBRATION RALLY ALL PART OF CELEBRATION FOR JUNE 25!
	Community invited to help celebrate anticipated announcement of NHL expansion franchise for Saint Paul and Minnesota. [June 19, 1997] -- Wednesday, June 25, 1997 will be a part of Minnesota history as community residents from all over the state are invited to participate in events and activities to celebrate the return of the NHL to Minnesota. While the NHL Expansion Committee's announcement that Saint Paul is one of the recommended cities for a new expansion franchise was exciting, the anticipated news that the NHL Board of Governors will award the City and State an expansion franchise on June 25th will be even more exciting The following are the details of the events of June 25 as of this time. More information will follow in coming days:
Zamboni Celebration Parade
	5:30 p.m. Downtown Saint Paul Parade Route is as follows: parade route begins on Wabasha and Kellogg and travels north on Wabasha to 6th Street and travels west on 6th Street to Saint Peter and travels south on Saint Peter to 5th Street and travels west on 5th Street to Rice Park Rice Park Celebration Rally 6:00 p.m. Free gifts, free food and refreshments will be at the rally! The first 250 youths wearing their school or hockey program hockey uniforms to be at the rally will receive free t-shirts and caps commemorating the announcement All hockey fans, youth hockey program participants and others are urged to wear their hockey jerseys, bring signs and their enthusiasm for this rousing community celebration.