Capital City Live - $600 Million Project Plan to Revitalize Downtown Saint Paul

This City of Saint Paul meeting on April 17, 2026, focused on the $600 million Capital City Live project aimed at revitalizing downtown Saint Paul through major improvements to city-owned facilities including the Grand Casino Arena, Roy Wilkins Auditorium, and the convention center. The project is funded primarily through an extension of a half-cent sales tax and bond service, with nearly 45% of funding already secured from the sales tax. Key procurement-related discussions included plans to reconfigure and expand public gathering spaces, improve visitor experiences, and reimagine underutilized spaces within these venues. The project timeline is estimated at three years, with a strong emphasis on legislative support to secure state funding. Officials also discussed contingency plans if state funding is not approved, noting that delays would increase costs and potentially impact the broader $1 billion downtown investment. Parking infrastructure was noted as a separate private investment. The meeting highlighted the importance of collaboration between city, county, and state entities to ensure the project's success and the continued vitality of downtown Saint Paul.