SCRAMBLE: Lumber Exchange Building in downtown Minneapolis sells for $1

Summary

Garage Logic: Weekly Scramble – Lumber Exchange Building Sells for $1

Date: March 4, 2026
Hosts: Chris Reivers, Mike Fratelloni
Main Theme:
This episode centers around the historic Lumber Exchange Building in downtown Minneapolis selling for just $1, sparking a conversation about the changing face of downtown, economic realities of commercial real estate, the future of old buildings, and broader discussions about city life, economics, and current global events.

---

Episode Overview

The hosts recount Chris’ personal attachment to the Lumber Exchange Building and examine why such a prominent Minneapolis structure sold for the nominal price of one dollar. The discussion unpacks the economic and social implications for downtown businesses, historic preservation, arts communities, and the shifting landscape of urban property. The latter half of the episode shifts gears to discuss the U.S. intervention in Iran, the social politics surrounding it, and a spirited debate about public funding for sports arenas.

---

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Story: Lumber Exchange Building Sells for $1

Chris’s Nostalgia & Context

• Chris shares his personal history working at the nightclub inside the Lumber Exchange Building and describes the building as “beautiful.”

  "I worked there for the better part of five years, from 2015 when it first opened, until Covid hit and shut everything down...I really enjoyed that." (03:01)

• The building is noted for its variety of spaces – nightclub, poorhouse above, and a wedding venue at the top.

Sale Breakdown

• The Lumber Exchange Building (12 stories, ~225,000 sq. ft., built 1880) is changing hands for a $1 sale price, with an added $20,000 fee for removing the property from auction.
• Buyer: Christy Oman, who also revived the Kickernick Building in 2024, specializing in transforming vacant historic buildings into artist hubs.
• The plan: Preserve commercial use, lease low-rent spaces ($500/month) to artists and creative businesses, just as done at the Kickernick.

  "Oman believes this will give smaller businesses a renewed chance at space downtown. That low sales price would appear to make such low rents viable." (05:56)

• "The low price suggests high building expenses." (05:21)

Economic Realities and Tax Discussion

• Mike points out the risks: Expenses (heating/cooling, maintenance, taxes) remain overwhelming, even at a $1 sale price.
• "The building was losing on average approximately $100,000 per month from January to September of ‘25." (12:45)
• Property taxes are not directly based on sale price; owner can petition to reduce assessment, but liability remains.

  "Isn't that what the property tax is assessed upon?”
  "No, it will still be... they'll be able to make an argument that it should be lowered, but there's still going to be some value.” (08:26-08:47)

Risks/Rewards for Downtown

• The hosts worry about whether the artist business plan is sustainable; artists aren’t high-spending tenants, and the building still must cover huge fixed costs.
• Mike: “Artists don’t bring in a lot of dynamicism in cash ... but I like the idea that it’s being used.”
• Downtown Minneapolis discussed as following a “boom bust” cycle similar to Soho in New York – opportunities emerge as prices fall, but social problems persist.

Neighborhood Challenges

• Chris and Mike describe the area as problematic, especially at night, due to the nearby light rail station and its associated street issues.
• Chris: "One of the biggest deterrents from making that particular space profitable is that's not a very good intersection, especially on weekend nights and especially in the summer." (10:43)
• Mike tells a humorous story about hugging a stranger who turned out to be a local drug dealer:

  “If he was a drug dealer, that man is a gentleman. He was a gentleman drug dealer.” (11:40)

---

Larger Themes in Twin Cities Real Estate & Urban Life

• Discussion on “art space” models (11:13-14:31): Nonprofit efforts to convert old buildings into artist live/work spaces, existing precedent in Saint Paul.
• Chris: “Maybe things like this are exactly what the city's gonna need.” (07:44)
• Mike: “God bless her for doing it. I think there’s a bunch of other buildings available in St. Paul. Come and take them over.” (14:24)

---

Current Events: U.S./Iran Intervention

Media & Social Reaction

• Mike critiques media (notably NPR) and public discourse for conspiracy theories surrounding the U.S. operation in Iran, dismissing claims like "Epstein files” as the cause:

  "...people were calling in to NPR saying, this is all about the Epstein files. This is so we can distract everybody from Donald Trump." (18:34)
  "I honest to God don't know. But people are saying it with such surety in their voice." (18:51)

• Chris: Expresses frustration at segments of American society "being offended on behalf of other people." (21:10, 21:54)

Women’s Rights Focus

• Mike delivers a passionate critique of American protestors' lack of support for Iranian women’s rights—detailing systematic oppression under Iran's regime.

  "How are American women not saying, kill these son of a bitches. Kill them. Rip their heads off. The next one that pops up, knock his head off. Because 45 million women are living under this bullshit." (25:48)

• Reads a list of Iranian women's legal restrictions, from travel bans to forced veiling to inequity in law and inheritance (24:12-25:48).
• Chris: "Women of the United States, what in God's name. Why are you standing up for this evil regime?" (22:04)
• Both hosts incredulous at what they perceive as selective outrage and lack of solidarity with Iranian victims.
• Quote (Mike): “If you can’t kill a murderous dictator in this world, I don’t know if I want to be on this planet anymore.” (29:51)

---

Quick Hitters: Local Businesses & Light-Hearted Asides

• Interspersed with promotions for golf simulators and snacks, often with comedic banter. (15:00–17:11, 29:56–31:27)

---

Sports Infrastructure & City Policy

WILD Arena Renovation

• The Minnesota Wild, City of St. Paul and the state are collaborating on a $600 million upgrade to the Grand Casino Arena/Rivercentre/Roy Wilkins complex.
• Key segment where Joe Soucheray is cited: "Grant Casino arena is the only thing keeping St. Paul with a post. Without it, it's just done. It's a ghost town." (40:06)
• $200 million from legislature, the rest split between team, city, and ongoing sales tax.
• Mike laments such corporate welfare ("welfare for the ultra rich"), but concedes city vitality depends on it.

  “You might as well shut (St. Paul) down, bulldoze it over.” (42:23)

Broader Sports Economics

• Recognizes public reluctance but frames massive sports spending as “the price of poker.”
• Discussion on the Target Center, NBA, and what would happen if major teams left Minneapolis.

---

Memorable Quotes and Moments

• On the $1 Sale:
  Chris: “$1.”
  Mike: “So someone said, I'll take the burden of the property taxes and the burden of cam and taxes. Bet I'm only paying a buck. That's crazy.” (04:40–04:43)

• On the Neighborhood:
  Chris: “That’s not a very good intersection, especially on weekend nights and especially in the summer. That's a very problematic intersection.” (10:43)

• On Iran:
  Mike: “How are American women not saying, kill these son of a bitches… Because 45 million women are living under this bullshit. And I can't get why they're not pissed.” (25:48)

• On Public Stadium Funding:
  Mike: “It is welfare for the ultra rich, period. I get why we need it... If Grand Casino arena went dark, St. Paul, you might as well shut it down, bulldoze it over.” (42:21–42:25)

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:28] – Chris’s personal memories of working at the Lumber Exchange; building history
• [04:40] – $1 sale announcement and initial reactions
• [05:53] – Background about buyer Christy Oman and her plans
• [08:26] – Tax implications and financial realities for the new owner
• [10:43] – Neighborhood dangers/challenges around the building
• [11:13] – “Art Space” and the future for old buildings
• [17:32] – Shift to Iran discussion: media, protest, women’s rights
• [24:12] – Details of legal and social repression of women in Iran
• [40:06] – St. Paul arena renovation deal; public funding debate
• [42:21] – City survival and "welfare for the ultra rich"
• [46:31] – Joke about incentives: “Win something and I’ll put my money in.”

---

Conclusion

This Weekly Scramble combines nostalgia, urban economics, public policy, and global politics in typical Garage Logic fashion—mixing straight talk, humor, and a dose of local color. The episode’s lively debates offer both practical insights into the fate of historic downtowns and unfiltered opinions on public reaction to world events.

Transcript

[Garage Floor Geeks Announcer]

How is your garage floor looking? Dirty, damaged or new? Garage Floor Geeks is ready to restore or protect it in just one day with concrete floor coatings guaranteed to last a lifetime. Garage Floor Geeks is locally owned and operated and the Twin Cities choice for concrete floor coatings. Mention Garagelogic and get free moving and storage or 600 off. Schedule your free estimate today by going online or calling simple 763-265-GEEK. That's 763265GEEK to schedule your free concrete floor coding estimate now.

[Chris Reivers]

The what's your Mount Rushmore? Podcast there's two things that I think I am almost always it's hungry and tired.

[Mike Fratelloni]

I. I spend.

[Chris Reivers]

I seriously probably spend 80 of my life, my waking life, being either hungry or tired or both. I will mirror that, but I will add a third one. I'm always also gassy. Yes you are. There is no doubt about that.

[Mike Fratelloni]

What's your Mount Rushmore?

[Chris Reivers]

I don't know.

[Podcast Announcer]

Listen wherever you get podcasts 10 rounds of golf for $99 Yep, the Minnesota Golf Passport is back and available now. Play at each of these great area courses. Elk River Golf Club, Bull Rush, Chamonix, Purple Hawk, Golden Eagle Legacy Golf, Birchwood Golf Course, Gopher Hills, Lake Pepin golf course and Mount Frontenac. Go to garagelogic.com keyword passport for your 2026 Minnesota Golf Passport. This is the Weekly Scramble, a place where we chat about life over a cold one or two. It's time to belly up to the pod with Mike Fradaloni and your Chris Reavers.

[Chris Reivers]

That's right, it's time for the Weekly Scramble Podcast. My name is Chris Reavers. With me as always. His name is Mike Fratelloni. Hello, Michael.

[Mike Fratelloni]

How you doing? Reivers?

[Chris Reivers]

I'm doing good. I'm doing good. There's a couple of things that I did want to get touch base with you on today. And the first one I wanted to start with because, you know, it's been a heavy couple of days in gl and I know we're going to get heavy here in a minute. But I got to tell you, I've been hanging on to this story because for some reason it really made me sad because it kind of hit me personally. Are you ready for this?

[Mike Fratelloni]

Sure.

[Chris Reivers]

You are very familiar with how real estate transactions and things like that work.

[Mike Fratelloni]

I am.

[Chris Reivers]

Your family has been in business here in the Twin Cities for decades. But this one, when I think this surfaced, was it either Thursday or Friday last week? I was sad. Michael. The Lumber Exchange Building in Minneapolis for those of you that aren't familiar with it. It sits on the corner of 5th and Hennepin in downtown Minneapol. And I worked there at the nightclub that was called the exchange nightclub. I worked there for the better part of five years, from 2015 when it first opened, until Covid hit and shut everything down. Loved that job. It was so much fun. Met so many great people, Made some decent money, but it was cool. The customers, for the most part, were all great. I really enjoyed that. It was every Friday and Saturday night for, like I said, the better part of five years. They also owned the poorhouse, which was above that. And then on top of that, they had a beautiful wedding venue that was on, I believe, is it 12 stories? How tall is the lumberjack?

[Mike Fratelloni]

2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.

[Chris Reivers]

Okay, something like that. So the wedding venue was at the very top. And that's the one, Mike, where if you got asked to bartend at the wedding of that was ka cheap, you

[Mike Fratelloni]

were gonna make some money.

[Chris Reivers]

Because a number one, those are the best events to bartend. Because everyone's in a good mood. Oftentimes an open bar, which means most people tip you a ton, and everyone's done by midnight. It's fantastic.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Yeah.

[Chris Reivers]

So anyway, so when I saw this, I got a little sad. So the lumber exchange building in Minneapolis is set to change hands for the low, low price.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Wait, let me guess. Okay, so, okay, let me guess. This. It's a pretty big building. It's a known building. It's a well done building. It is old, though.

[Chris Reivers]

Sure.

[Mike Fratelloni]

1880.

[Chris Reivers]

It's renovated. I mean, they did a great job.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Yeah, it's beautiful. Oh, crap. What is it? What could it possibly sell for if other buildings that are 10 times the size are selling for a couple million bucks? It's got to be a negligible 500 grand or something. Something stupid like that.

[Chris Reivers]

$1.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Okay.

[Chris Reivers]

All right.

[Mike Fratelloni]

So someone said, I'll take the burden of the property taxes and the burden of cam and taxes. Bet I'm only paying a buck. That. That's crazy.

[Chris Reivers]

That's gonna change hands for a dollar this week. Going to Christy Oman, the same person who two years ago bought the kickernick building, which I am not familiar with. Maybe if I saw it, I would be another old downtown property and transformed it into a hub for artists. That or something like it is likely to be the fate of the 12 story lumber exchange building. In chats with twin cities businesses Oman mention wants to keep the roughly 140-year-old 225,000 square foot space commercial. Rather than making residences out of it, converting it for artists and folks in the fashion industry. The official sale price will be $20,001. Omar says in addition to the $1 price tag, she must pay a $20,000 fee for taking the property off auction. Oman owns Space Unlimited, a Minneapolis real estate company specializing in restoration of historic buildings. The low price suggests high building expenses. Oman says her plan is to designate some of the space for smaller tenants, such as artists, fashion companies and creative businesses. They'll have options to pay as low as $500 per month, which Oman believes will give smaller businesses a renewed chance at space downtown. That low sales price would appear to make such low rents viable. Oman's with the kicker, Nick may indicate the vision there. That red brick 120,000 square foot property at First Avenue and Fifth Street. Oh, now I know exactly what building that is. Was 99% vacant when Oman bought it at a steep discount in 2024. It sold for about 3.8 million per real estate filing after it had gone for 19 million in 2017. Oman has since rented the Kickernick to 55 tenants. Half are artists, half are creative businesses. Oman also owns the Semple mansion in Stephen Square, a 2005 purchase per its website. The restored turn of the century property is used as office and special event space, with artists filling in. More of downtown Minneapolis appears to be partaking in a boom bust cycle that characterized the formation of enclaves like soho in New York. I guess if she's got a plan and has a vision and maybe this could work, I don't know why this bummed me out, because I saw when, like I said, and I knew some of the owners of that space personally. And so when I saw that vision kind of grow, it was kind of exciting and fun to be a part of and then to just. Again, I know I harp on how much it bums me out to see what's happening in downtown Minneapolis, but you know what? Maybe things like this are exactly what the city's gonna need.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Well, this is a perfect example of what we talked about on the show last, where I said, when you get things cheap enough, then a whole bunch of people can afford to be in there. So if this Christy Oman says, hey, we can have a bunch of artists in here, you know what? Artists aren't known for spending money, having a bunch of money, right? So if it's going to be art space and, you know, low price art space for artists, well, it's got to be very inexpensive for Them. But she bought the building for a million bucks. Taxes are probably a few hundred thousand bucks. Or she bought it for a dollar. Taxes to be a few hundred thousand, maybe a million bucks. Well, she's got a chance. Out of 225,000 square feet. If they're paying a couple bucks a square foot, she's got a chance.

[Chris Reivers]

You're leading me right into the question that I was going to ask you. However, that all might be well and good, and I don't doubt I trust you because you're way smarter about this kind of stuff than I am. But if the sale price is $1, or in that case, $20,001 because there was the auction fee. Isn't that what the property tax is assessed upon?

[Mike Fratelloni]

No, it will still be. I mean, they'll, they'll be able to make an argument that it should be lowered, but there's still going to be some value. Right. You can make an argument to the city. Hey, city, it's worth nothing. I bought it for a dollar. It's. It's upside down. No one's going to buy this at any value. Remember when I looked at that building downtown St. Paul that had the St. Paul Athletic Club in it?

[Chris Reivers]

Yes.

[Mike Fratelloni]

And they wanted like the minimum bid was 750. And I'm like, well, it's not worth it. It's. It's worth under $0. You'd need to be paid to take it over. Right. And so I'm just trying to think. The estimated market value on it is 11 million now. So if it's going to go from 11 million down to 5 million when they buy for a dollar, because we know it was a distressed sale. So it's going to have property taxes of, you know, they're going to do the math on 5 million, I guess,

[Chris Reivers]

because I would think too. And I wish, I wish I had known that that was an option because I got to be honest, Mike, you're

[Mike Fratelloni]

looking for another place to hang out, you would have just bought it.

[Chris Reivers]

Well, because if the, like I said the wedding venue alone, trust me, I know what they were charging for wedding space there. Like if that alone was able to keep the building, keep the lights on or whatever, well, then it's a win. Win for everybody.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Yeah.

[Chris Reivers]

But again, then you got to staff it and. Right. So that part I get.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Yeah. I mean, the simple fact is it's just not going to. There's no financials that pan out right now. Right. No one's having a wedding venue at Lumber Exchange. Somebody is.

[Chris Reivers]

Sure.

[Mike Fratelloni]

But now what will happen is you go to someplace in Wayzata and they say, hey, we can rent this wedding venue. It's going to be 20,000 bucks for the rental. And then you need food. And then Lumber Exchange is going to say, yeah, we can do it. It's $1,000 for the rental. And, you know, because they'll have. It's just free space now. It's just dirt cheap. But I mean, I like the idea that it's being used. That's what we have to do. We need to keep the businesses or buildings filled with something. But artists don't bring in a lot of dynamicism in cash, right? They're not having lunch every day down on the street. They're not bringing in a bunch of.

[Chris Reivers]

And I think one of the biggest deterrents from making that particular space profitable is that's not a very good intersection, especially on weekend nights and especially in the summer. That's a very problematic intersection.

[Mike Fratelloni]

There's a lot of hanging out outside, unfortunately.

[Chris Reivers]

The main reason why is because there's a light rail platform right there on that corner. In fact, it's the one in between where the parking lot is right outside of Target Center. It's that same intersection.

[Mike Fratelloni]

I came out of a bar right there years ago, right? And I came out of bar and there was this guy and he was a little rough looking and he says, hey, man. And I said, hey. And I've been drinking. I said, hey. And I give him this big hug and he's like, what you up to? And we're talking and I turned to the person I was with. I'm like, how do I know him, right? Like, we're obviously friends. And she said, he's a drug dealer on the street. And I was like, wait, what?

[Chris Reivers]

I had no.

[Mike Fratelloni]

I thought the way he greeted me was so nice and kind and sweet. And I gave him this big hug, like, man, how you doing? And he's talking to me, he's like, what's up? What's the plan for tonight? And I'm like, we're going over here. What are you doing? Who are you with? Like, I'm asking him all these things, trying to figure out. And she's like, that's a random drug dealer on the street that you just walked up to. And I said, if he was a drug dealer, that man is a gentleman. He was a gentleman drug dealer.

[Chris Reivers]

It is funny too, when you see the people that don't usually frequent downtown. And I'm gonna take us back a couple of years when I Was still working downtown. And you would always see the. Of whether they came from a suburb, whether they came from way out state, whatever the case was, because they would always try to interact with people that. Girls, just keep moving. He's just trying to harass you.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Yeah, you don't need to talk to him.

[Chris Reivers]

You don't need to talk.

[Mike Fratelloni]

You don't need to stop. Because he says stop.

[Chris Reivers]

And I've had to say that to my boys too. If we've gotten like a timberwolves game or a twins game where, like, guys don't interact with anybody. Just keep looking ahead and just keep. But my little. Well, but he asked me a question, dad, so he's trying to be respectful. And I'll say, buddy, just keep moving.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Yeah, you don't have to worry about it. The building was losing on average approximately $100,000 per month from January to September of 25. Right. So her buying this for a dollar. She's in, you know, this month. She owes 100,000 bucks. She hasn't turned it around yet. It's losing 100,000 bucks a month. Right. So that means it has some costs just to heat and cool. That building would be very expensive. Right. You know, good for her, though. She found something.

[Chris Reivers]

She's got a vision for it.

[Mike Fratelloni]

She stepped in, has a vision. Don't know how many artists we have. Like, can you fill that whole place? Have you ever heard of art space?

[Chris Reivers]

Oh, yeah.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Okay, so you know the company that does art space?

[Chris Reivers]

Oh, no, I thought you meant like just an art space.

[Mike Fratelloni]

No, no, no, no. This is a company called art space. And they went through downtown St. Paul and they grabbed a bunch of these old tertiary downtown buildings, not nice office buildings, these, like, old buildings with some personality to them, and they turned them into what's called art space. And so you have to be someone who Dr. Derives some percentage of your income from art. And then you've heard of the art crawl, right? Well, the art crawl is predicated on them opening up their art space twice a year so people can come through your house and look at your art that you make. So it's actually really super cool. I'd imagine that this lady that bought lumber exchange building will do the same thing. She'll have a bunch of artists in there. They can quasi live there as it's their studio.

[Chris Reivers]

Right.

[Mike Fratelloni]

But a lot of them have futons that they probably sleep on. And then they'll have to open up their studios once a year because they'll be part of this art space and art Crawl. Community that is somewhat predicated on a non profit.

[Chris Reivers]

Sure. Right.

[Mike Fratelloni]

And she's gonna try to make some money on it, but God bless her for doing it. I think there's a bunch of other buildings available in St. Paul. Come and take them over.

[Chris Reivers]

Why not? Let's welcome a new friend to the weekly scramble podcast. Michael Quick Links Golf. Have you heard of these guys?

[Mike Fratelloni]

You had me at Quick.

[Chris Reivers]

Yep.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Lynx. I didn't know because I thought it was Sausage Links and then golf. You totally brought me in.

[Chris Reivers]

Custom golf simulators designed and installed in your space. Mike Fratelloni. It's really cool. I'm actually on their website right now. I'm not the world's biggest golf guy. I would 100% install one of these inside of my home.

[Mike Fratelloni]

How did I not get this one?

[Chris Reivers]

That's a great question.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Right? Of all the people, all the people that would buy one of these love this thing.

[Chris Reivers]

You're number one.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Use it.

[Chris Reivers]

Joe's number two.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Exactly. But Joe doesn't want one in his house. I would do it.

[Chris Reivers]

Yes.

[Mike Fratelloni]

You brought a bag of golf balls and a Ziploc bag to Pinehurst? Hey, hey, hey. Yeah.

[Chris Reivers]

Trash bag, trash bag, trash bag.

[Mike Fratelloni]

I mean, how did I not get this deal?

[Chris Reivers]

It's a local golf simulator company. They offer complete installation services and also sell DIY packages. Yeah, you can do it yourself, ladies and gentlemen. Their local showroom is based in Chaska, Minnesota. Multiple technology options that meet all sorts of different price points. You can meet with them while designing a renovation, new home or new office space to ensure the dimensions are right for a great simulator room. A golf simulator at the Lumber Exchange Building. Ms. Oman, get in touch with my friends right now at Quick Links Golf. Check out their website too. By the way, quicklinksgolf.com they actually have a really cool tab on there where you can see their recent recent projects as well. You can also schedule a free project consultation. It's really, really cool. And I think I might be in the market for one of these in the relatively near future.

[Mike Fratelloni]

That would be a good way for you to learn how to play golf.

[Chris Reivers]

Absolutely. Well, my buddies that own birdies in Jordan, Minnesota, we go get wingsor all the time. If I had something like that courtesy of Quick Links Golf in my living room or basement, that'd be so sweet.

[Mike Fratelloni]

You know what I like about this place too? And I'm learning about it right now and I'm looking at it online. I did not know. Trust me, I did not know.

[Chris Reivers]

I know.

[Mike Fratelloni]

I would have had some.

[Chris Reivers]

There's Some reason I didn't tell you,

[Mike Fratelloni]

I would have had some things. It looks like they cover Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin. Looks like they cover some states.

[Chris Reivers]

Yeah.

[Mike Fratelloni]

But they actually have a bunch of pictures of installed spaces. So then it gives guys like me that don't have a lot of vision say, oh, I like that. That's where I could do that. That's how I could do this. So good for these people. Thank you. Quick links golf for advertising. Thanks for thinking of me.

[Chris Reivers]

Place your order today in your cons. Let them know you heard about them on the weekly Scramble podcast. And we.

[Mike Fratelloni]

So cool.

[Chris Reivers]

We'll be right back with Verbocare. Help is always ready before, during, and after your stay. We've planned for the plot twists, so support is always available because a great trip starts with peace of mind. All right, let's transition to Iran.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Oh, my gosh.

[Chris Reivers]

You know what, Mike, I've talked about this with Joe and the crew a lot this week, but I want to hear what your thoughts are because there's so much to unpack here. Because the thing I love about anything that happens of this seismic level in 2026 is, of course, everyone's going to have an opinion about it and they have to express it on social media.

[Mike Fratelloni]

So let me give you some of the background of what I've heard lately, and I think this is really fascinating. So I'm an NPR listener, right? I listen to a lot of npr, and people on NPR are aghast that we did this. They're just absolutely. And I don't know if they're not right. Don't get me wrong. I like how everyone who calls in and all the moderators and people that are talking are experts in Iran. If I had to find Iran on a map, you could do it within 100. I mean, I know it's big. I know it's real big. So I'd find it. I think I could probably do it. I'd be pretty damn close because I know it's big and I know roughly the land mass shape.

[Chris Reivers]

Okay.

[Mike Fratelloni]

But people were calling in to NPR saying, this is all about the Epstein files. This is so we can distract everybody from Donald Trump. And the other. I'm like, is that. And I was out at a restaurant the other day sitting, and a guy next to me who looked like a normal guy was talking. It's all about the Epstein files. He might be right. I honest to God don't know. But people are saying it with such surety in their voice. And here's what I Don't get Reivers.

[Chris Reivers]

I think you're gonna have the same answer that I'm going to, but go ahead.

[Mike Fratelloni]

I get that. We don't know. We don't know if it's the right thing.

[Chris Reivers]

Sure.

[Mike Fratelloni]

I believe that Donald Trump's not a total nutcase. I do believe he doesn't like to see people die. Anybody. He doesn't want Iranians to die. He wants, you know, the Khomeini to die. Right. But he doesn't want standard citizens of Iran to die, nothing. He doesn't want any of our military to die. I don't think he's run by Israel. I don't think those things. Right. Many people do. Many people do. In fact, the majority either think it's a Mossad thing or an Israeli thing or an Epstein thing. What I don't get is women, right? Women right now. Women that are against the invasion of Iraq. Excuse me, Iran.

[Chris Reivers]

Why? Why are they. That's the part I don't get at all.

[Mike Fratelloni]

This madman, this Supreme Leader, has been subjugating 45 million women. 45 million women. And wouldn't there be enough of the population in America to say, thank God someone killed that bastard so these women can have us closer to a normal life? I know many people in today's world. I have some friends that believe this. Right now, they think Donald Trump is driving us to a Handmaid's Tale where women are going to become second class. They'll lose the ability to vote. They'll have to wear certain things. They'll have to. And not be allowed to drive. They'll have to be told what to work. They won't be able to earn as much as men. They won't have the same powers to vote. That's what they think Donald Trump is driving them to. That's what's happening in Iran today. Why would you not be happy that we killed this animal? This animal that in the last one month, at minimum, has killed 10,000 people, 10,000 members of his society out of the 90 million they could tell. Kill 10 million. Remember not so long ago in Minnesota when two people were killed by the federal government? And it was incredibly tragic and sad. We all remember that. I'm old enough to remember that the Iranians just did that to 10,000 citizens.

[Chris Reivers]

I think I don't get it. The biggest thing lost here, too, Mike, is. And you're spot on, because I couldn't agree with you more, but the thing that I really am getting so, so tired of is the certain section of our society and I'm not going to label one particular group, but you're all going to know who I'm talking about. The certain section of our society that feels it's necessary to continue to be offended on behalf of other people. That's not your job. That's not your role. And I get it. Protest is absolutely. It's legal. And this is a free country. You're allowed to do whatever you want. But what's ruined kind of the social contract of our country is the fact that so many people have taken upon themselves to be offended on behalf of others. There's a great video, and I was so desperately trying to find it while you were talking. There's a great video of an Iranian woman who spoke so eloquently into a camera and said, women of the United States, what in God's name. Why are you standing up for this evil regime that suppressed me, my family killed and others that I've known so closely? What is the matter with you?

[Mike Fratelloni]

What's wrong with you? Yeah, so here's something I think that's interesting. Right? So Democrats and Republicans are two different things, right? Liberals and Republicans are two different things. Well. Well, there's about a million Iranians, citizenized United States citizens that are Iranian, right?

[Chris Reivers]

Yep.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Who do you think they're gonna vote for?

[Chris Reivers]

Oh, man.

[Mike Fratelloni]

They're gonna vote for Donald Trump. They're gonna vote for Republicans. What happens, do you think, when the United States, Cubans, the Americans that came from Cuban descent, what happens when Donald Trump goes in there and kicks out the dictatorship in Cuba? All of those people are gonna vote for Donald trump. That's a 2 million person swing, potentially. Right. There's a lot of Cubans. There's a lot of Iran states. Well, that pushes the Republicans over in a whole bunch of different marks. So do Democrats. Do they have to be pissed because it's Donald Trump? Let me read you some things.

[Chris Reivers]

Here's the answer. Yes, why?

[Mike Fratelloni]

But I listen to npr. I'm going to tell you, I listen to npr. People seem okay. People are not dumb. Some people are not dumb. I don't get a woman calling in and you're screaming that Donald Trump is a warmonger and he didn't have to do this. Why are we going after countries that are. This is a backwards country. Since 1979, their population's been held down under the thumb, murdered. They've threatened to murder Americans and have murdered Americans. They call us the big Satan in Israel, the little Satan. These people do not have our best wishes in heart. But I Don't care about us people. I care about the women in the United States that would say that and say. Hold on, let me read you some things.

[Chris Reivers]

Yes.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Male guardianship. Okay. A married woman cannot obtain a passport or travel outside the country without her husband's written permission. That's in Iran. Husbands can also legally prevent their wives from pursuing specific occupations they deem against family values. Marriage and divorce is the next topic. The legal age of marriage is 13 for girls, though they can be married even younger with judicial and parental consent. While men have an uncontestable right to divorce. Women face significant legal hurdles and office must forego criminal claims and financial claims to obtain one right. Legal inequity they have. A woman's court testimony is valued at only half of a man's in inheritance. Widows typically receive one eighth of their husband's estate. What? Wow. Criminal responsibility. Girls reach the age of the criminal age of responsibility at 9 years old, boys 15. So you can be charged with a crime as a nine year old girl, but a boy has to wait for 15. Okay. Enforcement of dress codes, the hijab laws. Severe penalties. Right. The state strictly enforces mandatory veiling through the morality police and advanced technology. Severe penalties under laws intensified in 2024. Women. Women defying hijab rules face fines up to $15,300 flogging and imprisonments up from five to 15 years. Listen to me. They say to a woman, put that thing over your face, cover your head. If you don't do it, I'm gonna whoop your ass. I'm gonna fine you 15 grand and I'm gonna throw you in prison. 5 to 15 years. How are American women not saying, kill these son of a bitches. Kill them. Rip their heads off. The next one that pops up, knock his head off. Because 45 million women are living under this bullshit. And I can't get why they're not pissed.

[Chris Reivers]

There is a video I found one of the things I was looking for. How do you pronounce it? C H A D O R. Is it Shador? Shador.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Yeah.

[Chris Reivers]

I don't know. Whatever. This is a Shadur shop in Iran. It's an outer garment worn to cover the entire body of a Muslim woman to comply with Islam's Sharia law. This is what happens, ladies and gentlemen, when you're giving that type of power and that type of control to one majority. And you know what? That's what some people have the vision to take place in this country. Fortunately, I think we're too strong of a nation to Allow that to happen. At least I hope so anyway. But that's just it. It's almost as if they're completely okay and want to be entitled to be less than. That's what's.

[Mike Fratelloni]

So the Iranians use mass surveillance. Authorities use AI powered facial recognition, CCTV and mobile phone tracking to identify women without hijabs in public and in vehicles. So in your own car. Right. Oh, and by the way, you can't drive, you can't go to a. You can't dance with men, you can't do a whole bunch of things. Another thing, social and economic harassment. Non compliant women, so if you're not wearing a job, may be denied access to banks, airports and public transport. Businesses can be shut down for serving unveiled women. What I don't get Reavers, I just don't get. So we in America have women that wear hijabs. You don't have to do that here, ladies. You don't have to do that. You don't have to live oppressed. Are Somali women in Minnesota forced to wear hijabs?

[Chris Reivers]

I don't know the answer to that, but I do remember reading something and the woman basically said, while it's not the law, and this was a Minneapolis woman inside of their home. That was, I believe, the expectation.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Sure. And I get that. And I get that. And I know there's multiple cultures, right, that we all do it differently. Before 1979, Iran was a pretty progressive place.

[Chris Reivers]

There's actually a time lapse video that's shocking. Honest to God, it's shocking.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Beautiful country, beautiful people, prideful people. And then these strict Islamists came in and changed it. For 50 years they've changed it. Right? And we finally had somebody. I don't know if it's right. I'm not gonna pretend I even know that. Went in and said, we're not doing this anymore. Why aren't 150 million American women saying, thank you, Donald Trump, for pulling this

[Chris Reivers]

weed out, because they will never be able to bring it.

[Mike Fratelloni]

How can they not.

[Chris Reivers]

I know.

[Mike Fratelloni]

How can you not be excited for the 45 million women in Iran that now don't. You don't have to get pushed under the boot of the men.

[Chris Reivers]

I know why.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Why?

[Chris Reivers]

Because you were so busy trading in your Palestinian flag for the protest for your Iranian flag. See, what happens is it's almost like a customer service desk, you know, hey, I bought the wrong thing.

[Mike Fratelloni]

I need to return this one. You've seen the videos of the population going out onto the streets, the women removing their hijabs right.

[Chris Reivers]

Celebrating this.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Celebrating. Celebrating. How dare people in America say we should have never done that. Get your ass back inside. Get your hijab back inside. Shut your mouth. Don't raise your mouth. Don't walk outside. How dare you show your skin. That's what they're saying when they're saying they don't believe we should have done this. If you can't kill a murderous dictator in this world, I don't know if I want to be on this planet anymore.

[Chris Reivers]

Let's talk about we are nuts and wearenutsmn.com because boy, there are people roaming amongst us. They're nuts.

[Mike Fratelloni]

They're nuts.

[Chris Reivers]

And you know what? The go to is the original. The original toffee peanuts were the very first snack made by our friends at We Are Nuts. And you know what? It's a really big go to in the Reavers household. So are the jumbo cashews, the cherry trail mix, and you know what? I did pick up a jar of the dill pickle peanuts the other day.

[Mike Fratelloni]

How are they?

[Chris Reivers]

They're really good. Well, the boys took care of about 2/3 of the jar and then I took care of them.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Had those at the fair.

[Chris Reivers]

They're really good. Yeah, they are really good. But you can see their entire line on their website, which is of course wearenutsmn.com pick them up at your local Fratelloni's hardware and garden stores, Mac's Hardware, Lunds and Barleys, Kowalski's Markets, Cub Foods, Coburn's is now carrying we are nuts and also 700 different quick trip locations. Don't forget about the Hokey Pokey popcorn too, by the way. It's all there for you. If you're not able to make it to any one of those locations, just order [e-mail] and when you place your order, let's let them know that you heard about them here on the weekly scramble podcast. We will be right back. I have to give a quick shout out to our buddy Mike Bilsky and North American Banking Company. Michael, Last Thursday I had the opportunity to be in the North American banking company suite to check out University of St. Thomas basketball with my 14 year old son and 12 of his buddies that he plays basketball with.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Is that the Lee and Penny Anderson Stadium?

[Chris Reivers]

Such a wonderful facility.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Yeah, isn't it really?

[Chris Reivers]

N. You know what? To be honest, he gave me a couple options as to what date would work and based upon because basketball season for them was winding down and based upon their schedule it was like only two dates that actually worked. And so we picked Thursday and they actually played North Dakota State. So it was like, oh, that's cool. The number one team in their conference playing the number two team. It was fantastic and it was a great game. So anyway, what a wonderful facility. It really is. And I hate, you know me, I like to. To give the needle to St. Thomas all the time. They really did a nice job with that arena and that facility.

[Mike Fratelloni]

You know, to be truthful, I was a little worried that the stadium was going to change the look and feel of the neighborhood. But then I thought, wait, it's interior. It's on the campus. Right. It's not on the edge of campus. And it only holds like 4,000 people for basketball, maybe 5,000 or something. What is it for basketball?

[Chris Reivers]

I think it's more. Because I know you can see where the structure is for the ice and the seating, I believe is a little bit higher for hockey. But yeah, I think it's around 5,005.

[Mike Fratelloni]

5,000. Well, there's more than 5,000 students there at school any given day. So most games are at night. Most of the students are off campus. Right. Or have left campus. So the parking's easy. It's not. You're not parking down on Wood Lawn down there. Right.

[Chris Reivers]

There's a giant ramp right next to the facility. Yeah, exactly.

[Mike Fratelloni]

And so it's not that big a thing. I thought it was going to be much more punitive to the town. Right. That's called King's Maplewood, if you want to know. O that little area there.

[Chris Reivers]

I did not know if you move

[Mike Fratelloni]

into Kings Maplewood because I lived in Kings Maplewood. You know, what you have to say is, oh, we live in Kings Maplewood. I did not hear that. Yeah, there's a Kings Maplewood women's club. It's one of the longest running clubs of any town.

[Chris Reivers]

I see.

[Mike Fratelloni]

And it's called Kings Maplewood. I don't know why, but I find it charming.

[Chris Reivers]

Here's what I'd like to bring up, too, because there are still signs, you know, we don't want. Well, you probably can take the sign.

[Mike Fratelloni]

That's a little too late.

[Chris Reivers]

Yeah, the arena's built.

[Garage Floor Geeks Announcer]

The season.

[Chris Reivers]

The basketball season is almost over and so is the hockey season.

[Mike Fratelloni]

And the traffic hasn't been an issue. I really don't think. And I might be wrong. I don't live there anymore. It might be wrong, but I can't imagine it is.

[Chris Reivers]

I've been there twice and I know that, like, getting in and out of that ramp was really not a problem at all.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Yeah. Was it? Was the game busy?

[Chris Reivers]

Well, here's the thing. So when I had initially made arrangements for William's team and then the coaches to kind of get together, I thought, okay, I'll help carpool kids. But what I don't want is to have to then drive like nine kids home before I finally get home. So I thought let's just meet at the school, we'll do it that way, whatever. And everything worked out great. But I thought it was a seven o' clock game. So we met at the Jordan Middle school at around 5. Ish. Right, around 5.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Cause that's plenty of time to get there by 7.

[Chris Reivers]

It takes us an hour to get there. I will find a place to park and then we can. By the time I walk in, it'll be a little bit, maybe like 6:30 or whatever. Whatever. So actually traffic was a breeze. We pulled right in. I'm like, oh, I didn't really. That was nothing. To get into the ramp. So we get to the door and the guy says, oh, we're not open yet.

[Mike Fratelloni]

I said, oh, what do you mean you're not open?

[Chris Reivers]

He's like, oh, the game's at 8 o'. Clock. I went, oh no, you gotta be kidding me. And Now I've got 13 hyperactive kids that are ready for some chow and a free diet Pepsi. Like they want to get going here

[Mike Fratelloni]

in the Bilski suite and in the

[Chris Reivers]

North American Banking Company suite. Anyway, so it was fun, we had a great time. But I didn't really. The game was later than it actually.

[Mike Fratelloni]

So why did they have an 8:15 start?

[Chris Reivers]

I asked somebody with the school and apparently had something to do with. Because the game was televised apparently. And I didn't know that.

[Mike Fratelloni]

I thought it was a Score north thing because we said because they. Is that game, Would that be game? That game on Score North?

[Chris Reivers]

Yes.

[Mike Fratelloni]

So that game's on Score North. Do you think Score north said, no, we need to get through the Mike and Mike show.

[Chris Reivers]

No, I first.

[Mike Fratelloni]

What, what, what would be before the game?

[Chris Reivers]

You know, Mike, what would end? That was a great question.

[Mike Fratelloni]

You know what would have ended because you went on a Thursday, right?

[Chris Reivers]

Yes.

[Mike Fratelloni]

The beer show would have been on.

[Chris Reivers]

We would have been the pregame.

[Mike Fratelloni]

We would have been the pregame for the basketball game. For years we would have done that.

[Chris Reivers]

Do you remember the Thursday nights when we would have either football or whatever. Did I ever share some of the emails that would come in?

[Mike Fratelloni]

No.

[Chris Reivers]

People would be. Because Whether you like play by play is huge for radio.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Sure.

[Chris Reivers]

It just doesn't matter, especially if it's NFL. Right. If you have, if you have an NFL game or, or a baseball playoff game or an NBA playoff game, if you were leading into that, that was huge for the station because a lot of, a lot of people, a lot of people are working at that time. They want to listen to the ball

[Mike Fratelloni]

game or whatever, get other stuff done.

[Chris Reivers]

And I remember. Was it the draft? I can't remember what it was, but we. Someone thought that they were going to tune in and hear. I think it was, I think it was the NFL draft.

[Mike Fratelloni]

They were going to hear the draft

[Chris Reivers]

and they heard us and the scathing emails that came in because they wanted to hear. I said, well. So I responded politely like I always try to do. And I said, well, the draft doesn't start till 7, so we were only on from 6 to 7 o'. Clock.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Sure.

[Chris Reivers]

They didn't want to hear us talk to.

[Mike Fratelloni]

They wanted to hear the pre game of the draft. You know when I watch the NFL draft Reavers and I see people standing in their little corrals with their team standing there in the hot sun of Vegas or wherever it is, I think not for a million dollars could you get me to go stand in the parking lot with 4,000 people or 24,000 people, hundred thousand people, to find out which dude we're gonna get on our team who's gonna be gone in two years because he's gonna be a bus like JJ McCarthy.

[Chris Reivers]

I wish I would have recorded the mayor yesterday because when we did Monday Night Sports Talk and he had said something about watching golf or something on TV and I think I said, I think this was on the show. Maybe it was off the air. And I had said, well, no, I pretty much sat down and watched the NFL combine all weekend. Of course I'm lying completely. And he said, please tell me you're kidding. I said, yes, I'm kidding. He's like, you were about to get fired. I was about to fire you right on the spot. Did you watch any of it?

[Mike Fratelloni]

I did.

[Chris Reivers]

Of course not.

[Mike Fratelloni]

You didn't watch any of the combine? I 100% watched a bunch of the combine.

[Chris Reivers]

No, I really didn't.

[Mike Fratelloni]

When you see a 6 foot 7, 340 pound guy run a 428 4.

[Chris Reivers]

But that's why I watch those clips on social. Because that's what social media is made for is watch the mullet guy.

[Podcast Announcer]

Oh my God.

[Chris Reivers]

40 yard dash.

[Mike Fratelloni]

They are fast. Those are big Dudes running so fast. I wanted to do it because I wanted to see what I could run my 40 in.

[Chris Reivers]

I'm gonna give you a homework assignment because you just reminded me of something. And ladies, for those of you listening, we know there's a number of you that love to listen to the tones of Reivers and fratelloni. Look up Chris Jones. Do you know who Chris Jones is? Defensive tackle for your Kansas City Chiefs. I think he's a. A three time all pro. He's borderline hall of Fame guy. He's a really good player. Check out when Chris Jones ran his 40 yard dash. This would have been probably 10 or so years ago when he was a rookie. Let's just say he was wearing very tight spandex shorts.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Did you just tell our listeners to look up a video so you could see a guy's ding a ling?

[Chris Reivers]

It's just impressive. Put it that way. It's worth the time you're thinking, thinking, oh, my goodness. I. I bet he's never lonely.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Oh, my God.

[Chris Reivers]

Although I shouldn't say I think he's probably married or whatever, but sure.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Well, I mean, whatever, married.

[Chris Reivers]

So what?

[Mike Fratelloni]

He's probably married to like a 5 foot 1, 100 pounder poor girl. You wonder why she has scoliosis of the back. Now you're like, what's going on?

[Chris Reivers]

All right. It really didn't mean to take.

[Mike Fratelloni]

We went pretty deep on that.

[Chris Reivers]

That's okay. What else was I going to bring up with the. Oh. Oh. Very quickly, before we run out of time, I have to get your opinion on this as well. Your city, the city of St. Paul.

[Mike Fratelloni]

How would we do?

[Chris Reivers]

And the Minnesota Wild, Michael. Have been working for years to fund upgrades to the team's home arena and surrounding venues. Now they've got a plan to do it. This morning, the team and Mayor Kali Herr announced that they've agreed to a framework of a deal that would fund renovations to the Grand Casino arena complex, but would require one third of the money from the state. In addition to serving as the home of the Wild and Minnesota Frost, the arena hosts dozens of events throughout the year, including concerts, Monster Jam, and the high school hockey tournaments, which start Thursday. Together, the three venues host more than 400 events each year. Wow. And attract over 2.1 million visitors and generate almost 400 million in local economic activity, the city and the team said. And Joe earlier today had said, you know what? Normally I'm supposed to be opposed to this kind of thing, but he made a great point. Grant Casino arena is the only thing keeping St. Paul with a post.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Without it, it's just done.

[Chris Reivers]

It's a ghost town.

[Mike Fratelloni]

How much are they giving them?

[Chris Reivers]

Under the terms of the deal, $600 million would be poured into Gran Casino Arena.

[Mike Fratelloni]

What?

[Chris Reivers]

The river center and Roy Wilkins Auditorium. So all three of those areas. The parties will ask the Minnesota legislature to provide 200 million of that, with the city and the team each putting up 162.5 million and working together to fund the remaining 75 million. The city says its portion would come from an extension of the half cent sales tax. Of those funds, the mayor and The Wild say $450 million would go towards Gran Casino arena, with the remaining 150 being spent among the river center and Roy Wilkins Auditorium. I get it. I know. It's because the arena's 26 years old now.

[Mike Fratelloni]

It's nice, though.

[Chris Reivers]

It's still nice.

[Mike Fratelloni]

It's genuinely very nice still.

[Chris Reivers]

But here's why I again, I. And at least they're paying for a third of it, or whatever. This is the price of poker. That's just. That's just it. And you know, and I brought this up earlier in gl. I'll repeat it now. Look at what Seattle had to do just to get the rights to get an expansion franchise. The Kraken had this pony up 650 million to the league just to say, hey, we want to get a team. That doesn't include building the team, building the arena. That's just to say to the league, hey, we want to have a team. I think Vegas was 500. I want to say, but that's just the price of business.

[Mike Fratelloni]

I get it. But then there's a business guy like me. We have more than 2 million customers a year in our stores. So we generate more customers coming to our stores. So if we have a store in Arden Hills and someone drives from Shoreview, they're coming into Arden Hills. It does more economic, more people coming to my store than Grand Casino arena for the year. Right? The stores. No one's given us 600 million bucks. Why did they get 600 million bucks? I have, technically more visitors. Maybe we don't generate 400 million bucks worth of this, but it is welfare for the ultra rich, period. I get why we need it. I get it. Joe is right. And you are right. If Gran Casino arena went dark, St. Paul, you might as well shut it

[Chris Reivers]

down, bulldoze it over.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Right?

[Chris Reivers]

And that's why I think the city of Minneapolis needs to understand, you gotta start. Cause if, like, let's just say Cause I know the Timberls are now pouting because they want their new facility even though we renovated Target center.

[Mike Fratelloni]

We just spent 300 million bucks or whatever at Target center.

[Chris Reivers]

But they want to build a brand new state of the air facility and whatever.

[Mike Fratelloni]

It's a basketball court.

[Chris Reivers]

If they move out of the city, that's how many dates then between concerts and basketball games, you're losing people coming to your city.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Yeah, it is a big deal. And I get it. Does help every restaurant. Problem is with restaurants too. They'll say, hey, we need to keep this half percent, you know, half a cent tax, half a percent tax, 50 basis point tax increase. That's a big problem. Right. And none of these taxes. I love when they say it's gonna be temporary. No tax ever brought up in the history of life. I wonder if any tax in Minnesota that we had that's temporary. Is the Metrodome tax still on?

[Chris Reivers]

Oh, I'm sure it is.

[Mike Fratelloni]

What, how that thing is long damn gone.

[Chris Reivers]

It probably wasn't phrased as a metroidrome. It just rolled into the Sports Facilities Commission.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Yeah. The taxes never go away. Just get ready to get screwed. We're ready to get screwed. Insane.

[Chris Reivers]

We're ready to get screwed. I don't know.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Honest to God, this is a compliment to the stadium. I think Xcel Energy center, when it was Xcel Energy center, they built that really well.

[Chris Reivers]

Yes, they did.

[Mike Fratelloni]

I think it looks really good. I can't think of something that I would really change at that. I think it looks modern still. It's all in great shape.

[Chris Reivers]

I think they're going to add some sweets and I think they're also going to add. They're going to add a couple more things to it. But I believe also isn't part of it building a hotel attached to the arena?

[Mike Fratelloni]

There's already hotels right down there.

[Chris Reivers]

Okay.

[Mike Fratelloni]

You know, there's hotels right across the street, right down there's the Oxbow. There's a bunch of hotels right there.

[Podcast Announcer]

Right.

[Mike Fratelloni]

I mean, sure, they need more hotels, but there's hotels on all three corners besides the stadium. I don't know if they're doing it just to build suites. Now I'm not so excited about it, right? Because like, hey, suites have 25 people in them. You build another 10 suites, that's another 250 people. Who cares? That's not. That's not hundreds of thousands of people more that you're entertaining.

[Chris Reivers]

You know what the other thing I was just thinking about as you're saying that what the league should start doing in order to make it justifiable for these teams is almost take the NFL's model where. And again, I personally would probably be against this, but you have neutral site championship rounds. So instead of the Stanley cup finals being at the Wild arena and whoever they were playing, the New Jersey Devils arena, you'd have it at one site and play seven games and like, that would be awesome.

[Mike Fratelloni]

What did you just say? That was really adorable.

[Chris Reivers]

What?

[Mike Fratelloni]

The Stanley cup finals. Would it be at the Wild Arena?

[Chris Reivers]

Well, you don't. That's a horrible.

[Mike Fratelloni]

You know what they should do? The city should say, win. You win and we'll give you the money. You put together a team that gets us to the Stanley cup finals and we'll give you the money.

[Chris Reivers]

And then Craig Leopold would say, okay, should we go to Nashville?

[Mike Fratelloni]

Do you think that's what he'd do?

[Chris Reivers]

No, because I do think he wants to make it work here.

[Mike Fratelloni]

I think he does too. And I think he's a good owner. I think he's probably a good guy and a good owner. But that would be really interesting. We're going to give you some incentive to win.

[Chris Reivers]

Just as people have learned. Don't ever try to talk to him during the game.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Oh, does he get really?

[Chris Reivers]

Well, he's in the suite next to the Hubbard broadcasting suite and years ago, legend has it anyway that there was a sales guy that attempted to talk to him during the game. It's like, bro, don't, no, don't, don't, don't ever do that. He's very polite. Like he'll wave and say hi, like intermission and whatnot. In fact, I have a great photo of my little guy standing next to kind of where he was sitting. I said at the time, he's like six. I'm like, oh, my six year old's really trying to give him some advice on how to run the team was kind of a joke to put on social media. But yeah, don't ever talk to him during the game.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Well, I'm very excited for that. I look forward to St. Paul just after 6,600 million bucks in some new bathrooms and some suites. I think it's going to be great and that's going to change the whole town.

[Chris Reivers]

Mike.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Yeah.

[Chris Reivers]

Target field is already 16 years old. U.S. bank Stadium is 10 years old.

[Mike Fratelloni]

Win something. Win something and I'll put my money in win something. Reivers, you are the best.

[Chris Reivers]

Thank you. Michael, please do us a favor. Rate and review the show wherever you happen to be listening to the weekly scramble podcast. It helps others find the show. It helps us out as well, and we appreciate each and every single one of you. His name is Mike Frattoloni. My name is Chris Reivers. Thank you so very, very much for listening to the weekly Scramble podcast. We'll talk to you again next time. And until then, cheers.