The Wild want to "hang a giant temporary banner -- possibly of Wild players photographed with iPhones -- on the side of Xcel Energy Center" as part of the team's new partnership with Apple, according to James Walsh of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. The banner would be "about 2,900 square feet" and hang for three years. St. Paul city ordinance "limits temporary banners to no more than 120 square feet," and allows them to "stay up for no more than 90 days." As such, the Wild need the city to "grant a variance for their banner." Wild officials said that the banners have been "part of Apple promotions in other markets," including St. Paul. Walsh notes banners covering 2,400 square feet have been "draped down the side" of Xcel Energy Center before, in '11 for the Visa gymnastics championship and again for the '16 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. The city's Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) "recently approved the banner request," which is what Scenic St. Paul is appealing to the City Council. But that appeal was "pulled from the agenda" for tomorrow's meeting after city staff "realized the zoning appeals board needs to consider two additional variances -- one for the height of the banner and another for a city ordinance that allows only two exterior signs" at the arena. St. Paul Marketing & Public Relations Manager Suzanne Donovan said that if the BZA approves those requests, then the appeal will be "put back onto the City Council agenda" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 1/14).
