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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES Page 14,July 1987 • metropolitan areas. s A regional airport. In December 1988,the MSP Adequacy Task Force will report to the Metropolitan Council, Metropolitan Airports Commission(MAC)and the Legislature regarding the need for a second major airport in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. If the Task Force recommends that a second airport is needed its if policy makers agree,then a site selection process will begin, perhaps in mid-1989. A regional airport represents a significant economic development opportunity for the northern suburbs. For proof,one need only look at the development that Minneapolis-St. Paul International has spawned on its perimeter. 1Le site selection process is initiated,a north suburban location will be given serious consideration. The MACs Anoka County Airport site in Blaine is larger than the site of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Furthermore,the fastest growing corridor in the state is the area along 1-94 between the Twin Cities and St.Cloud. A northern airport would serve and facilitate this growth. (Significant growth is also occurring between the Twin Cities and Rochester. However,this corridor is adjacent to and well served by the current airport.) • Sports and cultural facilities. The olympic soccer facility in Blaine is one example. The re- gion's golf courses are another. A third possibility would be to develop a summer music center in the region. Most major metropolitan areas have such facilities,e.g.Wolf Trap out- side of Washington, D. C.,Ravinia north of Chico, Blossom Center between Cleveland and Akron,Red Rocks near Denver and Tanglewood in the Berkshire Hills west of Boston. The center would operate from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It would consist of an amphi- theater in a park-like setting. The center could be the summer home for the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Minneapolis Chamber Symphony and/or a nationally known perfor- mance group seeking a summer residence. (The Minnesota Orchestra's Summer Fest is based at Orchestra Hall in downtown Minneapolis.) The tarot audience should be families and adults rather than teens and young adults. How- ever,special events could be staged for the latter audience. (Earlier this year private developers proposed building outdoor amphitheaters in Shakopee (near Valley Fair)and Savage. The former will seat 17,000 and the latter 18,000. A fall groundbreaking is expected for the Starwood Music Center in Shakopee. The Savage proposal has been delayed indefinitely due to environmental and financing problems. Its developers are now negotiating for a site in Blaine and may announce construction plans in late July. The Shakopee center is likely to attract a wide range of audiences. It is billed es a performing arts center and will schedule classical as well as contemporary, rock and country music. It is also designed for broadway musicals and other theatrical attractions.) BLAZAR RESEARCH