urbanMSP

So now we find out why the billion dollar game wanted free volunteers. Because we wouldn't want to leave anything of value for people to use once it's over, would we?

We get billboards around the stadium? All kidding aside, I agree. It would be nice if we were left something of value given all the inconvenience and disruption this event is creating.

I also thought for sure they would at least replace the signage that still shows the Metrodome before the super bowl but this doesn't appear to be the case either. At the minimum, the signage around the Hilton still has the Metrodome on it.

Last weekend I ended up escorting fans through the skyway system because they were lost. They even joked that I should start a service guiding people through the skyway to make some extra money. Those ugly and ineffective blue signs really need to go. I wonder what's holding things up? I'm sure signs pointing to the Metrodome would confuse out-of-towners.

The signs that say Metrodome will be replaced before the Super Bowl. But they will just be updated ugly blue signs.

Ugly is subjective. I personally like them. They are quirky maybe, kind of like the airport carpet at pdx.

Ugly is subjective. I personally like them. They are quirky maybe, kind of like the airport carpet at pdx.

I agree- I think the water motif is just fine. The biggest negative being that the white lettering doesn't read well on top of a white and blue back ground, plus the signs have faded in some locations. But overall, I think it is still a decent look.

Why not something more branded

Because one of the major people in the group that operates the skyways also owns the company that makes these signs.

That’s the kind of thing that happens when an executive/manager with inflated self perception of their marketing talent gets to make decisions about clarity of information.

Unnecessary logos dwarf the content.

Why not something more branded

I like the sign, but it should read :
Mills Fleet Farm Parking Garage at US Bank Stadium, sponsored by Verizon and driven by Hyundai

I'm also a fan of http://rachelbrandon.com/better-signage ... -redesign/


The existing is just so awful, dated, unreadable and way to kitchy. Let's be honest, the lakes aren't downtown and the river is hardly visible, so why are we using water to represent the 'sky'way. My goodness, even stock logos would be better...

Also, when NYC Pentagram was brought in to do the new wayfinding and image of Nicollet I was hoping the downtown council might take them on for a redesign or new wayfinding of the skyway, but sadly not...

Something like these could have been great

https://www.pentagram.com/work/penn-sta ... e&rel-id=4
https://www.pentagram.com/work/nyc-park ... e&rel-id=4

I still think they had a good thing going with the late 70's early 80's wayfinding signage. Numbered routes one direction, color coded the other, and a simple stick man logo... Want to get from Donaldson's to Powers? Follow the "Green" route!

Seriously, the Minneapolis skyway system is so confusing. I've had numerous people in Seattle tell me that they visited and hated them as they couldn't figure out how to navigate them but felt obligated as many of their destinations were off of the skyways. Treating them as numbered/colored routes as opposed to a street network would really help things.

In searching for any images of the skyway signage as I remember it (I have yet to dig into my own photos... there's a slim chance I have something I snapped in the mid 80's) I came across this map of planned expansion of the skyway system. The date given is "1965?" which probably isn't far off, as it does include I-335 across the north edge of the map.

Interestingly, the idea of the "ABC" ramps seems to be in place, and it shows Nicollet from 5th to 8th as an enclosed mall!

https://reflections.mndigital.org/catal ... 4#/image/0

Seriously, the Minneapolis skyway system is so confusing. I've had numerous people in Seattle tell me that they visited and hated them as they couldn't figure out how to navigate them but felt obligated as many of their destinations were off of the skyways. Treating them as numbered/colored routes as opposed to a street network would really help things.

I feel it isn't that bad, I prefer to use them. It does take a bit to adjust to it but coming from St. Louis to Minneapolis it was my favorite part about living and working downtown. Also get annoyed by the groups that are all anti-skyways as well. When I moved here my first summer I just spent walking them all weekend for fun.

There was a Motel 6 around Des Moines Iowa that I just loved spending my weekends walking the halls and lobby. Once they filed a restraining order I had to walk outside on my weekends. It was a tragedy and I still feel very hurt having to go through that experience too. Lucky I now live here as well, no more emotional scarring outside walking for me. Been going on almost 14 months inside, what a dream!

A couple weeks ago a friend was having a birthday party at the gay 90's, and my partner and I ate elsewhere downtown beforehand. We tried using the skyways to get most of the way there to the lumber exchange (?) (according to a random skyway map we found), but part of it was closed so we couldn't make it through. Took forever to even find an entrance to the skyways from street level. 0/10 would not try again.

A couple weeks ago a friend was having a birthday party at the gay 90's, and my partner and I ate elsewhere downtown beforehand. We tried using the skyways to get most of the way there to the lumber exchange (?) (according to a random skyway map we found), but part of it was closed so we couldn't make it through. Took forever to even find an entrance to the skyways from street level. 0/10 would not try again.

Sadly not everything is really connected via Skyway, you just use a best guess on what gets you the closest. There are plenty of entrances but less after 6. Parking garages, hotels, and target is the best to get on.

One problem everyone should be able to agree on is that the skyways are difficult for those who aren't familiar with them to use. Access from the street is mostly unmarked. Signage is not terribly helpful. Even the maps are hard to interpret. Heck, I'm about as familiar as you can get and it's still hard to give directions, because the routes aren't direct, the turns are twisty and you need to know the landmarks (hey, stranger, do you know what the Rand Tower is?). The hours suck and are still inconsistent (less of an issue for me now that we don't live downtown, but definitely an issue after dinner on the way to the '90s).

Meanwhile, some downtown businesses don't want to do anything to change those things out of an apparent fear that the wrong sorts will then be able to figure them out.

Anyway, my question of the moment is how the new building on Nicollet across from the library is going to connect to the system. There's a skyway being built across 4th into the new Xcel building, but as it stands there is no access to that building that's open to the public on the other side (i.e., the skyway from the Nic ends at a door marked "employees only.")