The old building's unsuitability, on top of waning attendance, greased wheels already in motion to move the fabled Lakers dynasty from its birthplace in the Upper Midwest to the lush and more lucrative Los Angeles market.
And yet, there the Armory sits to this day. The National Guard stopped using it entirely by 1980. Various civic functions and minor sports events were held there, and the state's historical society blocked an attempt by Hennepin County to build a jail on the site. Prince used the old barn to shoot the music video for "1999" there. Aerosmith reportedly did one there too.