As pointed out to us by intrepid Twitter user @Scoopwalsh, there is a new web site dedicated to the Cities of the Big Ten.
The site is a collaboration between all the member schools in the Big Ten, and it included at its launch every school/city in the league except one: The University of Minnesota and the Twin Cities.
Even newbies Rutgers and Maryland get a nice paragraph about things to do in those areas. (Maryland, for instance, "is only a few miles away from our nation's Capital and the historic City of Baltimore. Within a short drive along I-95 or quick train ride you can visit the birthplace of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Fort McHenry or enjoy a night on the town at National Harbor. Maryland is your ultimate sports destination – Here To Play!")
We're not entirely sure why Minnesota isn't included, but we have to imagine it's an oversight. That said, it seems like a pretty curious oversight — nobody along the way said, "Wait, I only see 13 schools. Something doesn't seem right."
Maybe Minnesota simply didn't want to participate? Maybe Ohio State doesn't recognize Minnesota as a fully-vested Big Ten school? Is this a coup?
We've reached out to two contacts listed on news releases about the site, so hopefully we'll clear up this mystery!
UPDATE: We just spoke with Kristen Montag from Meet Minneapolis, which supports travel and tourism in the Twin Cities. She said her organization was made aware of the exclusion from the Cities of the Big Ten website today and that the two sides are communicating to get it fixed quickly. A placeholder was added for the U of M on the site this afternoon.
