It wasn’t an orchestrated and raucous political event.
Heck, most of the people who were there weren’t quite sure what to do.
But then came the main event: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, now the running mate for Kamala Harris on the Democratic presidential ticket, and his motorcade (he better get used to that) saddling up and moving out from the parking lot at Eastcliff.
It was just after 10:00 a.m., more than two hours after Walz found out that his life will never be the same.
That’s when the noise started.
Not only was there cheering, some tried to start up a “Minnesota Rouser” sing-along, going heavy on the tail-end part where the state’s name is spelled out.
Some were chanting Minnesota words.
You know what we’re talking about here.
“Ope!”
“Ya, hey!”
“You betcha!”
It didn’t matter that you couldn’t see Walz inside the black SUV with the tinted windows, even though folks are used to seeing him ride shot-gun in official Minnesota state vehicles.
The cheering began to build when the second car in the motorcade, the one with flashing blue lights, eased out of the parking lot and turned right, presumably for MSP airport and a flight to Philadelphia.
That’s where Harris will formally introduce her running mate on Tuesday night.
When word first broke that Walz was chosen by vice president Kamala Harris to be his running mate for the White House, only a handful of people were there.
Then a few more showed up. And a few more after that.
“I was actually doing a loop around the Mississippi, and I saw people up here, so I thought I’d better walk up,” said Nancy Prieve, who had started her walk on the Minnesota side of the river.
“We just live in the neighborhood, this is our morning walk,” said David Hammel, who lives down the street for what is normally the home of the U of M president. “We’re excited, it’s fantastic news that the governor’s been picked.”
Perhaps the only hint of politics was the presence of Karen Anderson-Vento, the daughter-in-law of the late Bruce Vento, who served Minnesota’s 4th congressional district for 23 years.
“This has been a moment to kind of shine,” said the St. Paul native, noting that being with people for this historic moment was what brought to the intersection of Prior and Otis Avenues. “Between the Olympics and this we’re just so full of pride. I wanted to not be alone.”
Perhaps Walz felt the same way, but he was instead whisked out the back door and quickly into his waiting car.
He’s got to get used to that, as well.
WCCO's Al Schoch, who thrives on minutiae, notes that twice Minnesotans have been running mates on a party's presidential ticket. They are 2-0.