On This Date in Minnesota History: June 17

June 17, 1972 – Iron Workers Local 512 agreed to withdraw its pickets so the No. 1 social event in Minneapolis – the Symphony Ball – could be held as scheduled in the Crystal Court of the IDS Center, which was still under construction. Without the concession by the Iron Workers, the Symphony Ball would have been without union musicians, 97 members of the Minnesota Orchestra, an 18-piece dance band, waitresses, bartenders, barboys, cooks and supervisory help.¹  The event was viewed as the public opening of the unfinished IDS Center; 1,165 guests paid $50 a ticket to see the new building. Andy Warhol was supposed to attend, but he had a schedule conflict and was in Mexico.²

¹Minneapolis Tribune; “Pickets to leave IDS Center tonight so Symphony Ball won’t strike out”; June 17, 1972; p. 1.
²Minneapolis Tribune; “’Best Symphony Ball ever’ gives peek at IDS Center”; June 19, 1972; p. 10B.