Grand Casino Arena is a multipurpose arena in downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota, that has served as the home of the National Hockey League’s Minnesota Wild since the franchise’s debut season. The building opened on September 29, 2000, as Xcel Energy Center, when the expansion Wild hosted a preseason game against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.
In September 2025, the venue took on its current name after Minnesota Sports and Entertainment struck a long-term naming-rights agreement tied to Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley. Beyond Wild hockey, the arena continues to host major concerts, touring shows, and civic events for the Twin Cities, just as it did under its previous name.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Minnesota Wild (NHL)
- Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota
- Opened: September 29, 2000 (as Xcel Energy Center)
- Renamed: September 3, 2025 (Grand Casino Arena)
- Capacity: about 17,954 for hockey
- Owner/Operator: City of Saint Paul / Minnesota Sports and Entertainment
- Notable fact: Hosted the 2004 World Cup of Hockey and the 2011 NHL Entry Draft
From Xcel Energy Center to Grand Casino Arena
For the arena’s first quarter-century, it was known as Xcel Energy Center, a name tied to the Minneapolis-based energy company. That naming-rights deal gave way in 2025 to a new 14-year agreement, and the building was officially rechristened Grand Casino Arena on September 3, 2025, reflecting a partnership with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe’s Grand Casino properties.
Despite the name change, the arena’s identity as the Wild’s downtown St. Paul home has stayed constant, anchoring the surrounding Xcel Energy Center Plaza district that has grown up around it since 2000.
Beyond Wild Hockey
Grand Casino Arena was built as a multi-use venue from the start, with four seating levels that flex between a hockey bowl and a full concert configuration. Over the years it has hosted touring concerts, the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, and other large-scale Twin Cities events alongside its primary role as the Wild’s rink.
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Grand Casino Arena FAQs
Who plays at Grand Casino Arena?
The Minnesota Wild of the NHL have played their home games there since the arena opened in 2000.
Why was Xcel Energy Center renamed Grand Casino Arena?
Minnesota Sports and Entertainment signed a new long-term naming-rights deal connected to Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley, and the venue adopted the Grand Casino Arena name on September 3, 2025.
What is the seating capacity of Grand Casino Arena?
It holds about 17,954 fans in its hockey configuration, with a higher capacity available for concerts and other events.
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Photo: Bobak Ha’Eri / CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.