Xcel Energy Center is a multipurpose arena in Saint Paul, Minnesota , United States. Completed in 2000 and often called "The X" by fans, it is named for its locally based corporate sponsor Xcel Energy . With an official capacity of 17,954, the arena has four spectator levels: one suite level and three for general seating. The building is home to the NHL 's Minnesota Wild and the Minnesota Frost of the PWHL .
19-755: The arena is owned by the city of Saint Paul and operated by the Wild's parent company, Minnesota Sports & Entertainment. It is on the same block of downtown St. Paul as the RiverCentre convention facility, the Roy Wilkins Auditorium , and the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts , and shares a single indoor access area with the RiverCentre and Roy Wilkins Auditorium. The arena opened on September 29, 2000. It
38-570: A Minnesota Wild game at Xcel Energy Center as the third-best stadium experience in North America. In December 2023, Saint Paul city officials spoke on the condition of the venue, stating that it was "showing its age", and said needed renovations could cost "several hundred million [dollars]....based on similar renovations". The project would focus on modernizing the facility to meet demands of newer generations of visitors. The concourse areas contain hockey jerseys from every Minnesota high school on
57-472: Is a convention center located in Saint Paul, Minnesota . It sits adjacent to the Roy Wilkins Auditorium , Xcel Energy Center and the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts . The convention center opened in 1998. It was designed by Hammel Green and Abrahamson, Inc. It has twice been honored as "Best Convention Center" by Minnesota Meetings and Events Magazine. It hosts a large variety of events and has been
76-559: Is a hub for sports events in the Midwest. In 2004, ESPN named the arena the best overall sports venue in the U.S. It hosted the NCAA Frozen Four tournament in 2002, 2011, and 2018; and will host again in 2024. The National Lacrosse League 's Minnesota Swarm played in the arena from January 2005 until they moved to Georgia in 2015. The Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA used Xcel Energy Center during
95-690: The 2016 WNBA Playoffs and the 2017 WNBA season as their home arena, Minneapolis's Target Center , was undergoing renovation. As of 2018, it is host venue of the NCHC Frozen Faceoff . The venue formerly hosted the Big Ten Men's Ice Hockey Tournament , alternating with Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. The venue is used by the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) for its Girls Volleyball State Tournament, Wrestling State Tournament, and
114-741: The Montréal Victoire . Grace Zumwinkle scored the first home goal for the Frost, and went on to record a hat-trick ; Maddie Rooney recorded the shutout. With more than 13,000 fans in attendance, the game set a new record for attendance at a professional women's hockey game. Various music artists have held concerts at the arena since its opening in 2000. Some of these include Taylor Swift , Olivia Rodrigo , Lady Gaga , Katy Perry , Imagine Dragons , Elton John , Pink , Madonna , Pentatonix , Kelly Clarkson , Ariana Grande , Post Malone , Beyoncé , Shania Twain , Iron Maiden and Bruno Mars . In 1998,
133-717: The Twin Cities were selected as the hosting metropolis for the 2008 Republican National Convention , and the arena was chosen as the main venue. The convention was held there on September 1-4, 2008. The manager of the Xcel Energy Center at the time was Minnesota Sports & Entertainment whose owner Craig Leipold is also the owner of the Minnesota Wild and a prominent Republican and supporter of George W. Bush and Mitt Romney . The 10 millionth person passed through its gates on July 3, 2007. In 2010, ESPN magazine listed
152-651: The Boys and Girls Hockey State Tournaments. The Minnesota Wild played their first game at the arena on October 11, 2000, against the Philadelphia Flyers . Their first win at the arena came on October 18, 2000, when they defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 6–5. The Wild's first playoff game at the arena was on April 14, 2003. In that game, the Wild suffered a 3–0 loss to the Colorado Avalanche . On April 21, 2003,
171-718: The Wild won their first playoff game 3–2 on an overtime game-winner by Richard Park . On April 26, 2015, the Wild clinched a playoff series at the arena for the first time, defeating the St. Louis Blues 4–1 in game six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals. In 2023, it was announced that the Minnesota Frost of the Professional Women's Hockey League would be based out of the arena. The team hosted its inaugural home game on January 6, 2023—a 3–0 shutout victory over
190-409: The arena installed an integrated scoring, video, information and advertising display system by Daktronics . The system includes a large LED circular, center-hung scoreboard with multiple displays, nearly 1,100 feet (340 m) of ribbon display technology mounted on the fascia and large video displays outside the facility. The center ice display was replaced in the summer of 2014. Of the 10 LED screens,
209-426: The forgiveness deal in this bill, St. Paul's annual loan payment was reduced by $ 500,000 in 2014 and again in 2015. The balance of the loan was forgiven in 2016. The city still owes $ 56.8 million in bonds on the arena, of the $ 72.7 million it borrowed in 1998. RiverCentre 44°56′38″N 93°5′58″W / 44.94389°N 93.09944°W / 44.94389; -93.09944 The Saint Paul RiverCentre
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#1732855640780228-612: The home of the annual Festival of Nations. NCAA Men%27s Ice Hockey Championship NCAA men's ice hockey championship refers to either of the two tournaments in men's ice hockey – one in Division I and one in Division III – contested by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) since 1971. The NCAA Division II Men's Ice Hockey Tournament , contested from 1978 to 1984 and from 1993 to 1999,
247-516: The largest measures 37.5 feet (11.4 m) wide by 19 feet (5.8 m) high. In 2015 the arena began replacing every seat in the building with cushioned seating. This was finished by early 2016. The campus of Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul RiverCentre, and The Roy Wilkins Auditorium has three world-class certifications: The Xcel Energy Center and Saint Paul RiverCentre campus is the world's first complex to receive all three of those certifications. The road to achieving them took several years. Some of
266-584: The state funded the project in April 1998. It gave Saint Paul a no-interest loan of $ 65 million for the $ 130 million project, though it forgave $ 17 million of that in exchange for having high school sports championships played at the arena. The arena hosted the Vote for Change Tour on October 5, 2004, featuring performances by Bright Eyes , R.E.M. and Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band (with special guest John Fogerty and unannounced guest Neil Young ). In 2006,
285-407: The state made a $ 65 million interest-free loan toward construction of the $ 130 million arena, $ 17 million of which was forgiven when the team agreed to allow amateur and public events. That left a loan of $ 48 million. In 2013, the state legislature passed an omnibus jobs, housing and commerce bill that included forgiveness of the remaining $ 32.7 million loan to Xcel Energy Center. Under the terms of
304-543: The steps taken to achieve these awards are: In addition to the efforts made by staff, Xcel Energy Center has partnered with the NHL to join Change the Course, a national initiative promoting water conservation and restoration. To highlight its achievements, the Xcel Energy Center produced Exceptionally Green: Minnesota Wild, Saint Paul RiverCentre and Xcel Energy Center . Xcel Energy Center
323-447: The walls, reflecting the "State of Hockey." Surrounding the arena at all four corners are "crow's nests." One features an organ and is played during Wild games. The second features a lighthouse that houses a foghorn that is blasted when the team takes the ice before games, for all Wild and Frost goals, and after a victory. The third is used for the Wild's drum line. The fourth provides an additional stage for various uses. Before it opened,
342-685: Was built on the site of the demolished St. Paul Civic Center . The push for a new arena in Saint Paul grew after the National Hockey League 's Minnesota North Stars moved to Dallas . Saint Paul courted the Hartford Whalers and Winnipeg Jets under Mayor Norm Coleman , but the Civic Center was an obstacle to both deals. In order to get an NHL expansion team, Saint Paul needed to build a new arena. After several failed attempts to get funding,
361-674: Was discontinued due to a lack of Division II conferences sponsoring ice hockey. Since 1999, the semifinals and finals for the Division I championship have been branded as the "Frozen Four", echoing the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament 's "Final Four". The NCAA started a Women's Frozen Four beginning with the 2000–01 season. The Hobey Baker Award ceremony, Hockey Humanitarian Award ceremony, and USCHO.com Town Hall Meeting take place annually during Frozen Four weekend. The 2020 Championships were cancelled due to ongoing concerns over
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