St. Paul’s downtown hockey arena is getting a name change. The Xcel Energy Center, home of the Minnesota Wild since 2000, will be renamed Grand Casino Arena on September 3. This move marks a 14-year naming rights partnership between the arena’s operator, Minnesota Sports & Entertainment, and the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.
The Mille Lacs Band owns several casinos in the state and sees this new partnership as an opportunity to promote their brand and story to a wider audience. “This will put our brand in front of millions of Minnesotans and visitors every year,” said Virgil Wind, chief executive of the Mille Lacs Band.
The Grand Casino Arena name change will not only affect the arena’s exterior but also its interior signs, including the center ice logo. The changes are set to be completed before the 2025-2026 NHL regular season.
Minnesota Sports & Entertainment, which operates the arena, is excited about the new partnership and sees it as an opportunity to revitalize downtown St. Paul’s entertainment district. Xcel Energy will continue its existing partnership with the Minnesota Wild, while concerts and state high school championship tournaments will also return to the arena.
Source: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/06/30/st-pauls-xcel-energy-center-will-now-be-grand-casino-arena