St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center Renamed Grand Casino Arena

After 25 years as the Xcel Energy Center, the premier hockey and entertainment venue in downtown St. Paul will be renamed Grand Casino Arena starting September 3, 2025, following a new 14-year naming rights partnership with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. The arena is home to the NHL's Minnesota Wild, the PWHL's Minnesota Frost, and hosts major concerts and the state high school hockey tournament. The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, owners of Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley, have been significant investors in downtown St. Paul and view this partnership as a major step in diversifying tribal business ventures beyond gaming. Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold emphasized that the arena will anchor a revitalized entertainment district, while Grand Casino CEO Ronda Weizenegger highlighted this move as a signal of tribal enterprise strength and future investment in Minnesota. The renaming includes all new interior and exterior signage, digital activations, and fan engagement initiatives, marking the end of an era for the venue known as "The X." This change comes amid ongoing efforts to renovate the arena, though state funding for renovations was not secured in the latest legislative session.