Xcel Energy Center
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The X | |
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| Location | 199 Kellogg Blvd W, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55102 |
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| Coordinates | 44°56′41″N 93°6′4″W / 44.94472°N 93.10111°WCoordinates: 44°56′41″N 93°6′4″W / 44.94472°N 93.10111°W |
| Opened | 2000 |
| Owner | City of St. Paul |
| Operator | Minnesota Sports & Entertainment |
| Surface | Multi-surface |
| Construction cost | $130 million USD |
| Architect | Populous |
| Capacity | Ice hockey / Lacrosse: 18,064 (18,568 with standing room) Concerts:
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| Tenants | |
| Minnesota Wild (NHL) (2000-present) Minnesota Swarm (NLL) (2005-present) Republican National Convention (2008) |
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Xcel Energy Center (The X) is a sports arena in Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. sponsored by Xcel Energy. It is home to the NHL's Minnesota Wild and the NLL's Minnesota Swarm. It is owned by the city of Saint Paul and operated by Minnesota Sports & Entertainment. It is on the same block as the RiverCentre convention facility, Roy Wilkins Auditorium, and Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. The arena has four spectator levels: one suite level, and three general seating levels named the 100 level, the club level, and the 200 level. Its official capacity is 18,064.
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[edit] History
The Xcel Energy Center opened in Fall 2000. It was built on the site of the demolished St. Paul Civic Center. In 2004, the arena was named by ESPN as the best overall sports venue in the U.S. The 10 millionth person passed the gates on July 3, 2007.
The Twin Cities were selected as the hosting metropolis for the 2008 Republican National Convention on September 27, 2006, and the Xcel Energy Center was chosen as the main venue. The Republican National Convention was held at the Xcel Center on September 1–4. There have been Metallica and AC/DC concerts, and WCW and WWE shows.
[edit] Features
The councourse areas contain a hockey jersey from every high school in Minnesota hanging on the wall, reflecting the "State of Hockey." Surrounding the arena at all four corners are "crows nests." One features an organ built into the shell of a Zamboni machine and is played during Wild games. A second nest features a lighthouse that contains a foghorn that is blasted before faceoff, for Wild goals and after a win. The third is used for the announcement before every Wild game; "Lets play hockey!" and the fourth is for multipurpose.
[edit] Attendance Records
- March 8, 2008 : The Minnesota State High School League Boys hockey tournament set a new attendance record during the AA semifinal session. Edina and Benilde-St. Margaret's played in the first game followed by Roseau and Hill-Murray in front of a crowd of 19,547
- February 8, 2004: the NHL All-Star Game set a record for attendance at a hockey game in Minnesota at 19,434
- The record attendance for a Wild game was set October 5, 2005 at 19,398, the first game after the lockout season.
- On October 28, 2003, Shania Twain set Xcel Energy Center's single-night concert attendance record of 20,554.
- On March 17, 2007, 19,463 spectators watched the final game of the WCHA Final Five tournament, the largest crowd ever for an indoor United States college ice hockey game[1](i.e. not including games held in football stadiums such as the Cold War).
- Since opening the doors of the Xcel Energy Center on September 29, 2000, the Wild have had a sellout for every single game (totaling over 362 consecutive home games as of April 3, 2009).[citation needed]
[edit] Other Events
The "X" is the site of the WCHA Final Five, Minnesota Boys' High School Hockey, the Minnesota Girl's High School Volleyball Tournament, and the High School Wrestling tournaments, as well as the host of the Minnesota State High School League-sponsored volleyball state tournament. It hosted the 2002 NCAA Frozen Four and will do so again in 2011. The National Lacrosse League's Minnesota Swarm began regular season play in the arena in January, 2005.
 Interior during a Minnesota Wild game |
 Interior during Minnesota Swarm lacrosse game. |
 Inside the Xcel Energy Center during the 2006 WCHA Final Five Championship. |
 Inside the Xcel Energy Center prior to the 2009 Boys High School Championship game between Eden Prairie and Moorhead. |
[edit] References
- ^ USCHO.com :: U.S. College Hockey Online :: Tour De Force: Wheeler Nets OT Goal To Give Minnesota Broadmoor Trophy
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Met Center (as Minnesota North Stars) |
Home of the Minnesota Wild 2000 – present |
Succeeded by current |
| Preceded by Pepsi Arena Albany, New York |
Host of the Frozen Four 2002 |
Succeeded by HSBC Arena Buffalo, New York |
| Preceded by Office Depot Center |
Host of the NHL All-Star Game 2004 |
Succeeded by American Airlines Center |
| Preceded by first arena |
Home of the Minnesota Swarm 2005 – present |
Succeeded by current |
| Preceded by Madison Square Garden |
Host of the Republican National Convention 2008 |
Succeeded by TBD |
| Preceded by Ford Field Detroit, Michigan |
Future Host of the Frozen Four 2011 |
Succeeded by St. Pete Times Forum Tampa, Florida |
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