Xcel Energy Center

Xcel Energy Center

The X, The Forest, The Hive
Location	199 Kellogg Blvd W, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55102
Coordinates	44°56′41″N 93°6′4″W
Owner	City of St. Paul
Operator	Minnesota Sports & Entertainment
Capacity	Ice hockey / Lacrosse: 18,064 Concerts: End Stage 12,999 Center Stage 20,554
Surface	Multi-surface
Construction
Broke ground	June 23, 1998
Opened	September 29, 2000
Construction cost	$130 million USD ($230 million in 2024 dollars)
Architect	Populous (then HOK Sport)
Structural engineer	Geiger Engineers PC
Tenants
Minnesota Wild (NHL) (2000–present) Minnesota Swarm (NLL) (2005–present)

The Xcel Energy Center is a multi-purpose arena located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It is named for its locally-based corporate sponsor Xcel Energy. With an official capacity of 18,064, the arena has four spectator levels: one suite level and three general seating levels. The arena is owned by the city of Saint Paul and operated by Minnesota Sports & Entertainment. Home to the NHL's Minnesota Wild and the NLL's Minnesota Swarm, it is on the same block as the RiverCentre convention facility, Roy Wilkins Auditorium, and Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in downtown St. Paul.

History

The arena opened in Fall 2000. It was built on the site of the demolished St. Paul Civic Center. In 2004, it was named by ESPN as the best overall sports venue in the U.S. The 10 millionth person passed through 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 arena was chosen as the main venue. The Republican National Convention was held here on September 1–4.

The arena has hosted concerts by many famous artists, as well as WCW and WWE shows.

The arena played host to the politically-motivated Vote for Change Tour on October 5, 2004, featuring performances by The Bright Eyes, R.E.M. and Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band (with special guest John Fogerty and unannounced guest Neil Young).

Sting performed during his Symphonicities Tour on June 21, 2010, along with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Features

The concourse 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 and is played during Wild games. A second nest features a lighthouse that contains a foghorn that is blasted before the game, for Wild goals and after a win. The third is used for the announcement before every Wild game; "Lets play hockey!" along with Fox Sports Network North (FSN) commentary and interviews. The fourth holds audio equipment for live game production.

Prior to its opening, the arena installed an integrated scoring, video, information and advertising display system from Daktronics, based in Brookings, South Dakota. The system includes a large LED centerhung 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.

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 19,559
• 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 the arena'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(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 had a sellout for every single game, which was finally broken on October 16, 2010 (totaling 400 consecutive home games as of March 8, 2010).

Other events

The "X" is the site of the WCHA Final Five, 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 and 2011 NCAA Frozen Four. 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.

External links

• Xcel Energy Center official website

Events and tenants
Preceded by First Arena	Home of the Minnesota Wild 1998 – 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 St. Pete Times Forum
Preceded by Ford Field Detroit, Michigan	Future Host of the Frozen Four 2011	Succeeded by St. Pete Times Forum Tampa, Florida