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Xcel Energy Center

Coordinates: 44°56′41″N 93°6′4″W / 44.94472°N 93.10111°W / 44.94472; -93.10111
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Xcel Energy Center
The X, The Forest, The Hive

Map
Location199 Kellogg Boulevard West
St. Paul, MN 55102
Coordinates44°56′41″N 93°6′4″W / 44.94472°N 93.10111°W / 44.94472; -93.10111
OwnerCity of St. Paul
OperatorMinnesota Sports & Entertainment
CapacityIce hockey / Lacrosse: 18,064
Concerts:
  • End Stage 12,999
  • Center Stage 20,554
SurfaceMulti-surface
Construction
Broke groundJune 23, 1998
OpenedSeptember 29, 2000
Construction cost$130 million
($230 million in 2024 dollars[1])
ArchitectPopulous (then HOK Sport)
Project managerProject Management Consultants, LLC.[2]
Structural engineerGeiger Engineers PC
Services engineerM*E Engineers[3]
General contractorMortenson/Thor[3]
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.[4]

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. It also served as official home to the 2008 Republican National Convention.[5]

History

The arena opened on September 29, 2000. It 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 unsuccessfully courted the NHL's Hartford Whalers and Winnipeg Jets under Mayor Norm Coleman, but the Civic Center was an obstacle to both deals. [6]

In order to get an NHL expansion team, Saint Paul needed to build a new arena. After several failed attempts to get funding, the project was funded by the state in April 1998. The state gave Saint Paul a no interest loan for $65 million of the $130 million project, though the state forgave $17 million of that loan in exchange for high school sports championships played at the arena.[6]

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.[7] The Republican National Convention was held here on September 1–4.[7]

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 Bright Eyes, R.E.M. and Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band (with special guest John Fogerty and unannounced guest Neil Young).[8]

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; "Let's 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.[9]

Attendance records

  • March 9, 2012 : The Minnesota State High School League Boys hockey tournament again set a new attendance record during the 2012 AA semifinal session. Hill-Murray and Moorhead played in the first game followed by Benilde St-Margaret's and Lakeville South in front of a crowd of 19,893.[10]
  • 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[11] (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).[12]

Concert Tours

Lady Gaga, Madonna, Van Halen, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Police, The Rolling Stones, Britney Spears, Pearl Jam, Barbra Streisand, Paul McCartney, Mannheim Steamroller, Pavarotti, Elton John, Billy Joel, Rod Stewart, Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney, Neil Diamond, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Simon & Garfunkel, and three consecutive sold-out shows by hometown-favorite Prince.

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 a Minnesota Wild game
  • Interior during Minnesota Swarm lacrosse game.
    Interior during Minnesota Swarm lacrosse game.
  • Inside the Xcel Energy Center during the 2006 WCHA Final Five Championship.
    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.
    Inside the Xcel Energy Center prior to the 2009 Boys High School Championship game between Eden Prairie and Moorhead.

References

  1. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  2. ^ Project Management Consultants: Project Profiles - Ballparks, Stadium & Arenas
  3. ^ a b "Xcel Energy Center Facts & Fighures". SportsBusiness Daily. October 2, 2000. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  4. ^ http://www.xcelenergycenter.com/arena/QuickFacts.jsp
  5. ^ http://architecture.about.com/od/greatbuildings/ig/Stadium-and-Arena-Pictures/Xcel-Energy-Center.htm
  6. ^ a b Virginia Rybin (September 27, 2000). "St. Paul New Arena is Tale of Survival". Saint Paul Pioneer Press.
  7. ^ a b Republicans start arena conversion for convention USA Today.
  8. ^ "2004 Setlists". Backstreets.com. 2004-07-17. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  9. ^ "Xcel Energy Center".
  10. ^ [1]
  11. ^ Tour De Force: Wheeler Nets OT Goal To Give Minnesota Broadmoor Trophy
  12. ^ "2010 Hockey Day Minnesota announced". Wild.nhl.com. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Xcel Energy Center.
Events and tenants
Preceded by
First Arena
 Home of the
Minnesota Wild
1998 – present 		Succeeded by
current
Preceded by Host of the
Frozen Four
2002 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Host of the
NHL All-Star Game
2004 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
first arena
 Home of the
Minnesota Swarm
2005 – present 		Succeeded by
current
Preceded by Host of the
Republican National Convention
2008 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Host of the
Frozen Four
2011 		Succeeded by
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