‘More Than Just A Name Change’ For Xcel Energy Center As ‘Dream Partnership’ Announced

While many people affectionately just call it "The X", the Xcel Energy Center has been the formal name of Minnesota's pro hockey arena for a quarter of a century. That era is now coming to an end.

Whether it's a Wild game, the Minnesota State Hockey Tournaments, concerts, or a variety of other events, the Xcel Energy Center hosts on average 150 events each year.

Earlier this year, it was announced that the naming rights for the St. Paul arena would go up for sale. Xcel Energy opted not to renew its naming rights deal with the arena, leaving an opportunity for a new company to give the building its second-ever name.

The team did note that while Xcel Energy opted not to maintain their naming rights, they are still heavily invested in the team and facility. They announced that in April, Xcel Energy signed a new multi-year partnership to remain "a major community and business partner of the team".

READ MORE: Did you know it is now free to do this in most Minnesota state parks?

Just announced Monday morning, officials with the Minnesota Wild and the organization that manages the facility shared the details on what they call "more than a name change".

What will the Xcel Energy Center be called now?

In a joint press release from the Minnesota Wild and the Minnesota Sports & Entertainment (MSE), which operates the facility, it was announced that the new name comes from what they call a "dream partnership."

The new name comes from a newly signed deal with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, who own and operate Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley. In keeping with the casino's branding, the new name of what was once named Xcel Energy Center will now be Grand Casino Arena.

Officials say it's "more than just a name change"

Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold said he is "thrilled" about the new partnership, highlighting that Grand Casino and the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe have "been a strong supporter of and investor in this city".

Grand Casino Head of Marketing Jeff LaFrance called this a "dream partnership", saying the new name and partnership "gives us an incredible platform to engage fans, tell our story in bold new ways, and bring the Grand Casino experience to downtown Saint Paul".

Get our free mobile app

In social media posts about the announcement, the facility calls it "A new vibe for live music and events", reiterating something Grand Casino's CEO said about this being more than just a name change for the building.

Ronda Weizenegger, Chief Executive Officer of Grand Casino, says it is more than just a name change. She says, "It’s a signal of where we’re headed as a business", explaining the new partnership "represents the strength of tribal enterprise and our ongoing investment in Minnesota’s future".

When does the new name go into effect? How long is the contract?

As part of the new partnership with the new naming rights, all of the exterior and interior signage will be replaced with the new name, which includes a new insignia at center ice during hockey games.

The Minnesota Wild shared a sneak peek of what some of those changes will look like.

While the new deal goes into effect officially on September 3, 2025, they say all of the signage will be replaced before the start of the 2025-2026 NHL season at the beginning of October. 

The deal just signed with Grand Casino includes a 14-year naming rights partnership. That means the new name will be around until at least 2039.