Say Goodbye: Tonight Is The Final Day Of ‘The X’ In St. Paul

SAINT PAUL, MN — The Xcel Energy Center name is officially skating into history. Tuesday, Sept. 2, marks the final day the downtown Saint Paul arena will carry the Xcel Energy banner, ending a 25-year run as one of Minnesota’s most recognizable sports and entertainment venues.

Beginning Wednesday, Sept. 3, the building will be known as Grand Casino Arena, the result of a 14-year naming rights agreement between Minnesota Sports and Entertainment (MSE) and the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, which owns Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley.

The announcement of the name change was made in June, with MSE majority owner Craig Leipold calling the partnership a “dynamic transformation” for downtown Saint Paul. Grand Casino leaders described the rebrand as a chance to showcase the strength of tribal enterprise and bring new energy to the Minnesota Wild’s home.

The Xcel Energy Center opened in 2000 and quickly became the heart of Minnesota hockey, hosting Wild games, NCAA Frozen Fours, state tournaments, concerts, and national political conventions. While the name will change, Xcel Energy will remain a major corporate partner of the team under a new multi-year agreement.

All interior and exterior signage, including the center ice logo, will be updated before the puck drops on the Wild’s 2025-26 NHL season.

For fans and concertgoers, tonight is technically the last chance to say, "See you at the X." Still, many say it may be a while before the new name sticks.