The City of Saint Paul City Council voted unanimously in favor of the extension. The original lease between the City of Saint Paul and the Wild went through 2025. The new lease agreement became effective April 8, 2019. The Minnesota Wild will continue to be responsible for the day-to-day operation of Xcel Energy Center, and the City of Saint Paul will continue to own the arena, as has been the case since it first opened. The Wild organization also manages the Saint Paul RiverCentre and the Legendary Roy Wilkins Auditorium. The complex is the only one in the world to be certified by LEED, Green Globes and APEX/ASTM.
"We are excited to extend our great partnership with the City of Saint Paul through 2035 to operate Xcel Energy Center," said Minnesota Wild owner and chairman Craig Leipold. "We take great pride in making sure Xcel Energy Center is a world-class venue for our guests and look forward to creating many more years of memories at the arena."
"For two decades, the Minnesota Wild has been an incredible partner in driving vitality to downtown, and enriching not only our capital city, but our entire state," said Mayor Melvin Carter. "I am thrilled to extend this partnership and ensure the nearly two million visitors who join us each year can continue to experience all that Saint Paul has to offer."
Regarded as one of the finest arenas in the world, Xcel Energy Center is a one-of-a-kind, multi-purpose sports and entertainment facility located in downtown Saint Paul, home to more than 150 sporting and entertainment events and more than 1.7 million visitors each year.
Xcel Energy Center first opened its doors on Sept. 29, 2000, when the new National Hockey League (NHL) franchise Minnesota Wild took on the Anaheim Ducks in a preseason contest.
With the extended lease, the Minnesota Wild will continue to pay over 80 percent of all principal and interest payments and be responsible for capital maintenance to keep Xcel Energy Center one of the most fan-friendly facilities in North America.
