The Xcel Energy Center is owned by the City of St. Paul and run by the St. Paul Arena Company, which is run by Minnesota Sports and Entertainment, more commonly known as MSE. MSE was founded in 1997 when the city of St. Paul was awarded an NHL expansion team, the Minnesota Wild, by major shareholder Bob Naegele, Jr. and a group of business investors. In addition to owning the Minnesota Wild NHL team and the St. Paul Arena Company, MSE also owns the Minnesota Swarm, a National Lacrosse League team, Wildside Catering, the official catering service of the Xcel Energy Center complex, and the building 317 on Rice Park, which houses the Minnesota Wild corporate offices and is the site of many wedding, business and event receptions.

The Xcel Energy Center complex sits on six acres in downtown St. Paul, which used to be home to the St. Paul Civic Center Arena. In addition to the Xcel Energy Center, the complex also houses the St. Paul RiverCentre and Roy Wilkins Auditorium. The building encompasses approximately 650,000 square feet. The building was funded both publicly and privately, with $130 million coming from the city of St. Paul. The Xcel Energy Center is comprised of six levels: the event floor level, the lower seating level, the suite level, the St. Paul Club level, the upper seating level, and the press level. They have a seating capacity of 18,600 for hockey and ice shows and 7,000-19,300 for shows, depending on the set up of the stage.


The Xcel Energy Center boasts an eight sided scoreboard, complete with four full color big screen video screens and four full color matrix boards. They also have a 360 degree “wildmation” scrolling display screen that encircles the suite level. There are four crow’s nests, one in each corner at the top of the Xcel Energy Center. One holds the lighthouse score light/air horn, which is set off every time the Minnesota Wild scores a goal during a game. Another of the crow’s nests holds the zamboni-shaped organ, which is played at intervals throughout the Minnesota Wild hockey games. The other two crow’s nests are used for house bands and broadcasts.

The Minnesota Wild locker room is quite luxurious. There is a spa, steam room and sauna for the players to use, as well as a full weight room set up for players to get their work outs in. There is a video coaching room, as well as a fully stocked medical room, complete with an x-ray machine set up. The Iron Range Grill is the bar/restaurant on the main concourse of the Xcel Energy Center, and it is packed with forty televisions so that fans don’t miss a second of the action while they’re up getting a snack or beverage. The Headwaters Bar in the Club Level serves their meals buffet style, and also includes a cigar lounge with a fireplace – a place fans can find the old hockey greats hanging out between periods.

Minnesota Wild fans can purchase their own puck, complete with their name imprinted on the hockey puck, to be displayed on the puck wall on the main concourse of the Xcel Energy Center. Proceeds from these hockey pucks benefit the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, as well as the Arena State of Hockey tribute. Private tours of the Xcel Energy Center are available by appointment, and must be set up well in advance. The Xcel Energy Center also hosts a “10,000 Steps” walking program, which allows locals who register with Regions Hospital to use the Xcel Energy Center site for walking between the hours of 11 AM and 2 PM Tuesday through Thursday on non-event days. Walkers also qualify for prizes through participation in the program.