I love the Xcel Energy Center. It’s the Home of the Minnesota Wild in the state of hockey. I’m a hockey nut. I’m a Minnesota nut. I’m a Wild nut (no pun intended). Set me up a cot in this arena, because it’s my second home.

The History of the Xcel Energy Center
When the North Stars left Minnesota in the early 90s, it was a sad time for hockey fans. How could Minnesota lose hockey to Dallas? I won’t get into the specifics of that, however, as all hearts were uplifted in 1997 when it was announced that Minnesota was to be awarded an expansion team for 2000. From 1997 to 2000, the naming of the new team, promotional events to increase awareness, and the NHL draft season all increased the excitement leading up to the first (regular season) puck drop on October 11, 2000. The tradition of professional hockey in Minnesota was no longer just a dream, and hockey’s new home was in the Xcel Energy Center.

The arena basics
The Xcel Energy Center is located in downtown Saint Paul, with easy access to major Twin Cities' freeways. It’s hard to miss in the city, because it’s a big, beautiful curved building that lights up the night. Enormous TV screens outside the arena show previews of upcoming events to passersby. Looking through the transparent glass exterior, you can see the nice display of hockey jerseys on the upper level interior. The arena is 650,000 square feet and has 4 levels with seating available on each of them. The arena definitely adds character to downtown Saint Paul, and, unlike the Metrodome in Minneapolis, is not an eyesore.

Parking is not the greatest in St. Paul. Although there are abundant ramps, most require you to walk at least 4 blocks. This doesn’t seem like far, but in a frigid Minnesota winter, it can be pure horror. Who wants to bundle up in 18 layers and then have nowhere to put them once you arrive in the arena?

The Xcel Energy Center is primarily home to the Minnesota Wild, but it also houses many other hockey events: the state tournament, the WCHA Final Five (college), and a NHL all-star game.

Seating at the Xcel Energy Center
At each Wild game, 18,064 fans can be seated on the various levels. For the regular fan, standard seating with the rest of the general public is available. For businesses, large groups, or those wanting a more luxurious experience, there are suites and club-level seats available on several levels.

For standard seating, there are the lower & upper levels. Lower level 100 has 9,000 seats ranging from $62 to $82 per seat. Upper level 400 has 4,500 seats ranging from $16 to $38 per seat. I sat in an upper level seat for that very first regular season Wild game back in 2000 and watched as the game ended in a tie with the Flyers. Boring score? Yes. Boring atmosphere? Not a chance. Wild fans are enthusiastically wild, crazy, fun-loving people who are passionate about their team and the sport of hockey. The Xcel Energy Center is usually loud and entertaining, and even if you are a more reserved fan, you just can’t help getting to your feet quite a few times!

Despite commonly being called the “nosebleed section,” upper level seats at this arena actually provide terrific viewing. I’ve sat on the sides and the ends and never had difficulty seeing the action on the ice. In fact, the uppermost seat in the Xcel Energy Center is still 30 feet closer to the ice than any other arena in North America! Ever since that first season, I’ve split season tickets with friends on the lower 100 level corners. What a view! From the 100 level, I can easily make out Jacque LeMaire’s hilarious facial expressions made while attempting to chew on the same piece of gum for the entire game. The concourses are located above the seats so that you can find your seat while standing above the fans as opposed to walking slowly up the stairs looking for your seat while blocking everyone’s view of the ice. Of course, people don’t walk the stairs until the action stops, but unless you’re sprinting all the time, you often get caught going up or down after skating resumes, so this set-up is a nice advantage for those situations. The only gripe that I have about seating is that, unless you are on a corner, you are seated a little too cozily with your neighbors. So, if you are not 5 feet tall and weighing in at 100lbs, you might be a little uncomfortable. But you should be cheering on your feet, anyway, so what’s the big deal?

Although I’ve never sat outside of the general seating areas in 100 & 400 levels, the Xcel Energy Center has both event and executive suites available. Event suites are available for single game purchase. Packages for these suites will include 30 tickets to seats in your suite, as well as TVs, concierge service, catered food & beverage, merchandise discounts, and wide accommodations to view the action on the ice. The 66 Executive Suites each have 12-18 seats, a private bathroom, catering, parking passes, merchandise discounts, and concierge services. I've not been fortunate enough to actually stay in one during a game, but I have seen them during season ticket selection, and it's like sitting in your own living room to watch a game, but with better service and more space!

Finally, the Xcel Energy Center also has Club Level seating, which is the prime viewing location located in between the lower and upper levels and ranges from $82 to $92 per seat. At club level, you are amongst a less dense crowd in both seating and on the concourse, and the viewing is spectacular. Each time I’ve sat in the upper level and rode the escalator up past Club Level, I’ve had to stop myself from drooling like a fool.

What’s to explore outside of the game?
The Xcel Energy Center is not without interesting features to charm those guests who aren’t so into the game of hockey that they might like to look around a bit (shame on you!) The concourses are full of exhibits, including Minnesota state high school hockey jerseys, several featured items from the Hockey Hall of Fame, all of the WCHA (Western Collegiate Hockey Association) jerseys, and several other picture and article exhibits demonstrating Minnesota’s contributions to the sport of hockey from Pee-Wees on up to Olympic teams. There is also a puck wall, where fans and others who donate $100 can have their name added to a Puck on the wall in the arena. For a hockey fan, there are a few hours worth of things to peruse in the arena, and there are many plans to keep adding more.

The Hockey Lodge, Minnesota Wild’s team store, is also located on the lower level of the Xcel Energy Center, and is open during all home games and Mondays through Saturdays from 10AM to 6PM. The Lodge has all the apparel, souvenirs, and fanfare items you could want in relation to the Minnesota Wild. I don’t suggest visiting during a game just to browse, however, because the store is too crowded to really enjoy your shopping experience. If you know exactly what you want, you’ll be fine, but save the gift shopping until a non-game time.

You can’t go to a professional sports arena and not think about food or snacks! There is a lot available at Xcel Energy Center. Concessions offer everything from hot dogs to burgers to small pizzas. There is beer, pop, juice, candy and many other treats. Best of all, I’ve never had to wait in line longer than 2-3 minutes, because there is a concession stand everywhere you look…or so it seems. The concessions are not cheap, but then I’ve never been to a sports venue where you didn’t pay $3.50 for a teensy weensy hot dog. In addition, Xcel Energy Center houses 2 restaurants. The Headwaters Bar & Restaurant is at Club Level and requires that you have a Premium seating ticket (discrimination I say!) and a reservation. The Iron Range Grill (named appropriately for Minnesota’s own Iron Range in the northwestern/northcentral part of the state) is a hockey-themed restaurant & bar on the 100 level of the arena. It has a standard American Grill menu, and although I’ve only ordered burgers and chicken sandwiches there, it’s been good quality food and service.

One of the nicest things about the Xcel Energy Center is that the concourses are huge and wide, so even though most (all, according to the Wild) games are sold out, you never find yourself pushing or bumping your way through crowds to get in, out, to the bathroom, or to the concession stand.

Unfortunately, it’s not ALL hockey here…
Just kidding, the Xcel Energy Center is a great venue for many other events, including big-name concerts, conventions & trade shows, theater and family shows. Some of the most recent events coming to the Xcel include American Idols, Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, Tom Petty, and Bon Jovi. The set-up for concerts and shows leaves a huge area of the arena still available for seating, as the stages only block off one end and 2 corners of the arena.

I’ve had the opportunity to see one Cirque du Soleil show and 2 concerts (Creed & Bon Jovi) at the Xcel and have never been disappointed. I was in the “nosebleeds” for Creed and still had absolutely no problem hearing. That nasty echo sound you get in some stadiums during concerts was conveniently missing. I really couldn’t see the stage all that well, but do you expect to look up the performer’s nose from the 3rd level? It’s not realistic, and if I had wanted to, I would’ve paid for closer seats, but I preferred not to waste my money on an event other than hockey.

Final Thoughts on the Xcel Energy Center
This is a first class hockey arena, and rightfully so in a state so proud of its hockey heritage. If you love to watch hockey, you must make a point at sometime in your life to watch it at the Xcel Energy Center, where the atmosphere, seats, and legacy of hockey in the state will satisfy your every puck-filled dream. Even if you are not a fan, the arena is such a fun place to be that the energy will probably grab you and pull you completely into the excitement.


Recommended: Yes

Parking Availability: Busy But Manageable