Xcel Energy Center
| The X | |
  |
|
| Address | 199 Kellogg Boulevard West |
|---|---|
| Location | Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| Coordinates | 44°56′41″N 93°6′4″W / 44.94472°N 93.10111°WCoordinates: 44°56′41″N 93°6′4″W / 44.94472°N 93.10111°W |
| Owner | City of St. Paul |
| Operator | Minnesota Sports & Entertainment |
| Capacity |
Ice hockey:
|
| Field size | 650,000 square feet (60,000 m2) |
| Surface | Multi-surface |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | June 23, 1998 |
| Opened | September 29, 2000 |
| Construction cost | US$170 million |
| Architect | HOK Sport (now Populous) |
| Project manager | Project Management Consultants, LLC. |
| Structural engineer | Geiger Engineers PC |
| Services engineer | M-E Engineers. Inc. |
| General contractor | Mortenson/Thor |
| Tenants | |
|
Minnesota Wild (NHL) (2000–present) Minnesota Swarm (NLL) (2005–2015) Minnesota Lynx (WNBA) (2016–2017) |
|
Ice hockey:
18,064 (2000–2012)
17,954 (2012–present)
Concerts:
The Xcel Energy Center (also known as "The X") is a multi-purpose arena, located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It is named for its locally based corporate sponsor Xcel Energy. With an official capacity of 17,954, the arena has four spectator levels: one suite level and three general seating levels.
The arena is owned by the city of Saint Paul and operated by Minnesota Sports & Entertainment. The building is home to the NHL's Minnesota Wild and is the former home of the NLL's Minnesota Swarm. It is on the same block as the RiverCentre convention facility, Roy Wilkins Auditorium and the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, in downtown St. Paul. It also served as official home to the 2008 Republican National Convention.
The arena opened on September 29, 2000. It was built on the site of the demolished St. Paul Civic Center. The push for a new arena in Saint Paul grew after the National Hockey League's Minnesota North Stars moved to Dallas. Saint Paul unsuccessfully courted the NHL's Hartford Whalers and Winnipeg Jets under Mayor Norm Coleman, but the Civic Center was an obstacle to both deals.
In order to get an NHL expansion team, Saint Paul needed to build a new arena. After several failed attempts to get funding, the project was funded by the state in April 1998. The state gave Saint Paul a no interest loan for $65 million of the $130 million project, though the state forgave $17 million of that loan in exchange for high school sports championships played at the arena.
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