Xcel Energy Center to Get a New Name: What This Means for Fans and the Community
The Xcel Energy Center, home to the Minnesota Wild hockey team, has been a landmark in Minnesota since its opening in 2000. After 25 years, the arena will be getting a new name, with the current naming rights agreement with Xcel Energy set to expire this summer. This change marks the end of a long-standing partnership, but Xcel Energy will continue to be a community and business partner of the Wild.
A New Chapter for the Arena
Craig Leipold, owner of the Minnesota Wild since 2008, expressed his gratitude for Xcel Energy’s 25 years of support. He stated, “Xcel Energy has been an incredible supporter of our team since our inaugural season. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with them on a number of unique community initiatives as part of our new, long-term partnership.” This partnership will focus on community initiatives, including the launch of a new program called “Community Power Play,” designed to expand access to hockey for all.
The “Community Power Play” will provide grants to youth hockey organizations, invest in and improve local hockey facilities, offer financial assistance to athletes, and help purchase hockey equipment. This initiative reflects a shared commitment to giving more young girls and boys across the state access to the sport of hockey.
Mixed Reactions from the Community
University of Minnesota students have shared mixed feelings about the name change. Neil Roy, a third-year student from New Orleans, expressed that stadium name changes can be jarring. He drew parallels to the renaming of the New Orleans Saints’ stadium from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome to the Caesars Superdome. “It ruins the nostalgia aspect of it, in my opinion,” Roy said. He believes that changing the name of a stadium that has been a part of so many memories can be difficult for fans to accept.
Luke Wittner, a fourth-year student and lifelong Wild fan, also voiced his disappointment. He acknowledged that people will likely continue to refer to the arena as Xcel Energy Center, just as many still call the social media platform X by its former name, Twitter. “I mean, it is just going to be disappointing that you hear the announcers call (the stadium) something else and walk by and have a new logo on there and say, ‘I remember when that was the Xcel Energy Center,’” Wittner said. He anticipates that the name change will take some getting used to.
Speculating on the New Name
With the new name yet to be announced, speculation is running high. Elliott Pollard, a second-year student, mentioned the possibility of another Target-branded Minnesota sports center. He noted that while Target is a major company in the area, having both a Target Center and a Target Arena could be confusing. “Both could be called either an arena or a center,” Pollard said. He also pointed out that the Golden Gophers’ Huntington Bank Stadium, formerly known as TCF Bank, is an example of how name changes can eventually become accepted by the public.
The Minnesota Star Tribune has also weighed in, suggesting 10 possible names for the Wild’s arena. Some of the suggestions include “Best Buy Arena,” “Old Dutch Arena,” “Hamms Center,” and even the “Totino’s Pizza Rolls Arena.” While these are just speculations, they highlight the strong community interest in the arena’s future identity.
Looking Ahead
As the Minnesota Wild prepares to announce a new naming rights partner before the start of the 2025-26 NHL season, fans are eagerly awaiting the news. While the name change may come as a shock to some, it also presents an opportunity to create a new chapter in the arena’s history. The continued partnership with Xcel Energy through initiatives like the “Community Power Play” ensures that the arena will remain a vital part of the community, even as its name changes.
Only time will tell what the future holds for the arena, but one thing is certain: the legacy of the Xcel Energy Center will live on in the hearts of fans, while a new name will usher in fresh experiences and memories for generations to come.
