Minnesota Sports & Entertainment, which operates Xcel Energy Center, and Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley, owned by the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, have agreed to a 14-year naming rights partnership. Beginning Sept. 3, 2025, the home of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, the PWHL’s Minnesota Frost, and more than 150 sporting and entertainment events annually in downtown St. Paul will be named Grand Casino Arena.
“Grand Casino Arena will serve as the anchor of a dynamic entertainment district that transforms downtown St. Paul,” says Craig Leipold, majority owner and principal investor in Minnesota Sports & Entertainment, in a prepared statement. “The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe has been a strong supporter of and investor in this city. We are thrilled for their partnership and support of the arena.”
“This is more than a name change—it’s a signal of where we’re headed as a business,” says Ronda Weizenegger, CEO of Grand Casino. “Grand Casino Arena represents the strength of tribal enterprise, and our ongoing investment in Minnesota’s future. We’re proud to partner with the Minnesota Wild to bring this vision to life. I’d also like to thank Ted Johnson of Norden Strategies for his instrumental role in making this moment possible.”
Jeff LaFrance, head of marketing for Grand Casino, adds, “This partnership is a dream—Grand Casino Arena gives us an incredible platform to engage fans, tell our story in bold new ways, and bring the Grand Casino experience to downtown St. Paul. From digital activations to in-arena surprises, we’re building something unforgettable.”
As part of this partnership, all exterior and interior signage will be replaced to identify Grand Casino Arena, including the center ice insignia. All the arena’s signage will be replaced before the start of the 2025-26 NHL regular season.
The Minnesota Wild announced a new multiyear partnership with Xcel Energy on April 15, 2025, to continue to be a major community and business partner of the team. The existing arena naming rights agreement with Xcel Energy concludes after a successful 25 years.
