Editing Xcel Energy Center (section)

==History==
<!--[[File:Xcel Energy Center.svg|thumb|Former logo as Xcel Energy Center.]]-->
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 courted the [[Hartford Whalers]] and [[Winnipeg Jets (1972–1996)|Winnipeg Jets]] under Mayor [[Norm Coleman]], but the Civic Center was an obstacle to both deals.<ref name=pre-history>{{cite news |title=St. Paul New Arena is Tale of Survival|first=Virginia|last=Rybin|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PD&s_site=twincities&p_multi=SP&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB73A29C36ECF16|newspaper=[[St. Paul Pioneer Press]]|date=September 27, 2000|access-date=September 18, 2013}}
</ref> In order to get an NHL expansion team, Saint Paul needed to build a new arena. After several failed attempts to get funding, the state funded the project in April 1998. It gave Saint Paul a no-interest loan of $65 million for the $130 million project, though it forgave $17 million of that in exchange for having high school sports championships played at the arena.<ref name="pre-history" />

The arena hosted the [[Vote for Change|Vote for Change Tour]] on October 5, 2004, featuring performances by [[Bright Eyes (band)|Bright Eyes]], [[R.E.M.]] and [[Bruce Springsteen]] & The [[E Street Band]] (with special guest [[John Fogerty]] and unannounced guest [[Neil Young]]).<ref>{{cite web |date=July 17, 2004 |title=2004 Setlists |url=http://www.backstreets.com/setlists2004.html |access-date=November 7, 2011 |publisher=Backstreets.com}}</ref>

In 2006, the [[Twin Cities]] were selected as the hosting metropolis for the [[2008 Republican National Convention]], and the arena was chosen as the main venue.<ref name="USAToday">[https://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-07-22-republicans-convention_N.htm Republicans start arena conversion for convention] USA Today.</ref> The convention was held there on September 1-4, 2008.<ref name="USAToday" /> The manager of the Xcel Energy Center at the time was Minnesota Sports & Entertainment whose owner [[Craig Leipold]] is also the owner of the [[Minnesota Wild]] and a prominent [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] and supporter of [[George W. Bush]] and [[Mitt Romney]].<ref name="mpo-who">{{cite web |url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/news_cut/archive/2008/01/who_is_craig_leipold.shtml |publisher=[[Minnesota Public Radio]] |access-date=2010-04-27 |title=Who is Craig Leipold |author=Collins, Bob |date=January 10, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080112190534/http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/news_cut/archive/2008/01/who_is_craig_leipold.shtml |archive-date=January 12, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Brothers |first=Bruce |url=https://www.twincities.com/2008/04/10/craig-leipold-officially-takes-over-as-the-minnesota-wilds-new-majority-owner/ |title=Craig Leipold officially takes over as the Minnesota Wild’s new majority owner |publisher=[[St. Paul Pioneer Press|Pioneer Press]] |date=April 10, 2008 |access-date=May 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240506190225/https://www.twincities.com/2008/04/10/craig-leipold-officially-takes-over-as-the-minnesota-wilds-new-majority-owner/ |archive-date=May 6, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?280774-1/2008-republican-convention-day-1 |title=2008 Republican Convention, Day 1: SEPTEMBER 1, 2008. PART OF CSPAN CONVENTION COVERAGE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION |work=[[CSPAN]] |date=September 1, 2008 |access-date=May 6, 2024}}</ref>

The 10 millionth person passed through its gates on July 3, 2007.

In 2010, [[ESPN]] magazine listed a [[Minnesota Wild]] game at Xcel Energy Center as the third-best stadium experience in North America.<ref>{{cite web |last=Van Denburg |first=Hart |title=ESPN Magazine calls Target Field the best stadium in North America |url=http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2010/07/espn_calls_trag.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517133915/http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2010/07/espn_calls_trag.php |archive-date=17 May 2014 |access-date=16 May 2014 |publisher=City Pages}}</ref>

In December 2023, Saint Paul city officials spoke on the condition of the venue, stating that it was "showing its age", and said needed renovations could cost  "several hundred million [dollars]....based on similar renovations". The project would focus on modernizing the facility to meet demands of newer generations of visitors.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walsh |first=James Walsh |title=St. Paul officials say Xcel Energy Center is showing its age — and they want state help to fix it up |url=https://www.startribune.com/st-paul-officials-say-xcel-energy-center-is-showing-its-age-and-they-want-state-help-to-fix-it-up/600325633/ |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref>

In April 2025, it was announced that Xcel Energy Center would be renamed before the start of the [[2025–26 NHL season]] after 25 years, but that the company would still remain a partner of the team.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.audacy.com/wccoradio/local-sports/local/wild-and-xcel-energy-end-naming-rights-deal-st-paul-arena|title=No More X: The Wild's home arena will get a new naming rights partner after deal with Xcel Energy comes to an end|date=April 15, 2025|website=www.audacy.com}}</ref>