Xcel Energy Center to Get New Name Before 2025-26 Season

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Xcel Energy Center, home to the Minnesota Wild and Frost, is set to receive a new name ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season. The arena’s current naming rights agreement with Xcel Energy will end this summer after a 25-year partnership.

Despite the name change, Xcel Energy will continue to be a business and community partner of the Wild. Craig Leipold, the owner of the Minnesota Wild since 2008, expressed gratitude for the two and a half decades of partnership in a press release. “Xcel Energy has been an incredible supporter of our team since our inaugural season,” Leipold stated.

As part of their ongoing collaboration, a new initiative titled the “Community Power Play” will launch, aimed at increasing access to hockey. This program will offer grants to youth hockey organizations, enhance local hockey facilities, assist athletes financially, and help in acquiring equipment.

Bob Frenzel, president of Xcel Energy, highlighted the importance of the new partnership. “This new chapter with the Wild extends our commitment to the region and will serve to expand access to the sport of hockey,” Frenzel said.

While many welcome the changes, University of Minnesota students have reacted with mixed feelings. Third-year student Neil Roy, originally from New Orleans, noted that name changes can be upsetting. “It ruins the nostalgia aspect of it, in my opinion,” Roy said, referencing his previous experiences with sports stadium renaming.

Fourth-year student Luke Wittner, a lifelong fan of the Wild, expressed disappointment over the name change, suggesting that many will still refer to the arena as the Xcel Energy Center. “It is just going to be disappointing that you hear the announcers call (the stadium) something else,” Wittner said.

Second-year student Elliott Pollard believes that people will eventually acclimate to the new name, citing other examples of successful transitions in stadium names. “It depends on what, who gets naming rights,” Pollard remarked, indicating that acceptance is possible over time.

With no new name announced yet, speculation is rampant regarding potential replacement names. Pollard mentioned the possibility of another Target-branded venue, while the Minnesota Star Tribune listed several suggestions, including “Best Buy Arena,” “Old Dutch Arena,” “Hamms Center,” and “Totino’s Pizza Rolls Arena.”

The Minnesota Wild anticipates announcing a new naming rights partner prior to the start of the upcoming season.