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| Excel Energy Center | |
|---|---|
| Name | Excel Energy Center |
| Location | St. Paul, Minnesota, United States |
| Opened | 1973 (renovated 2011) |
| Owner | City of Saint Paul |
| Operator | Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority |
| Capacity | 18,000 (concerts), 15,000 (hockey) |
| Architects | Populous (renovation) |
| Former names | St. Paul Civic Center, Xcel Energy Center |
Excel Energy Center
Excel Energy Center is a multipurpose arena in St. Paul, Minnesota, serving as a regional venue for sports in Minnesota, concert tours, and conventions in Minnesota. The arena hosts professional and collegiate ice hockey events, touring music festivals, and civic gatherings, linking municipal planning with private promoters such as Arenas Group, Live Nation Entertainment, and local stakeholders including the City of Saint Paul and Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority. Its role in metropolitan cultural life connects it to institutions like the Minnesota Orchestra, University of Minnesota athletics, and the National Hockey League ecosystem.
Built in 1973 as the St. Paul Civic Center, the arena emerged amid urban renewal efforts alongside projects tied to the Mississippi River riverfront and downtown revitalization led by the City of Saint Paul and state authorities such as the Minnesota Legislature. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s it hosted events featuring performers associated with Madison Square Garden circuits, touring productions from Cirque du Soleil, and collegiate tournaments like the NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament. In 2000 the facility entered a naming-rights agreement with Xcel Energy, reflecting a trend similar to deals involving MetLife Stadium and Staples Center; subsequent public debates involved the Minnesota Twins stadium discussions and financing models used by the Minnesota Vikings for U.S. Bank Stadium. Major renovations in the 2000s and 2010s, overseen by firms experienced with venues such as Kemper Arena and Target Center, modernized the arena for events tied to organizations including USA Hockey and touring residencies by artists who have performed at Madison Square Garden and United Center.
The arena’s renovation employed design teams with pedigrees at projects like Raymond James Stadium and CenturyLink Field, aiming to improve sightlines and acoustics for touring acts comparable to setups used by T-Mobile Arena and TD Garden. Exterior treatments reference regional materials found in Minnesota State Capitol projects and mirror urban design strategies used around Xcel Energy Center (St. Paul)-adjacent developments such as the RiverCentre (Saint Paul). Interior systems integrated technology platforms similar to those at Barclays Center and Oracle Arena, including upgrades to HVAC systems specified by consultants who worked on Mercedes-Benz Stadium and AT&T Stadium. The bowl configuration supports combinations of hockey, basketball, and concert staging arrangements modeled after venues like Bridgestone Arena and Bell Centre.
Primary sports tenants have included National Collegiate Athletic Association tournaments, junior hockey franchises affiliated with development pipelines found across American Hockey League and United States Hockey League teams, and occasional exhibitions involving National Hockey League alumni. The arena has hosted touring residencies and headline concerts by acts also known at Madison Square Garden, Wembley Stadium, and Hollywood Bowl, alongside cultural events such as ceremonies associated with the Minnesota State Fair circuit and political rallies akin to gatherings held at the Xcel Energy Center-comparable venues. Community tenants have included local performing arts organizations like the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts and university events from institutions such as the St. Thomas Tommies and Macalester College.
Facility upgrades introduced premium seating sections modeled after suites at PNC Arena and hospitality offerings comparable to those at Time Warner Cable Arena, including club lounges named in partnership with regional brands. Concession programs feature local food purveyors from the Twin Cities culinary scene and vendor partnerships similar to stadium agreements seen with Minnesota Wild and Minnesota Timberwolves arenas. Back-of-house amenities support touring production capacities on par with Sears Centre Arena and rehearsal spaces used by ensembles that collaborate with organizations like the Minnesota Opera and Guthrie Theater.
The center’s location near central St. Paul connects it to multimodal transit options including METRO (Minnesota), local Minnesota Department of Transportation corridors, and bus routes operated by Metro Transit (Minnesota). Parking and traffic management strategies coordinate with municipal plans adopted by the City of Saint Paul and regional initiatives promoted by the Metropolitan Council (Minnesota), echoing access schemes used for major events at Target Field and U.S. Bank Stadium. Proximity to the Mississippi River and downtown pedestrian networks links the venue to nearby cultural anchors such as Minnesota History Center and Science Museum of Minnesota.
The arena functions as an economic engine within Ramsey County, generating event-driven revenue streams that support local hospitality sectors including hotels affiliated with brands like Hilton Worldwide and Marriott International, and stimulate employment across concessions, security, and facility operations often coordinated with labor organizations such as the Service Employees International Union. Public-private partnerships in the venue’s financing reflect funding models debated in state policy arenas involving the Minnesota Legislature and municipal bond instruments used by the City of Saint Paul. The center’s programming supports community outreach initiatives with partners including Minnesota Youth Hockey and cultural nonprofits tied to arts funding networks administered by the McKnight Foundation and regional arts councils.
Category:Sports venues in Minnesota Category:Buildings and structures in Saint Paul, Minnesota