Xcel Energy Center to be renamed as 25-year agreement expires

It's official: the Minnesota Wild's home arena will be renamed this year.

The Wild and Xcel Energy announced Tuesday that the company's naming rights agreement will expire this summer after 25 years.

“We are extremely thankful for our 25-year naming and team marketing rights partnership with Xcel Energy,” said Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold in a statement. “Xcel Energy has been an incredible supporter of our team since our inaugural season, and we look forward to continuing to collaborate with them on a number of unique community initiatives as part of our new, long-term partnership.”

Word of the soon-to-be name change first surfaced in June in a report from the Pioneer Press.

As part of the new partnership, Xcel Energy will launch a program called Community Power Play to provide grants that support youth and high school hockey in the state. That includes financial assistance for young athletes who may face barriers to the sport, purchase of equipment and ice time, and investments and improvement of local rinks and facilities open to all community members.

“Twenty-five years ago, the Minnesota Wild and Xcel Energy were new brands in the region. Today, these two brands have become embedded in our community and our culture,” said Bob Frenzel, Xcel Energy chairman, president and CEO. “This new chapter with the Wild extends our commitment to the region and will serve to expand access to the sport of hockey so that more young girls and boys across the state can access and more fully engage in this wonderful sport.”

The utility company will continue to have a presence at the arena and on online platforms.

The Wild are expected to announce a new arena naming rights partner before the start of the 2025-26 NHL season.