Great place to catch a hockey game, whether professional Minnesota Wild or the high school hockey state tournament. Although the Xcel is beginning to show its age, it is still a very nice arena. The venue also holds concerts and a variety of other events. Ample parking ramps and street parking available. Lots of nearby bars and restaurants to visit before and after. read more

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Was in Minneapolis in time for the final Minnesota Wild hockey game of the season. They were playing the Seattle Kraken... and since Seattle is my 2nd home of sorts, I grabbed a club-level ticket from StubHub and decided to check it out. Mind you, I'm more of a baseball fan than a hockey one... but I've been to a couple hockey games before and wanted to check out what Xcel Energy Center had to offer. Once I arrived, I found the various gate attendants to be super helpful in directing me to the club space (which I figured I would check out first, given you can get in about 30 minutes before the rest of the arena opens). While the club level is great in the fact that you have more readily available bathrooms and some private dining spots, I found the rest of what was offered on the club level to be kinda "meh"... specifically, not something I'd buy a ticket for again because there wasn't enough that differentiated it from the rest of the arena offerings. (And the vendors seemed to be fairly indifferent in terms of service.) Once the regular gates opened, I went downstairs to check out the rest of the concessions and other options. My *REAL* mission, mind you, was to check out the Taphouse. I wanted to try their chicken wing flight... that said, they had scheduled a pre-game happy hour and trivia event. As you can imagine, the place WAS PACKED. I decided to try again later, and instead made a couple loops around the arena to take photos, grab the signature cocktail of the game, and purchase some pins for my collection. I got to my seat as practice was ending and a couple minutes before the start of the game. Once they got things started, it was great to see people really getting into the theatrics of the lead-up to the game. Minnesota scored first, but I secretly cheered on the Kraken. Haha. After the first quarter, I decided to head back downstairs and see if the Taphouse was still really full - or if my efforts to avoid the crowds had worked out. To my pleasant surprise, there was barely anyone inside. I ordered my chicken wings (to-go, which ruined a bit of the presentation of the wing flight on the silver serving tray... but I digress) and went back to a table in the club arena to check out the rest of the game. TL;DR Minnesota folks are serious about their hockey, and it was fun to be surrounded by such enthusiastic fans. I can't say Xcel Energy Center itself wow'd me, but I appreciated the uniqueness of the wing flight at the Taphouse - as well as the general experience of watching a game with a very dedicated fanbase. :) read more

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Came here from out of town for a wedding. My friends and I noticed a hockey game was playing while we were in town so we decided to go to it. Got to catch the Wild vs Seattle Kraken. The Xcel Energy Center is nice. The costumer service was good. Sadly the food options and prices were very overpriced compared to what I've seen even in the Bay Area. read more

Xcel Energy Center - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Came here for a concert and had a lot of fun. It's very well-organized and efficient. From the concessions stands to getting people out after a show, they have it down to an art. read more

Xcel Energy Center - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

I cannot believe this venue is 30+ years old as it seems like just yesterday it was new. For a venue of this age, it is keeping up pretty well and doesn't really need any enhancements outside of updating things per style reasons. MN Wild games are always easy to navigate, there is one restaurant on the lower level which you order via QR code and then the normal concessions exist as well. The suite levels are upstairs with even more variety and options in regards to dining. The 11/29 game was a super fun comeback win for the Wild against the Blackhawks. Fun tip? Head to the Designated Driver for the Season to get a free bottled water. Go Wild! read more

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I absolutely love watching the Wild at the Excel Center! The Club Level seating is perfect to see everything happening on the ice and every time I have been here it has been a highlight for me! Food at the Club Level is also amazing! City Burger has a custom blend double burger that always amazes me. So much so that I have had multiple in one evening. The fries at City Burger are not recommend - just get a 2nd burger! Pajarito's brisket tacos and nachos are also a must have! They are prepared differently than at the restaurant and are also something that I get every game! The mini donuts unfortunately left much to be desired, they were more of a pancake texture rather than being crispy. Of course will give this a benefit of the doubt and chalk it up to a bad day. Another spot that I love is the Wild Market it features Amazon's Just Walk Out tech that let's guests purchase food and beverages without waiting in line, this makes the process quick between or during periods. There are both alcoholic (my favorite being Cutwater) and non-alcoholic beverages, popcorn, snacks, and candy. Beyond this there are so many other places to try! I have at least 5 other restaurants and concessions on my list so you can not go wrong! read more

Xcel Energy Center - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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I have a flex plan for attending Mn Wild games. I can choose my games and seats. Great hockey venue walking distance to many bars/restaurants hotels. I also attend a lot of concerts read more

Xcel Energy Center - Wild practice - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

We came here for the Billie Eilish concert and had a great time! The concessions weren't anything amazing. The cheese curds were a little too salty for me, but the fries were decent. However, the sound was great for the show and it was easy to get in and out. read more

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I came here for several events but most recent one was the Jonas Brothers concert! I love the acoustic here and overall it doesn't seem like there's a bad view of the stage with how the set up is. The staff was great with helping us find our seats and finding specific things! As far as parking there's plenty of parking ramps nearby but it's quite expensive for event parking right next to the ramp. read more

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Xcel is my favorite large scale venue for a concert. The sound quality is good unless you are seated right next to the stage in the upper level. Those sections are unfortunately behind the speakers and the sound can get very muffled sounding. I feel like there are so many good vantage points for a show and for hockey as well. The food and drink are venue prices so they are a little on the expensive side but they have some good options (especially during the hockey games). There are plenty of bathrooms and the staff is very helpful if you need them. read more

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Been here a few times for concerts & even graduations in the smaller event spaces. The seating is very tight. I've pretty much sat at every level and view for various concerts over the years. Pretty sure it's somewhat out of Xcel's control but there have been times we were sold tickets to concerts that were wrapped around kind of behind the stage. Very bad view. I feel like sometimes they warn you of obstructed views now's but sometimes they don't and it sucks. I've always wanted to attend an MN Wild hockey game here. Maybe this year or next I'll be able to. The concessions are always crazy expensive but it's the cost of a night out I guess. There's a ton of bars and restaurants within walking distance so I always suggest pregaming nearby since you will pay $20-40 for parking on event nights anyways, might as well make a day out of it. read more

I recently saw a concert here, and the venue was great! The energy was contagious during the show. Not sure if it's the Venue or the band, but the video screen, and camera set up was not very helpful and often only showed a small area of the stage. read more

Xcel Energy Center - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

I had the fish and chips at a concession stand tonight. I think it was $12. It was very small, very fishy tasting, and very much not worth the money. read more

Great arena, great atmosphere! Parking is always a bit tricky for any large event venue. Was here for Fleury's 1000th game and the night the Wild played the penguins. I grew up watching Lemieux, the penguins are my team and every Wild fan was happy to be there and offered me no disrespect. They really went all out for Fleury's night! A specialty cocktail, commemorative game passes and fleury towels. Wonderful experience!! read more

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I went here recently for the Madonna concert and the Frozen 4 championship game. Wonderful facilities, staff and accommodations...save up your money if you want some drinks!!!! We still had a blast. read more

Xcel Energy Center - Frozen 4 -2024 - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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The environment for every event I've been to is great. The view from almost anywhere for hockey games (can't speak for concerts) is good too. Obviously it's a stadium, so you'll be paying a lot for any food and drinks. I'd recommend parking in a lot or a ramp further away so you don't get stuck in traffic while leaving events. read more

Xcel Energy Center - View from section 2 - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Was here recently for the first time (for my first MN Wild game). This place is pretty awesome! Very clean and well maintained, lots of food and beverage options, and there is always a bathroom close. They definitely planned this place well. Everyone working the event was friend and efficient. I couldn't have asked for a better first experience. My only complaint is if you park in the parking garage it's an absolute MAZE trying to find our way in and back to your vehicle, the stairs are narrow (and there's like 8 flights) and the elevators appear to be old and are very slow. I would consider parking elsewhere but will definitely return for more events. read more

Xcel Energy Center - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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We received complimentary tickets to see a concert. Everything went so smoothly - from picking up the tickets, getting directions to our seats, and getting a beverage. The seats and concert were phenomenal. The seats on the main floor were very comfortable. They seemed to have extra padding. The lighting was unlike anything I have ever seen. The fire displays, the bubbles from the ceiling to represent snow...it was all beyond anything I could have imagined. read more

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Wild games are so much fun! My friends and I went to the Wild vs Blues game and it was so much fun. It was really busy but we were able to get a parking spot and get into the Xcel center quickly. The games have a ton of fun sound effects and cheers for the crowd to get involved. There are a ton of different food options and I ended up getting a pretzel with cheese and it was really good. My friends got a beer and a brat and said it was good as well. Highly recommend checking out a wild game! read more

Xcel Energy Center - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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Really good venue for concerts,sound is really great better than some others we have here! I've never had a bad view wherever I'm seated. Lots of parking ramps close by and plenty of staff to help you to your seats, typical food and drinks for all concert venues read more

Xcel Energy Center - Jonas Brothers concert - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

I've been to so many fantastic events here! There isn't a bad seat in the house for Wild games. I have literally sat on the tip top row and it did not feel like it. I have been to so many concerts here and I am never disappointed with the visibility or acoustics. I like to park at the lower entrance of the River City Parking Lot that is right next to The Minnesota Science Museum. read more

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I went to the Minnesota Wild vs the Nashville Predators this past weekend. This stadium never gets old. I have been attending Wild games ever since I can remember as a season ticket holder. Aisles and seats were clean and easily accessible. My friend and I were put on the jumbotron multiple times throughout the game, so the stadiumd does a great job making the experience interactive. Food and drink available everywhere, and they even come down to your seats. The stadium also hosted Yung Gravy this night, so the atmosphere was awesome. read more

Xcel Energy Center - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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My son and I were here for a Pentatonix concert. What I appreciated: * The advanced email warning me about their bag policy (basically, don't bring one). * How quick they got folks in the door with the electronic ticket scanning. (Please don't be that person who fumbles with their phone at the last minute and holds up the line.) * Plenty of parking in the area (full disclosure: my son lives a block away). * Plenty of eating/drinking establishments along Seventh Avenue. * Even though my tickets in section 101 said limited view, we had a clear view of the stage and performers. * Every staff person we interacted with was super friendly and helpful. What I wasn't happy with: * Sticker shock at the venues inside. $13-$15 for a can of beer. We paid $35 for two cans of beer after tax and tip. The folks sitting next to us paid $16 for a bucket of mini donuts. * Small seats. If you want any degree of comfort, you'll be touching the person seated next to you. Thankfully we had an aisle seat and my big and tall son had a bit more space. What I can't comment on: * Restrooms read more

Xcel Energy Center - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Had an awesome time at a Wild hockey game here! Loved this giant jalapeño cheese curd brat with peppers. Definitely didn't enjoy the price being $15, but of course all food prices here are jacked up parked in the ramp across the street from the xcel center by the science museum 15 minutes before the game started and there were plenty of spaces to park still. read more

Xcel Energy Center - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

I don't know if anyone is hating on this venue for concert... I hope not because I think many things about this arena is awesome! From the variety of food options preshow to the ample parking options being in the heart of downtown St. Paul, I can see why so many talented artists are doing their shows there. We most recently attended the Transiberian Orchestra show over Christmas and I have to say we walked out of there thinking wow, that was a freaking amazing show and the sound system was very good, which amplified the experience even more from a nosebleed Section 200 level!!! Can't wait to be back for more concerts at this arena. read more

The arena is my personal favorite, home of Minnesota's beloved hockey team, The Wild. I love coming to the hockey games, the tradition is amazing what they do. Go Wild! read more

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There's two parking ramps that connect via skyway to the Center, so all weather can be avoided. Parking for the Wild game today was $20. There's a decent variety of concession stands, including standard game fare, pizza, Chinese food, mini donuts, snuffy's, and even full meals. As for drinks, the hard liquor options are limited but still available. Beer, seltzer, and wine options are available and vary depending on which stand you stop at. Although, food and drink are expensive. A hot dog was $7-8. Cheese curds were $6-7. A 24oz canned alcoholic beverage ranged from $10-16. Restrooms were clean. Security and scanning tickets was very efficient! read more

Xcel Energy Center - Scoreboard - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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I love this place for concerts and Wild games. The sound is great during live shows and there really isn't a bad seat in the house, unless you are in one of the seats where a giant speaker blocks your view of a band member (this would be noted as a limited view seat so you would know there is a chance of this). There really isn't a bad seat at a Wild game. I've sat 1st row on the glass, lower level, Club level, suite level, and the upper level. All experiences and views are great. Highly recommended. They are improving the food and beer options throughout the years too. My only gripe is the small number of drinking fountains, should have more than they do, and maybe more restrooms to shorten lines and walking distance, but I love this place regardless! read more

Xcel Energy Center - 1st row seats - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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This was my first visit to the Xcel Energy Center for a hockey match between the USA and Canadian women's national hockey teams. Going through security was too simple, no metal detectors, just checking phone apps with proper ticket dates, etc. Once you were in, the choices of food vendors was very good, a bit overpriced and I was expecting a hamburger to run 13 dollars by itself. I was impressed with the very clean restrooms during the intermission periods. The downside, if anything was dealing with the very young female groupies who traveled in packs and screamed their heads off, anytime the camera would point in their direction. Lots of convenient parking structures a few blocks away and the St. Paul police presence helped create a safer environment. read more

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I went here for the DU/BC game and the venue is gorgeous! All of the staff was super friendly - lots of wonderful food and alcohol options. None of the lines get too long either. The bathroom are very clean! read more

Short and fast lines. Easy to find seats. Nice air conditioning and air flow. Very comfortable.

I don't have any pictures other than outside because the comedian wanted us to put phones away in the yondr pouches. Overall, it was a fun time! Stadium was good and we got some delicious popcorn! Twas a good time and I'd recommend anyone to go there for any event. Look forward to my best show/game! read more

Xcel Energy Center - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

This arena is quite nice. But what really made my experience count were the friendly fans! As someone who is a fan of the visiting hockey team, you can't help but feel intimidated by all the surrounding fans of the other team but the fans of the Minnesota Wild were nothing but welcoming and friendly. Xcel Energy Center is well-maintained with some innovative things in place such as an order station for your food and beverage so you could avoid having to yell out loud your orders to the attendant and for them to still get your order wrong. The bathrooms were clean, the seats were nice and roomy, and even though this arena is smaller compared to my home team's arena, the amenities were still abundant. If you are planning on getting some sort of a memorabilia, my advice is to look for a different hockey lodge than the one on the main floor as that one has a very long line generally and your movement can be quite limited while in that store. There is probably more room in a sardine can as far as movements go. Still, everyone was friendly and warm despite the cold weather outside. This probably is my 1st favorite away arena! read more

Xcel Energy Center - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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I attended the hockey tournament at the Xcel Energy Center. It is the perfect location for this tournament. There isn't a bad seat in the arena. I even enjoyed their pretzels! So simple, yet so delicious! read more

Xcel Energy Center - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

went for a game, was fun. expensive but it's okay bc i didn't pay. also i love the name, don't change it :( read more

Another fun date night at the X for a MN Wild game! Parking is easy but obviously spendy these days, but what do ya do... we got some food there, pretzel and some drinks so it was a fairly cheap night. Every seat has a good view of the ice so don't be afraid to spend less on a ticket and get upper deck. Overall a great atmosphere and a top 5 arena to watch a NHL game. GO WILD!! read more

Xcel Energy Center - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

This area of the lower 48 states is hockey heaven. Home office of the Minnesota Wild. As you come in and head up to your seats there are peewee jerseys all along the concourse levels. From junior level up to the college ranks. We came for a concert. Initially it was scheduled for April of 2020. That turned to October of last year. Then this past weekend. Finally. Things are different these days. I was getting emails about protocol in these Covid times. Such as proof of vaccination or negative test. Yes, we had to wear our masks coming in and on the concourse level. But once seated it was masks off. Yay. :) - $15 cold beer -$ 5 warm pretzel -$40 concert shirt Seeing my favorite group again, priceless. read more

Xcel Energy Center - Couldn't resist this one. :) - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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Whether you're coming for a sporting event or concert, this place ROCKS! The sound system to the visual experience you get while here is top notch. They may not hold as many people as other large venues, but they put on a show like the big ones do. Parking is expensive to find nearby, but there are so many different food and drink options. Also, entering and leaving expect for it to take some time. Also for females, make sure you don't bring in any mid sized bags as they weren't letting them in. read more

Xcel Energy Center - MN WILD - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

I have been to Xcel Energy Center twice. The first time was after I left Rochester, Minnesota and moved back to Winnipeg. I drove down to see John Mayer in concert. Guster opened for him. Their music, and the bongoist, got me hooked ever since. I am a newly minted Minnesota Wild season ticket holder. I'm not rich, but getting a game pack is flexible for my needs. I also had a deposit for years and finally used it this season. Last Saturday, I saw my first Wild game versus the Pittsburgh Penguins. Not too shabby for a first game, huh? Sadly, the Wild lost. I parked at the RiverCentre Parking Ramp. It sounds weird to Canadians to park on a ramp. It's essentially a parking lot with floors. I had no problem finding a spot and heading over to Xcel Energy Centre. The incident that damped my experience was the new bag policy. I had read it before I flew into the Twin Cities. You are allowed a purse that doesn't exceed 5" x 8". I measured my crossbody handbag beforehand. It was 5" x 7". I was good. So I thought. A female employee with a red cardboard rectangle came over to me while I was in the ticket lineup and said that my handbag looked large. I said that it was 5" x 7". Her red cardboard rectangle was much smaller than the alleged regulation size. I was not impressed. She said that I could either put my purse in the car or check it in by the clock tower. Since it had been a long travel day and I didn't feel like walking all the way back to my car, I decided to check my bag. It wasn't a pleasant experience. I headed over. No one in the lineup knew what to do. Staff were disorganized. I was first asked by a guy with plastic gloves to open up my purse so he could look into it. Sure. I was good. I then got a female employee who said that I needed to download an app called binbox. There are lockers that are digitally locked and unlocked with said app. I was pretty close to losing it. What if you aren't a local with a data plan? You are asking folks to incur a data charge. I asked what happens if you don't have a cell phone. Do you not have the old-school method of paying for the rental and using it that way? She claimed that it was slower. I don't care about whether it's faster or slower. There should be options. Finally, a guy spoke to me and said that I could use the iPad to pay and get a locker. It's $8 for the one-time rental. It'a ripoff, hassle, and cash grab. I used a credit card to pay. It went well. Sadly, I didn't catch what my locker number was and it went away. I had to get the guy to look it up for me. Technology for lockers is not a good idea. Anyway, I got a locker, put my alleged large purse in it with my Modano signed photo, and got on with my hockey life. Sheesh! There are plenty of food vendors. I went to a grab-and-go concession stand. I got a Diet coke and popcorn for $10. I swiped my 4ever Wild rewards to earn points. I paid with a credit card. Easy peasy. The folks sitting next to me at the game were enjoying ice cream in cups during the third period. I wanted some. Sadly, my Lacteeze pills were in my locked-up purse. I had to pass. I will come back next time and eat my way through that and everything, including nachos and preztels. I love where I sit. It's by the Wild goal net, meaning that I get this view twice in a game, during regulation. The view is excellent. The man letting me know where to find my seat was helpful and cool. I got a Wild long-sleeved shirt at the Hockey Lodge, which is the official Wild merchandise store. I swiped my rewards card and got a discount. Sweet! There are a decent number of stalls in the women's washroom. I used it during the first intermission and after the game. It was nice to be back at Xcel Energy Center. The downer for me was the bag policy. Fetching my purse was a nightmare after the game. Folks who had downloaded the app were able to unlock their lockers. However, there was a delay, which made folks wait as long as two minutes for the app to unlock the digital lock. For folks like me who needed to use the communal iPad to log in, there was only ONE iPad. This procedure was highly inefficient. The bag policy needs tuning. As a math minor who is precise when it comes to numbers, if you are going to say that your bag needs to be a certain size and your alleged size rectangle cutout is smaller than said size policy, folks at Xcel Energy Center need to sort out this discrepancy. For future games, I recommend getting a clear bag or simply carrying what you need without dealing with a ludicrous $8 bag storage fee. I clearly did not violate the policy. It's ironic that staff used a rectangular cutout as the gospel for bag size. If this game were soccer, I would hold it in front of the woman staffer's face and give a penalty for rigging the policy. I will obviously be back for more Wild games. Here's hoping that my experience improves on the bag front. (409) read more

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The Xcel Energy Center is one of the best arenas in the NHL to watch a hockey game, whether you are a visiting or home fan. This is one of the best places to be a visiting fan at too. The fans are wonderful to interact with and there are rarely any nasty encounters with ill-behaved people. This arena is also great in that no matter where you sit, there is no such thing as a bad seat. You will have a great view of the game and action even if you are up in the "nosebleeds". The games are often packed which adds to the experience as well. The crew does a great job of keeping fans engaged throughout the game as sitting in a seat watching hockey players skate back and forth can get tiresome after a while. The arena is also quite clean and easy to navigate. To summarize, if you're going to watch an NHL game, this is one of the better places to do so. read more

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