Minnesota Wild Arena Gets New Name

After 25 years of calling it "The X," Minnesota Wild fans will walk into a newly christened arena this fall: Grand Casino Arena.

The name change marks the end of Xcel Energy’s quarter-century naming rights deal and the beginning of a 14-year partnership between Minnesota Sports and Entertainment and Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley, enterprises of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.

While fans may struggle to stop calling it “The X,” the Wild and Grand Casino are promising a seamless — and exciting — transition. The name change also comes at a pivotal time. The Wild and the City of St. Paul are pushing for a nearly half-billion-dollar renovation of the arena to modernize the building and enhance fan experience. That effort, paired with the new name, could usher in a fresh new identity for one of the NHL’s most beloved homes.

So, what does all of this mean for the ice itself? Come October, Wild fans may look down during the national anthem and see "Grand Casino Arena" gleaming at center ice — a bold new logo painted over the frozen stage where legends skate. We may also see the 25'th Anniversary logo of the Minnesota Wild at center ice. Here is our concept of what the ice might look like.