New Minnesota Wild Arena Name and Sponsor Revealed…?

The 2025 Minnesota Wild season ended rather abruptly on Thursday night, when they lost game six of their first round playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2. It was the Wild’s third-straight one goal loss in as many games. The first two (games four and five) went to OT.

But it doesn’t matter how close the series was or how well Minnesota played, at times. In the end, we got the same result as we have for the last decade — a first round loss. Now, president of hockey operations Bill Guerin will begin the most crucial offseason of his six years with the MN Wild.

Finally, the Parise and Suter contracts are (mostly) off the books. That likely means an extension for Kirill Kaprizov, decision time on Marco Rossi. Throughout the next few months, brace for all sorts of trade rumors and free agency connections involving the Wild.

Who knows what the Minnesota Wild will look like in 2025-26, on the ice. There’s way too much unknown to confidently piece together a roster prediction. If you zoom out, however, we know of one thing that will be much, much different starting next season.

No more Xcel Energy Center

Xcel Energy Center will no longer be the name of the Wild’s home arena in St. Paul, as their naming rights contract is due and not expected to be renewed. They’ve been out shopping for a new naming rights sponsor, and seemingly got deep into talks with Securian Financial late last year.

To this point, however, we have yet to get any sort of official announcement or breaking news report on who that next naming rights sponsor is or what their home arena will now be called.

That was until Charley Walters wrote a new notes column for Sunday’s Pioneer Press newspaper, and may have given it away. According to the longtime local sports insider, MN Wild fans ‘shouldn’t be surprised’ if the new arena sponsor is Grand Casino Mille Lacs.

Don’t be surprised if Grand Casino Mille Lacs this summer succeeds Xcel Energy Center after 25 years as the Wild arena’s corporate naming rights holder.

Charley Walters – Pioneer Press (TwinCities.com)

Grand Casino Mill Lacs Arena — Home of the Minnesota Wild…?

Obviously, the Xcel Energy Center has had its name since the St. Paul arena first opened in 2000. The original lease ran for 25 years, but it still seems surprising that the local power company wouldn’t want to re-up. My guess would be cost.

You have to imagine the Wild’s asking price for that contract is up significantly, since they first signed up two and a half decades ago. Now, will anyone actually adopt the new name or just call it “The X” forever?

Related: MN Wild Practice Reveals Controversial Line Combos and New Injury Updates

I can’t tell the future, but I’m not sure how they’re going to get Grand Casino Mille Lacs Arena to stick, but I do prefer that to Grand Casino Mille Lacs Center. I find it highly unlikely Charley Walters is wrong, if that’s what you’re hoping. In all likelihood, this is it. So start practicing, Wild fans….