MN Wild Release Renderings of Hopeful Arena Upgrades

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Renderings for Minnesota Wild planned upgrades at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, MN

The Minnesota Wild will begin their 2026 opening playoff series against the Dallas Stars on Saturday afternoon, in their latest attempt to advance beyond the first round, a feat that has escaped the Wild since 2014-15.

In the meantime, the team released its first renderings of the $600 million in upgrades they are hoping to bring to Grand Casino Arena over the next few offseasons.

The featured upgrades include an upper-level arena balcony, a new look on 7th St and Kellogg, a Gate 4 expansion and an improved Roy Wilkins auditorium.

Minnesota Wild release renderings of POSSIBLE arena upgrades

The biggest obstacle to the Wild’s plans have been the state government, which has yet to commit the $200 million needed, in order to bring these plans to life. In their release of the renderings, the Wild ask for fan support in getting the state to give up the $200M needed to get their project across the finish line.

Now is the time to support vital renovations. The Minnesota Wild and the City of Saint Paul have a plan to provide $400 million in funding without raising property taxes, asking the state to invest $200 million as a beneficiary of this institution to keep the economic engine of our capital city going.

Minnesota Wild

Craig Leipold feeling good about New St. Paul Mayor

While Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold has yet to get the support he needs out of Governor Tim Walz, he does believe he has a Grand Casino Arena comrade in new St. Paul Mayer, Kaohly Her.

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Recently, in a conversation with David Shama (Sports Headliners), Leipold told the longtime insider that Her has been a breath of fresh air, since coming into office and that she seems to have these arena renovations at the top of her priority list, just like he does.

Wild owner Craig Leipold is more than impressed with new St. Paul mayor Kaohly Her.  He told Sports Headliners she has been a “workaholic” lobbying at the State Legislature trying to obtain approval for $200 million for renovations of city owned downtown Grand Casino Arena and Roy Wilkins Auditorium.

The city and Wild have made past appeals to the legislature without success. The efforts by Her, though, are encouraging to Leipold.  “So, I’ve never been as optimistic as I am right now,” he said.

David Shama – Shama Sports Headliners
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