Tim Walz Throws Cold Water on MN Wild Arena Renovation

Tonight in Game 3, the Minnesota Wild will get their first attempt to defend the home-ice advantage they gained earlier in their first round playoff series, when they walked into American Airlines Arena in Dallas and skated circles around the stars in a 6-1 blowout.

Unfortunately, they couldn’t get the two-game road sweep, falling in game two 4-2. So tonight, they are back in St. Paul for the first time this postseason looking to break a 1-1 tie in the newly-named Grand Casino Arena.

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The MN Wild hope their postseason run will make it beyond the first round for the first time since 2014-15, but even more importantly, they’re trying to win the first Stanley Cup in State of Hockey history.

New update on MN Wild Arena renovations

Then, they hope to celebrate this offseason with the start of a $600,000 million renovation renovation project on the Wild’s 25-year-old home arena that owner Craig Leipold wants to implement in chunks, over the next few offseasons.

Here's what the @mnwild would like to do to Grand Casino Arena… if Craig Leipold can get the state funding necessary. pic.twitter.com/9D2d3JmH1D

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) April 17, 2026

Last week, owner Craig Leipold met with reporters and put out a press release making it known that both the Minnesota Wild organization and the City of St. Paul were in agreement to front their share ($400M total) of the massive $600M project to bring Grand Casino Arena into the modern world of sports arenas.

All that was remaining to officially kick off the project, both Leipold and St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her told reporters last week, was approval from the State of Minnesota, for the $200 million they necessary to fund the upgrades.

Tim Walz pours ice cold water on Minnesota Wild arena renovations

Unfortunately… it doesn’t sound like Governor Tim Walz is in lockstep with the Minnesota Wild owner or the St. Paul Mayor.

On Wednesday, local news outlet FOX 9 relayed recent quotes from Governor Walz, where he threw a large bucket of ice water on any arena funding flame this year, or anytime in the Twin Cities’ current political climate.

Walz claims he, individually, supports upgrading St. Paul’s state-owned money-maker… but points the finger at all the other anonymous people who he stays are against any arena funding, claiming there isn’t “enough legislative support” or “a big appetite amongst the people.”.

“I think it’s going to be a tough lift in a non-budget year to be able to get that done, but, once again, this is probably a multi-year approach,” he said.

Walz said he supports the renovations, but doubts there is enough legislative support for state funding this session.

“I’m supportive of what they’re doing. I think it makes the right sense. I don’t feel like there’s a big appetite amongst people,” he said.

FOX 9

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Tim sure has grown into quite the politician, hasn’t he? Making well-polished passive-aggressive statements that make him seem in support of arena funding, while he simultaneously kills all the hope and momentum Leipold and Her had built up surrounding these renovations, in recent months

Does Grand Casino Arena really need upgraded?

It’s worth noting that Grand Casino Arena (formerly Xcel Energy Center) has never undergone a major renovation project, since it was erected in the year 2000.

Meanwhile, the state-owned venue has been raking in cash for Minnesota and the City of St. Paul as the Twin Cities’ premiere indoor stadium for MN sports and entertainment events.

But now that the arena needs some payback from the State, Tim Walz says everyone (except him) isn’t interested in footing the bill. Funny how that works. In a statement to FOX 9, the MN Wild made it clear that that they are not in agreement with the Governor, on current state funding priorities.

“These city-owned facilities need to remain safe, accessible and industry-leading for decades to come. We are grateful for the support of the governor and for the hard work of Mayor Her and our supporters at the legislature.”

Minnesota Wild statement to FOX 9

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