Considered one of the finest arenas in the world, Xcel Energy Center is a one-of-a-kind, multi-purpose sports and entertainment facility located in downtown Saint Paul, home to more than 150 sporting and entertainment events and roughly 1.7 million visitors each year. Xcel Energy Center opened on Sept. 29, 2000 and has been home to the NHL’s Minnesota Wild ever since. In addition, the arena hosts the Minnesota State High School League Boys’ & Girls’ Hockey Tournaments annually and has previously been the home of both the Western Collegiate Hockey Association’s (WCHA) championship weekend and the Big Ten’s championship tournament. Other notable hockey-related events held at Xcel Energy Center include the 2002 and 2011 NCAA Division I Men’s Frozen Four, the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, the 2004 NHL All-Star Game, the 2004 World Cup of Hockey and the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Xcel Energy Center will also host the 2018 NCAA Division I Men’s Frozen Four next April and has previously hosted the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey West Regional four times, doing so every other year from 2010-2016.

Xcel Energy Center has a capacity of 18,568 with four seating levels. Fans attending Xcel Energy Center will have access to free Wi-Fi throughout the arena and will be able to enjoy the HD LED center-hung videoboard that stretches from blue line to blue line, which was installed in 2014, along with other technology upgrades.

Xcel Energy Center has received numerous awards and accolades over the years, including being rated the “No. 1 Fan Experience” in the NHL in 2014 by ESPN the Magazine and earning the distinction of being rated the second-best NHL venue by Stadium Journey Magazine in 2015.

Xcel Energy Center is owned by the City of Saint Paul and managed by Saint Paul Arena Company, an affiliate of Minnesota Sports & Entertainment.

• Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA – Located on six acres in downtown Saint Paul on the former site of the St. Paul Civic Center
• Owner: City of Saint Paul
• Operator: Saint Paul Arena Company (SPAC), an affiliate of Minnesota Sports & Entertainment (MSE)
• Architectural Firm: HOK Sports Facilities Group
• Construction Cost: $170 million
• Opened: September 2000
• Home Teams: NHL’s Minnesota Wild
• First Event: Minnesota Wild vs. Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (3-1 win, preseason) – Sept. 29, 2000
• Largest Concert Crowd: 20,554 – Shania Twain – Oct. 28, 2003
• Most Sellouts By An Artist: 3 – Prince – June 16-18, 2004, Taylor Swift – September 11-13, 2015

Former NCHC Commissioner Josh Fenton:
”The NCHC is excited about our new partnership with Xcel Energy Center and Minnesota Sports and Entertainment. Regarded as one of the country’s best hockey venues, along with being familiar to many of our passionate fans, we believe the Frozen Faceoff at Xcel Energy Center will provide the ultimate experience for our student-athletes and fans.”

Xcel Energy Center Vice President and General Manager Jack Larson:
“Xcel Energy Center is tremendously excited to be bringing the NCHC Frozen Faceoff to Saint Paul. Our goal is to deliver the best fan experience possible and truly showcase an exciting weekend of high-level collegiate hockey.” 

Miami Director of Athletics David Sayler (2017-18 NCHC Athletic Council Chair):
"The Frozen Faceoff’s move to Xcel Energy Center continues to bolster the NCHC’s momentum as the premier college hockey conference in the country. Providing a first-class tournament environment for our student-athletes, alumni and fans is what we strive for as a conference, and all our member institutions are very excited about the new partnership with Xcel Energy Center."

Former Colorado College President Jill Tiefenthaler (2017-18 NCHC Board of Directors Chair):
“On behalf of the NCHC Board of Directors, we are delighted to form a new partnership with Xcel Energy Center and the city of Saint Paul. We look forward to hosting one of the country’s preeminent college hockey tournaments in a highly-acclaimed NHL venue.”

North Dakota Head Coach Brad Berry:
“We are extremely excited to return to Xcel Energy Center for the NCHC Frozen Faceoff tournament. Saint Paul has a long and rich tradition in regards to hockey at all levels. The NCHC student-athletes and fans will experience a great college hockey atmosphere.”