Xcel Energy Center

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Xcel Energy Center is a sports arena in Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA sponsored by Xcel Energy. It is the home ice of the NHL's Minnesota Wild. It contains four spectator levels: one suite level, and three general seating levels named the 100 level, the St. Paul Club level, and the 200 level. Its official capacity is 18,834, but on October 5, 2005, it set a record for attendance at a Minnesota hockey game at 19,398. The city of Saint Paul owns the arena. It opened in the fall of 2000 and it is called the "X" by fans. It was built on the site of the demolished St. Paul Civic Center. In 2004, the arena was named by ESPN as the best overall sports venue in the United States.

The "X" is the current site of the Minnesota Boys' High School Hockey Tournament. It hosted the 2002 NCAA Frozen Four and will do so again in 2011.

The interior of the Xcel Energy Center during the 2006 WCHA Final Five Championship.

A Minnesota Swarm game in the Xcel Energy Center

In addition, Xcel Energy Center is regularly sold out for musical concerts. The National Lacrosse League's Minnesota Swarm began regular season play in the arena in January, 2005.

Minneapolis and St. Paul are jointly bidding to host the 2008 Democratic National Convention and the 2008 Republican National Convention. If the Democrats choose Minneapolis/St. Paul, the main convention events will be held at the Xcel Energy Center. (The GOP has not announced which venue would host the convention - other choices are the Metrodome and the Target Center).

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Current arenas in the National Hockey League
Eastern Conference		Western Conference
Air Canada Centre \| BankAtlantic Center \| Bell Centre \| Continental Airlines Arena \| HSBC Arena \| Madison Square Garden \| Mellon Arena \| Nassau Coliseum \| Philips Arena \| RBC Center \| St. Pete Times Forum \| Scotiabank Place \| TD Banknorth Garden \| Verizon Center \| Wachovia Center		American Airlines Center \| Arrowhead Pond \| Gaylord Entertainment Center \| GM Place \| Glendale Arena \| HP Pavilion \| Joe Louis Arena \| Nationwide Arena \| Pengrowth Saddledome \| Pepsi Center \| Rexall Place \| Savvis Center \| Staples Center \| United Center \| Xcel Energy Center