The Wild are hopeful the Minnesota Legislature will earmark public bonding to help cover the estimated $200-300M renovation to Xcel Energy CenterGetty Images
Wild owner Craig Leipold, St. Paul Deputy Mayor Jamie Tincher and Senate Bonding Committee Chair Sandy Pappas met yesterday to "continue preliminary discussions" about “'major renovations' to the Xcel Energy Center 'ranging between $200 and $300 million,'" according to sources cited by Jay Kolls of KSTP.com. The next Minnesota legislative session, in 2024, will be a “bonding session where the state borrows money to pay for large, and smaller, infrastructure projects.” The ranking Republican on that committee, state Sen. Karin Housley, said that there are “already more than” $2B in bonding requests across the state and if the Wild “pursue bonding for part of the renovations at Xcel Energy Center, it will be a tough sell.” State Rep. Nolan West said that “bridges, roads, utilities and other infrastructure projects will probably be top priorities during the upcoming session.” West: “Minnesota loves the Wild. We’re the state of hockey. So, it’s not that we don’t want hockey in the state. It’s just, this isn’t an appropriate use of bonding dollars for a private entity” (KSTP.com, 11/27).
