Minnesota Wild plan for Xcel Energy Center complicated by Legislature stalemate - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal

The Minnesota Wild is hoping for state aid for an upgrade to Xcel Energy Center, a project that will likely run into the hundreds of millions of dollars. But the political drama at the Minnesota Capitol is forcing a delay. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is joining the push for public funding for an overhaul of Xcel Energy Center, the home of the Minnesota Wild. But efforts for a deal are being complicated by the political stalemate at the state Capitol. That's one of the takeaways from an Athletic story that talks with Bettman, who was in St. Paul last week for a hockey event and sat with Wild owner Craig Leipold and team CEO Matt Majka. Wild leaders have been meeting with officials in St. Paul about a financing plan for a renovation of the team's arena that could also include a new 650-room hotel. The Pioneer Press reported last year that the team was prepared to contribute $200 million to $250 million, though the project would likely cost much more than that. The city and team plan to eventually go to the Minnesota Legislature to ask for state aid, but this session hasn't begun smoothly: A near-even split between parties, special elections and lawsuits over who's in charge have delayed things, and the Wild want to wait for those issues to settle down before making their pitch. Bettman pointed out that the metro's other major sports teams have gotten public help for their arenas — U.S. Bank Stadium and Target Field were both built with taxpayer help; Target Center received public assistance for a major makeover. And if a deal doesn't happen? Bettman noted that Leipold "probably has options; he's not exploring them because this is where he wants to be." By "options," The Athletic notes, Bettman isn't suggesting a move out of state, like happened with the former North Stars. But there are other cities that might host an arena. The Wild's lease at Xcel Energy Center runs through 2035, though there are means to end it early.