St. Paul Mayor Announces New Strategy for Grand Casino Arena
A major remodel of the Grand Casino Arena, Roy Wilkins Auditorium, and the adjoining RiverCentre convention center in downtown St. Paul would cost $600 million, with funding potentially split between a $200 million request from the state Legislature and $162.5 million each from the city and the Minnesota Wild.
The remaining $75 million — for the Roy Wilkins Auditorium — would come from an as-yet-undetermined source. The team, in turn, would agree to a lease extension, cementing its presence in downtown St. Paul past the expiration of the Wild’s current lease in 2035 to the year 2061.
Background and Context
The Grand Casino Arena has been the Wild’s home since 2000 and is booked for events 150 nights per year, more than any other major venue in the state. The arena has been in need of an update, and the proposed remodel would focus on improving the fan and visitor experience, event space, safety, and accessibility.
Mayor Her noted that the arena is one of the largest city-owned assets and is responsible for anchoring the downtown area and economy. The plan does not require raising city property taxes, instead relying on an extension of St. Paul’s existing half-cent sales tax and private financing from the Wild.
Funding and Financing
The funding for the project would be split between the state Legislature, the city, and the Minnesota Wild. The state Legislature would be asked to contribute $200 million, with $125 million going towards the Grand Casino Arena and $75 million towards the RiverCentre and Roy Wilkins Auditorium.
The city would finance $162.5 million for the Grand Casino Arena using an extension of its existing half-cent sales tax. The Wild would privately finance $162.5 million for the Grand Casino Arena and would be responsible for any cost overruns on the overall project.
The remaining $75 million for the Roy Wilkins Auditorium would be funded through a separate effort, with the city working with the Wild to determine the best course of action.
Lease Extension and Ongoing Management
The Minnesota Wild would agree to a lease extension as part of the agreement, cementing their presence in downtown St. Paul until 2061. The team would continue to be responsible for the ongoing management of the arena and would pay ongoing rent and payment-in-lie-of-taxes payments for the use of the public facility.
Past Efforts and Future Outlook
Previous efforts to secure funding for the Grand Casino Arena remodel were met with resistance from state lawmakers. However, with a new budget surplus forecasted for the 2026-2027 two-year budget cycle, the city and the Wild are hopeful that they can secure the necessary funding for the project.
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