Grand Casino Arena (City of St. Paul)
ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO KFGO) – Leaders with the City of St. Paul and Minnesota Wild are optimistic about their latest ask at the capitol to renovate downtown’s aging entertainment complex.
It begins with the least glamorous, yet sorely needed, says Minnesota Wild owner Craig Liepold.
“Bathrooms, escalators, concourses, HVAC,”
Liepold’s team is the main occupant of Grand Casino Arena, the main component of the complex. That facility officially opened in September, 2020.
It’s their third request for help in as many years, and fully supported by Mayor Kaohly Her, who says the arena, RiverCentre and Roy Wilkins Auditorium are statewide assets and should be funded as such.
“These are city properties and if we don’t take care of them, a city property that is actually being used by the entire state, and the entire state benefits from it will all fall on St. Paul’s taxpayers,” says Mayor Her. “And that is not something that we want to see happen because this is a statewide asset.”
The city and Minnesota Wild would each invest $162.5 million into the project. They’re requesting another $200 million in state assistance. $125 million would go toward Grand Casino Arena, with the other $75 million toward Roy Wilkins Auditorium. A separate Phase 2 renovation for Roy Wilkins Auditorium ($75 million) will be funded by the City and a private partner.
The properties are all owned by the city. The city says that the framework agreement extends the Wild’s lease and keeps the team managing the arena as well, adding without state funding, the project won’t move forward.
“We want to stay in St. Paul, but we need the support of the state legislature to guarantee that that happens,” Liepold adds.
Any cost overruns would be handled by the Wild, and no property tax dollars would be used. There’s no timeline for the project, with organizers saying more will be shared pending legislative approval.
“These are places where our community gathers, where cultural events happen and festivals can take place,” Mayor Her adds. “More importantly, they act as an important destination for reviving and revitalizing our downtown.”
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