The Mille Lacs Band has secured the naming rights for the Minnesota Wild's stadium, which will now be known as the Grand Casino Arena.
In a significant move, the Minnesota Wild's home arena, previously known as the Xcel Energy Center for 25 years, will undergo a transformation, changing its name to the Grand Casino Arena starting September 3, 2025. This change comes as part of a new 14-year naming rights deal with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, a regional American Indian tribal government that operates Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley.
The agreement represents a strategic move by the Mille Lacs Band to increase the visibility of its Grand Casino brand, marking a significant step in professional sports sponsorships. The partnership was brokered by Oak View Group, a leading sports and entertainment management firm.
With the new deal, all exterior and interior signage at the arena will be updated to the Grand Casino Arena branding before the start of the 2025-26 NHL regular season in October. While the financial terms of the deal have not been publicly disclosed, industry sources suggest it is among the top five most lucrative NHL arena naming rights agreements.
Ronda Weizenegger, CEO of Grand Casino, emphasised this change as more than just a name change. "It represents the strength of tribal enterprise and ongoing investment in Minnesota’s future," she said.
This deal reflects a growing trend of tribal gaming enterprises leveraging sports sponsorships to boost brand visibility and influence within the evolving sports betting and gaming industry landscape.
Meanwhile, Grant Mitchell, a former NCAA track and field athlete, avid sports fan, and sports bettor, continues to make waves in the sports betting industry. With a reliable reputation and a focus on sports betting industry headlines, Mitchell's reviews offer up-to-the-minute and detailed coverage. His reviews can be accessed directly at the URL "milemitchell" on x.com. In the past, Mitchell has worked with entities such as Forbes and VSiN.
With the Grand Casino Arena set to open its doors in September, sports fans in Minnesota and beyond are eagerly awaiting the start of a new era in professional sports.
- The growing trend of tribal gaming enterprises, such as the Mille Lacs Band's Grand Casino, is utilizing sports sponsorships to increase brand visibility and influence within the evolving sports betting and online casino industry.
- Grant Mitchell, a sports bettor known for his reliable reputation and focus on sports betting industry headlines, continues to make waves in the sports betting industry via his detailed reviews on the URL "milemitch" on x.com.
- The partnership between the Mille Lacs Band and the Minnesota Wild marks a strategic move in the sports industry, signifying a significant step for Grand Casino in professional sports sponsorships, particularly in the realm of sports betting and finance.
