Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul: Address, Phone Number, Xcel Energy Center Reviews: 4.5/5
Xcel Energy Center
Xcel Energy Center
4.5
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Downtown
Best nearby
Restaurants
444 within 3 miles
The St. Paul Grill
862
0.2 mi$$$$ • American • Bar • Vegetarian Friendly
Cossetta's Italian Market & Pizzeria
1,550
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Dessert • Italian • Pizza
Meritage
573
0.2 mi$$$$ • French • European • Vegetarian Friendly
Downtowner Woodfire Grill
336
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Kincaid's Fish, Chop & Steakhouse
407
0.2 mi$$$$ • American • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Patrick McGovern's Pub
230
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Irish • Bar
Burger Moe's
212
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Bar • Pub
Afro Deli & Grill
56
0.3 mi$ • African • Middle Eastern • Vegetarian Friendly
Tom Reid's Hockey City Pub
115
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Bar • Grill
Sakura Restaurant
169
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Japanese • Sushi • Asian
Attractions
140 within 6 miles
Saint Paul River Centre
29
378 ftConvention Centers
Ordway Center for the Performing Arts
137
0.2 miTheaters
Science Museum of Minnesota
1,120
0.2 miSpeciality Museums • Natural History Museums
Landmark Center
159
0.2 miHistoric Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Minnesota Children's Museum
362
0.3 miChildren's Museums
Minnesota History Center
606
0.4 miHistory Museums
James J. Hill House
502
0.4 miHistoric Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Schubert Club Museum
22
0.2 miSpeciality Museums
Minnesota Opera
25
0.2 miOperas
Cathedral of Saint Paul
1,055
0.5 miReligious Sites
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
686 reviews
Excellent
432
Very good
201
Average
38
Poor
6
Terrible
9
Yvonne Ben R
Burlington, WI26 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Great venue to watch a game. Beer, wine and cocktail selections are very good and moderately priced compared to other venues.
Food variety is very good and priced according. We recommend the Sirloin Sandwich at the chef carving kiosk on the Club level.
Not a bad seat in the house and the venue employees were exceptional, very helpful.
Food variety is very good and priced according. We recommend the Sirloin Sandwich at the chef carving kiosk on the Club level.
Not a bad seat in the house and the venue employees were exceptional, very helpful.
Written February 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Jim B
Tiffin, OH110 contributions
Oct 2021 • Couples
Get your transportation arranged for leaving the venue at night. The venue was awesome, very clean snd organized, we were there for a concert, had great seats. We were staying in Minneapolis, we’re told not to use the light rail public transit at night, on the recommendation of several locals. You need to make an uber or Lyft reservation way in advance, because they won’t come near that area at that time. That was the only problem we had , otherwise great time !!
Written October 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Brando62
Saint Paul, MN300 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
I’ve been going to the X for nearly 20 years mainly for hockey games, but have also attended about a dozen concerts.
The sight lines are great everywhere with pretty open access to most seats. Upper deck seats are great for any event but stair pitch is steep.
Standing rails on the main level are a great alternative unless the crowd is standing.
Downsides: 4 pretty tight pinch points on the lower concourse, bathroom access on lower concourse can get tight in between periods. Selection of food on the upper and lower concourses is limited.
Consider going to the club level before the game or show for a better selection.
Plenty of great restaurants DT and on West 7th for ore and post game celebrations.
The sight lines are great everywhere with pretty open access to most seats. Upper deck seats are great for any event but stair pitch is steep.
Standing rails on the main level are a great alternative unless the crowd is standing.
Downsides: 4 pretty tight pinch points on the lower concourse, bathroom access on lower concourse can get tight in between periods. Selection of food on the upper and lower concourses is limited.
Consider going to the club level before the game or show for a better selection.
Plenty of great restaurants DT and on West 7th for ore and post game celebrations.
Written January 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Maps80691
Illinois107 contributions
Apr 2022 • Couples
Had a excellent time at the show tonight. But oh boy was some of the staff rude.
We were required to lock up our phones. Which was an inconvenience.
I was told to go ahead, but then some other guy grabbed me and told me to go thru the detector again. Please do not touch people.
Trying to leave was a cluster. Trying to go down the escalator, the crews kept yelling to use the stairs. Then once we finally got downstairs lots of yelling at us. Just not the best venue experience. Hopefully staff can be retrained. I get that everybody is looking for workers, but this place needs actual help.
We were required to lock up our phones. Which was an inconvenience.
I was told to go ahead, but then some other guy grabbed me and told me to go thru the detector again. Please do not touch people.
Trying to leave was a cluster. Trying to go down the escalator, the crews kept yelling to use the stairs. Then once we finally got downstairs lots of yelling at us. Just not the best venue experience. Hopefully staff can be retrained. I get that everybody is looking for workers, but this place needs actual help.
Written April 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
mongobud
Greenville, ME105 contributions
Mar 2020 • Friends
I have seen all the hockey rinks in the country but the MN Wild - they were the last team. 3 hours before the game on 3/12 all games suspended. Crap! But security at the rink was kind enough to let me get pictures of the rink after I purchased my last puck at the store. Folks here are very gracious and kind.
Very depressed and sad .....
Very depressed and sad .....
Written March 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
mntrav99
Dyersburg, TN4 contributions
Mar 2012 • Family
spent a couple weekends in March, 2012 at the Excel center for college Hockey tournaments. Hockey Arena is very nice, good seating and sight lines. Most of the staff was polite and helpful, but a couple of section attendants felt the need to make snarky comments when they saw you were wearing a jersey from 'the other team'. Refreshments were obscenely priced : bottle of water for 4.50 (after they make sure you don't bring in an empty bottle at the front gate 'security check'); bag of popcorn at $7; bottle of beer for $7.25. It's not like they have to go to extremes to bring in food/beverage options.
and don't even get me started on Ticketmaster ....
and don't even get me started on Ticketmaster ....
Written March 28, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Lacoste2009
Willmar, MN90 contributions
Feb 2017 • Friends
I really enjoyed the Club Level experience. There is only 8 rows of seats in this section and it provides for really great, quick service. I attended a Wild game and although full of 19,000+ people I felt very at ease and free to move around, not cramped. Plenty of bathrooms and places to grab food at. We also had a personal waitress taking orders, nice. Foods awesome, drinks are spendy, but the ticket was worth it.
Written February 17, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Matthew G
Palm Coast, FL18 contributions
Nearly every seat in the place is good. The sound is great. The lighting and visual effects is nice. Club level seats to Wild games are key.
Written March 23, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
insight2actions
Cambridge, MN369 contributions
Feb 2020
Cannot beat Xcel Center for sports or events. It is a first class place and clean too. Lines are not long and they are efficient with all.
Written December 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
AliciaM
Minneapolis, MN195 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
Amazing venue for hockey games and music. Great vendors prior to games, and good food and drink options with all the booths, stations, and clubs within the space.
Written January 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Sheils K
San Francisco, CA1 contribution
I am coming for a GA show
At other venues people line up very early (like 9 a.m.) to get in line for entrance into the show
Where will people wait at Xcel Center if they are in line at 9 a.m. and waiting for doors top open at 6 p.m.?
Will there be somewhere inside to wait all day or will we be 'out in the cold'?=)
Also, any feedback about how high or low the stage is...we want RAIL view at this show.
Thanks!!
lisamM2516IJ
Eau Claire, United States10 contributions
Every time I've gone we had to stand outside until the doors open.
when you are in the floor seats do you bave to be in that exact spot they put you in
thejoe007
Duluth, MN19 contributions
You are supposed to be, yes. Note that at floor level most people end up standing and dancing in place at concerts so it can be difficult to see the stage because of taller people and if it’s country music - hats are worn blocking vision. I prefer the right or left balcony or raised levels close to the stage and don’t like floor level.
Which entrance do the players use? Where do their busses go?
Kram
Metro Minneapolis-Saint Paul, MN82 contributions
The entrance off of 7th sttreet. Between gates 2 and 3.
Chelle F
Chicago, IL72 contributions
For a concert which is better section 116 row 4 or section 102 row 3?
CaptTrouble
Hudson, WI7,855 contributions
It ultimately depends upon how the band/performer sets up their stage. We went to the Arcade Fire concert and they played facing in all four directions, changing between song sets. Depends upon what you want to be near and a bit of luck.
Camper542671
Minneapolis, MN
For the Justin Timberlake concert, would you recommend standing room only floor seats or club level seats??
Kaopas
82 contributions
Club level would be great but if you're looking to save ton the tickets, standing room. Wouldn't be bad either...
DeeDee
Wisconsin101 contributions
Is it worth it to pay for a nearby hotel (hotel is about $240 and parking costs additional $18)for convenience, or book in a hotel a bit further, drive in from said hotel (Woodbury area), and pay for parking? Is the high cost of nearby worth the convenience?
Deborah A
Rochester, MN152 contributions
We stayed downtown a few years ago and we weren't impressed. Much better to stay a little further away. More reasonable, nicer hotels, better restaurants that aren't jam-packed with event-goers.
Tracie L
1 contribution
What is the average run time of a concert?
Gary D
40 contributions
Usually concerts last from 2-3 hrs, unless your seeing Bruce Springsteen that concert lasted almost 4hrs! ENJOY 😊 plenty of good places to eat within a couple of blocks, park in the ramp across the street only $20 plus is close
Susie
Nampa, ID70 contributions
I'll be there for a concert and have floor seats. My only concern is I'm kind of short and was wondering if I'd be able to see? What's your experience been with floor seats here?
sullytravels101
Tampa, FL189 contributions
Floor seats can be challenging because of poor sight lines. There is no slope to the seats so the stage is usually at least 6 feet high and that does help. If you have 4 people in your party try to adjust seats to be behind a shorter person in front of you. That should help.
Frequently Asked Questions about Xcel Energy Center
- We recommend booking Xcel Energy Center tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 2 Xcel Energy Center tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near Xcel Energy Center:
- (0.10 mi) Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown St. Paul
- (0.11 mi) Holiday Inn St. Paul Downtown, an IHG Hotel
- (0.26 mi) The Saint Paul Hotel
- (0.39 mi) Celeste St Paul
- (0.43 mi) Hotel 340
- Restaurants near Xcel Energy Center:
- (0.10 mi) Zamboni's Pizza
- (0.09 mi) Eagle Street Grille
- (0.08 mi) Headwaters Cafe
- (0.17 mi) Cossetta's Italian Market & Pizzeria
- (0.22 mi) The St. Paul Grill
- Attractions near Xcel Energy Center:
- (0.07 mi) Saint Paul River Centre
- (0.17 mi) Ordway Center for the Performing Arts
- (0.20 mi) Science Museum of Minnesota
- (0.20 mi) Landmark Center
- (0.29 mi) Candyland