Destinations United States Minnesota Minneapolis-St Paul Explore This Guide Overview Essentials for Your Trip Weather in Minneapolis What to Expect in Winter Getting to Downtown From the Airport Airport Parking Getting Between Minneapolis & Chicago The Minneapolis Skyway System The St. Paul Skyway System The Metro Blue Line Parking at Target Field Parking at Target Center Things to Do The Top Things to Do in Minneapolis 48 Hours in Minneapolis: The Perfect Itinerary Unique Things to Do in Minneapolis Free Things to Do in Minneapolis Free Things to Do With Kids Things to Do in the Snow Planetariums in Minneapolis Ice Skating in Minneapolis Rock Climbing in Minneapolis Free Entertainment in Minneapolis What to Eat What to Eat on Eat Street The Best Juicy Lucy Burgers The Best Chicken Wings Gluten Free in Minneapolis Bars & Nightlife The Best Craft Beer Bars The Best Live Music Venues Neighborhoods & Places Downtown St. Paul Neighborhoods in St. Paul Shopping Districts & Streets Xcel Energy Center Minnehaha Park Beaches in Minneapolis The Cathedral of St. Paul Lake Harriet Frank Lloyd Wright Around Minneapolis Summit Hill, St. Paul Get Out of Town Weekend Getaways The Best Road Trips Skiing & Snowboarding River Tubing Nearby Spring Break Spots CLOSE Part of Your Trip to Minneapolis: The Complete Guide Your Guide to Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul By Clara James Clara James Clara James is a St. Paul-based writer with more than 10 years of experience. She covers kid-friendly attractions in Minneapolis and the Twin Cities region. Travel's editorial guidelines Updated on May 19, 2019 Photo: Tony Webster/Flickr/CC BY 2.0 If you're going to a concert, a show, a special event, or a Minnesota Wild game at the Xcel Energy Center in downtown St. Paul, you need to get all the 411 you can before you head out so you know where you want to park, how much it costs, and where you'd like to eat or get a drink before or after the show, game, or special event at the Xcel. Here's what you need to know. If you're coming in from out of town, check out the hotels listed here in downtown St. Paul. If you park near a restaurant or bar, you might be able to catch a shuttle bus to the Xcel and avoid parking twice. Parking Wendy Berry/Flickr/CC BY 2.0 There are three parking garages, called parking ramps in St. Paul, near the Xcel, along with a parking lot. These tend to fill up very quickly, so if you don't get there early, you'll have to park in one of the many other parking garages in St. Paul, all of which are connected to Xcel via the Skyway system. Click on the link for more details. Shuttle Buses Richard Cummins/Getty Images Several bars and restaurants in St. Paul offer free parking and free shuttle buses to the Xcel Energy Center for Minnesota Wild games. These can change with little notice, so it's a good idea to call the restaurant or bar you are considering to be sure it is still offering free shuttle rides. Bars and Restaurants on West Seventh Street Eagle Street Cafe West Seventh Street, which runs southwest from the Xcel Energy Center, has two of the most popular Xcel Energy Canter pre- and post-event hangouts, Cossetta's Pizza and Italian Deli and Tom Reid's Hockey City Pub. There are plenty more options for bars, pubs, and restaurants on this street, too. Click on the link for more ideas on where to get food and drinks when you're seeing a show or going to a hockey game at the Xcel. More Bars and Restaurants Downtown Great Waters Brewing Company Head to downtown St. Paul for more places to eat and drink. Check out Great Waters Brewing Company for beer and food and Alary's Bar for beers with all the Wild fans that will fit into the place. Cheap Tickets Hannah Foslien/Getty Images Tickets for the majority of events at the Xcel Energy Center are sold through Ticketmaster, which adds a "convenience charge" per ticket. You can save money on tickets by buying them in person at the Xcel Energy Center box office. StubHub and TeamExchange are Ticketmaster-run sites for fans to buy and sell tickets. Depending on demand, tickets can sell for way over face value, especially for Minnesota Wild tickets and for in-demand shows, but occasionally there are bargains to be found. Hotels Alexander Lamar Photography/Getty Images There are quite a few hotels less than a mile from Xcel, so if you are coming from out of town or don't want to drive home after the show, you'll have a short walk back to your room. You'll find a range of prices and many national chains. Among them are DoubleTree by Hilton, Hyatt Place, Best Western, and Embassy Suites. More Things to Do Meet Minneapolis As well as seeing the game or the show, there's plenty more to do in St. Paul and next-door Minneapolis. Discover fun for the entire family including free museums and attractions. Minnehaha Park Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit