Grand Casino Arena: Guide for Visiting Fans

The METRO Green Line operates frequently between downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul; get off the train at 10th Street Station or Central Station for easy access to Grand Casino Arena. The full ride is about 45 minutes end-to-end, and a one-way adult fare was as low as $2 for non-peak times as of 2023. From Central Station, you'll still have to walk several blocks west to reach the arena — budget about 8–10 minutes, and in January that walk is punishing. Use the skyway if you can. Many of St. Paul's city blocks are connected on the second floor by five miles of an award-winning skyway system — a climate-controlled walkway linking buildings in downtown Saint Paul — which is genuinely one of the better cold-weather visitor amenities in American pro sports.

If you're coming from the south metro, METRO Blue Line trains connect with the Green Line at U.S. Bank Stadium Station for service to downtown St. Paul.

By car, Grand Casino Arena is nestled between two major freeways, Interstate 94 and 35E, making it easily accessible from all points of the compass. From Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), take the airport access road and follow signs for Hwy. 5 to Saint Paul — approximately 8 miles — then take 35E north to the Kellogg Boulevard exit and turn right. That's typically a 20–25 minute drive without traffic; add 15 minutes for game-night congestion.

Drop-off and pick-up for rideshare services is located at Gate 4 at the stadium's northeast corner. Lyft is the official rideshare partner, but Uber drops here too. Request your ride before you leave your seat.

Grand Casino Arena is serviced by two parking ramps — RiverCentre and Kellogg — directly connected to the complex, and the arena has partnered with ParkWhiz to allow visitors to purchase guaranteed parking reservations in advance of Wild games. Book those in advance; both connected ramps fill up fast for a sellout crowd, and walk-up prices spike on game nights.

The RiverCentre Parking Ramp, adjacent to the arena, provides accessible parking and is connected to the venue by a skyway, making it a popular choice — especially useful in brutal Minnesota winters. The Kellogg Parking Ramp is another option, and nearby streets provide limited street parking as well. Numerous other parking lots and structures stand within a few blocks of Grand Casino Arena, including several on Smith Avenue just west of the arena, with rates typically beginning at $10 depending on the event and day. The connected ramps run closer to $25–35 on busy nights. Oversized vehicle parking is not available at Grand Casino Arena; those in search of oversized vehicle parking are encouraged to contact Union Depot Lot C.

Downtown St. Paul is your call here, and it's the right one. If your trip revolves around an event at Grand Casino Arena, consider staying in one of the many hotels in downtown St. Paul, most within comfortable walking distance — including the Holiday Inn St. Paul Downtown and Hampton Inn & Suites St. Paul Downtown, both about 0.1 miles away, and The Saint Paul Hotel about 0.3 miles away.

The Saint Paul Hotel is a historic, elegant property located just a few blocks from the arena, with luxurious accommodations and fine dining. It's the best-in-class option if you're treating this as a trip rather than just a game — pricier but worth it for the location and character. The Hampton Inn & Suites is within walking distance, offers comfortable rooms and complimentary breakfast, and is an excellent option for travelers looking for convenience and affordability. If you want more nightlife around you without cabbing everywhere, staying on this downtown St. Paul block gives you everything within a 10-minute walk.

Avoid booking in downtown Minneapolis for a Grand Casino Arena game unless you love the Green Line and don't mind the 45-minute transit haul post-game.

Tom Reid's Hockey City Pub — Walk down West 7th Street to Tom Reid's, owned by the former Minnesota North Stars player, decked out with hockey memorabilia and multiple televisions for pregame coverage. This is the closest thing to a mandatory pregame stop near the arena. Expect it to be packed on game nights; get there early.

Herbie's on the Park — One of the newer additions to downtown St. Paul, named after Minnesota hockey legend Herb Brooks and located just minutes from Grand Casino Arena, serving tavern fare, handcrafted cocktails and local beers. A slightly more polished option than Tom Reid's, and a good bet if you want actual food with your pregame pint.

Cossetta's — Cossetta's has been serving up Italian pizzas, pastas and sandwiches since 1911. It's cheap, it's fast, it's legitimately good, and it's a St. Paul institution. Go for the pizza by the slice if you need something substantial before the game without spending sit-down money.

Sakura — If you're in the mood for something different, Sakura serves sushi rolls named after current and former Minnesota Wild players. It's a short walk away, less chaotic than the hockey bars, and a solid option if you want a real dinner rather than bar food.

The arena strongly discourages bringing bags of any kind. Purses no larger than 12" × 12" × 6" are allowed at designated X-ray entry points — this applies to all purses, including clear bags. Backpacks, coolers, or large totes are prohibited. Medical and parenting bags are permitted and subject to X-ray screening.

There are five gate locations at Grand Casino Arena, numbered clockwise starting with Gate 1 in the main lobby on the southeast side of the building, which also houses the Box Office and Hockey Lodge. Gates 1–4 are open to all ticket holders; Gate 5 is reserved for suite and club level holders. Gate 4 opens one hour prior to the ticketed start time. Arrive at least 30–40 minutes before puck drop — none of the entrances are very large, so expect fairly long lines if you're trying to get in close to the start time.

One important policy: fans attending any events at Grand Casino Arena are no longer allowed to exit and re-enter the arena for any reason, including smoking. Plan accordingly.

Accessible and disabled seating is available on all levels of the arena. Accessible seating and parking are available through Ticketmaster and the Grand Casino Arena Box Office; for questions about specifications of a particular location, call the Box Office at 651-726-8240. Elevators are located throughout Grand Casino Arena and access all public areas; if you need assistance reaching your seat, contact a Guest Services staff member. An accessible drop-off area is available at the southeast entrance (Gate 1) of Grand Casino Arena at 175 West Kellogg Boulevard.

Headsets and receivers for the ADA-approved Telex assistive listening system are available free of charge at the Guest Services desk near Section 104/105 and at the Suite Concierge desk near Gate 5; a driver's license or state-issued ID is required to ensure the return of equipment. Closed captioning is offered at all Minnesota Wild hockey games, displayed on the east and west ends of the arena scoreboard. To request an ASL interpreter, contact Guest Services at 651-726-8200 a minimum of ten business days prior to the event.

The venue is designed with four spectator levels, including one suite level and three for general seating. Sections are numbered clockwise around the arena, including Sections 101–126 on the 100 level, C1–C40 on the RBC Wealth Management Club Level, and Sections 201–230 on the 200 level.

There is no dedicated away section at Grand Casino Arena — visiting fans scatter throughout. Your best bet as an away fan is the upper 200-level sections on the ends (around 201–210 or 220–230), where ticket prices are lower and away fan groups naturally cluster on resale markets. You'll hear each other and be slightly insulated from the loudest home sections. Avoid sitting in the lower bowl near center ice (Sections 110–115) unless you enjoy being the only one in green amid a sea of Minnesota red — you'll get noticed. The sightlines from the 200 level are genuinely good; the arena is known for its intimate seating bowl and excellent acoustics, so you won't feel far from the ice even in the upper deck. One honest note: the seats are among the narrower you'll find compared to newer arenas, so pack light and don't be surprised.

The Wild $6 Happy Hour starts when gates open and ends 30 minutes before puck drop — the $6 menu includes a 16 oz. draft beer, rail cocktails, fountain soda, hot dog, bratwurst, and pretzel with cheese. That's one of the better pre-drop deals in the NHL, so arrive early and use it. A variety of local Minnesota-crafted beers are available, including Barrel Theory, Modist, Bent Paddle, Black Stack, Schell's, Elm Creek Brewing, Drekker, and Wild State. Wrecktangle Pizza features Detroit-style pizza voted the best in the country — it's at the club level but worth seeking out, and the Michelob Golden Light Taphouse at Section 119 has everything from a Cheese Curd Trio to Brisket-Rubbed Boneless Wings to a Taphouse Patty Melt.

Grand Casino Arena is one of those arenas where away fans are treated decently until the game gets tight, at which point the building becomes extremely loud and somewhat single-minded. Overall the arena may be aging a bit, but it remains one of the best places to see a professional hockey game — friendly fans, good food, and very easy access. The thing you'll notice that no arena guide quite captures: surrounding the arena at all four corners are "crow's nests" — one features an organ played during Wild games, another features a lighthouse with a foghorn blasted when the team takes the ice, for all Wild goals, and after a victory. That foghorn is genuinely disorienting the first time it goes off. The crowd also sings along to "Shout" after every Wild goal, which means when Minnesota is rolling, the noise is relentless. The good news: the sightlines are excellent from almost anywhere, the concessions are legitimately above-average for an NHL building, and Minnesota fans, by and large, know their hockey and will respect a knowledgeable away fan. Wear your colors, be loud during your team's goals, and don't start anything — this crowd is passionate but not hostile.

Transit: The Green Line runs post-game service back toward Minneapolis. The METRO Green Line operates frequently between downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul. Expect a wait of 10–20 minutes post-final whistle as the platform fills; trains run every 7–10 minutes under normal conditions but stack up on event nights. Wait 15–20 minutes after the final buzzer before heading to Central Station and you'll miss the worst of the crush on the platform. The walk back to Central is cold in winter — don't dawdle.

Driving: The connected ramps are convenient but slow to clear after a sellout. The Kellogg Boulevard exit dumps you toward I-35E, which is your fastest path north or south. Expect 20–40 minutes to reach a moving road. If you pre-booked a spot in one of the surface lots on Smith Avenue west of the arena, those tend to clear faster because they empty onto local streets in multiple directions.

Rideshare: Drop-off and pick-up for rideshare is at Gate 4 at the arena's northeast corner. Surge pricing is almost certain within 15 minutes of the final whistle. The opinionated tip: walk four or five blocks east toward Rice Park or the Ordway, request your ride there, and you'll often pay 30–40% less and wait half the time versus standing in the mob at Gate 4. Wait at least 25 minutes after the game ends before requesting if you want normal pricing.

How do I get to Grand Casino Arena from Minneapolis?

Ride the METRO Green Line to Central Station or 10th Street Station for easy access — a roughly 45-minute ride from downtown Minneapolis. From MSP Airport, drive approximately 8 miles via Hwy. 5 to 35E north and exit at Kellogg Boulevard.

What is the bag policy at Grand Casino Arena?

The arena strongly discourages bringing bags. Purses no larger than 12" × 12" × 6" are allowed at X-ray entry points (including clear bags). Backpacks, coolers, and large totes are prohibited.

How much does parking cost at Grand Casino Arena?

Rates typically begin at $10 depending on the event and day , but the connected RiverCentre and Kellogg ramps can run $25–35 on busy game nights. Pre-book through ParkWhiz for guaranteed spots and better prices.

When do the gates open for a Wild game?

Gate 4 opens one hour prior to the ticketed start time. Arrive 30–40 minutes before puck drop minimum to clear security comfortably, especially at peak gates.

What are the best seats for away fans? Upper 200-level end sections (around 201–210 or 222–230) offer affordable prices, solid sightlines, and natural clustering of away fan groups on resale markets. No formal away section exists.

Is Grand Casino Arena cashless?

Select concession locations only accept credit cards, gift cards, and mobile payments like Apple Pay or Google Pay ; other stands still take cash. Bring a card to be safe.

Is there a happy hour deal inside the arena?

Yes — the Wild $6 Happy Hour runs from gates open until 30 minutes before puck drop and includes a 16 oz. draft beer, rail cocktails, hot dog, bratwurst, and pretzel with cheese. Use it.

Can I re-enter the arena after I leave?

No — fans are no longer allowed to exit and re-enter the arena for any reason, including smoking. Once you're out, you're out.