The Minnesota Wild are an ice hockey team in the NHL (National Hockey League) based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Minnesota Wild compete in the Central Division of the Western Conference along with St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, Dallas Stars, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche and Winnipeg Jets. Minnesota Wild have a rivalry with the Chicago Blackhawks which originated quite recently in 2013, when the two teams met in the Stanley Cup play-offs.
The Minnesota Wild play their home games at the Xcel Energy Center in Minnesota, which opened in 2000. The team were founded in 1997 for the NHL when the Minnesota North Stars departed four years earlier, but didn’t play their first season until the 2000-2001 season, and have only ever called the Xcel Energy Center their home.
The Xcel Energy Center has a capacity of 17,954 for its ice hockey matches, and was previously a home for NLL’s Minnesota Swarm, and the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx. In 2014 the arena received three certifications for their efforts in keeping the arena sustainable, including the Green Globes Certification, APEX / ASTM Certification, and the LEED Certification. There are many musical events held at the arena with concerts from the likes of Jonas Brothers, Post Malone, The Who, and Blink-182.
Minnesota can be very cold. Nothing beats the cold like comfort foods. Here are some famous foods you must try to stay warm. The Juicy Lucy is a molten-hot-cheese-stuffed burger and can be found on many restaurant menus. If you want a traditional experience, Matt’s Bar is the way to go. Some people call it a casserole – Minnesota calls it Hotdish. It often includes canned soup as a binder and a crisp topping, most traditionally Tater Tots. You can find Hotdish on a number of Twin Cities menus, but the only place with a whole menu section dedicated to it is The Mason Jar. Bars, as in brownie or blondie, are a local favorite. Head to The Buttered Tin where you can try flavors that range from Oreo cheesecake to pumpkin to carrot cake. Pho, the Vietnamese rice noodle soup is comfort food for Minnesotans, especially on a cold winter’s day. There’s tons of Vietnamese restaurants, especially along University Avenue in St. Paul and Eat Street in Minneapolis. Favorites include iPho by Saigon, Quang Deli and Ngon Bistro.