Xcel Energy Center's new name brings sports and gambling together
A rendering shows the exterior of what will soon be the Grand Casino Arena. Grand Casino secured naming rights after Xcel Energy's contract expired.
Courtesy Minnesota Sports & Entertainment
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Audio transcript
NINA MOINI: Well, you likely it as the X or the Xcel Energy Center here in downtown St. Paul. Well, the home of the Minnesota Wild and the Minnesota Frost now has a new name, Grand Casino Arena. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Timberwolves have inked some new deals with fan favorites. And on the women's side, the Lynx continue to win big. Joining us with those sports headlines and more are sports contributors Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson. Thanks for being here, guys.
ERIC NELSON: Happy Monday, Nina.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: How are you today?
NINA MOINI: I'm great. So this name Grand Casino Arena, I wonder if that needs a nickname. Eric. I'm thinking maybe the GCA. I don't know. What do you think about that?
ERIC NELSON: El Grande.
NINA MOINI: Yeah, what do you think about that?
ERIC NELSON: Well, we knew it was coming. And most venues have corporate names attached to them. So the Xcel Energy Center had a great run. I mean, it goes back to the beginning of the franchise in 2000. So they got 25 years out of that. It was called the X by many people. Of course, the folks at Xcel Energy didn't like that. They wanted to hear their name all the time in entirety. But we media folks and fans like to have nicknames.
NINA MOINI: Yeah.
ERIC NELSON: Grand Casino, yeah hey, the interesting thing to me, Nina, is now this marriage between sports and gambling, they're in bed together. And 10, 15 years ago and then beyond, that was a taboo. You wanted no association with gambling. Now we have pro teams in Vegas, the Golden Knights, the Las Vegas Raiders, soon to be the Las Vegas A's. And the NBA's going to get down there at some point.
So it's a very fine line and perhaps a slippery slope somewhere down the road, with the news recently of Malik Beasley with the Detroit Pistons, who played with the Timberwolves, being accused of gambling on NBA games. And one other note, Nina, about the Minnesota Wild, this just broke.
The Wild have acquired right winger Vladimir Tarasenko from Detroit in exchange for future considerations. Tarasenko is 33 years old. He's a four-time All-Star selection. But the last couple of years with the Red Wings, he was viewed as an underachiever. And the Red Wings also don't have to pay him the $4.75 million next season.
So Tarasenko only had 11 goals and 33 points in 80 games for Detroit last season. But Minnesota is going to hope he can return to the All-Star form he had in St. Louis. We shall see about that.
NINA MOINI: OK. Thank you for that. The very latest there, an interesting point as Minnesota is considering sports betting and regulations around it. So that'll be interesting to watch. Thank you for that. Wally, let's talk about the Timberwolves who just resigned two players. Will you tell us about them, and if they got good deals?
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Before I do that, I want to chime in with my nickname for the new arena.
NINA MOINI: Please do.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: The new name for the arena. I'm going to call it the XX. How's that?
NINA MOINI: That makes sense.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Right?
NINA MOINI: That does make sense. Yeah, perfect.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: All right.
NINA MOINI: Grand Casino will be thrilled.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Yeah, they'll love to hear from me, yes. We'll call it the XX. For those of you who are stuck on the X, you can call it the XX.
NINA MOINI: Solved.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: OK. Yes. Timberwolves, they did resign Julius Randle three years, $100 million. Naz Reid, that came a couple of days ago, five years $125 million, both of those coming over the weekend. But Randle had a choice to make. He had a $31 million option that he had to make a decision on.
It was his choice whether he wanted to do that or he wanted to go in free agency. But they negotiated. And so he's got three years here for 100 million, and he does have a player option for that final year. So it'll be up to him in that final year whether or not he wants to continue.
But the Wolves continue to look for help at the point guard position. But free agency, which starts today at 5 o'clock by the way, is unlikely now, now that they've spent all this money on Naz Reid and Julius Randle. But don't be surprised. Tim Connely, the GM, he has made some wheels and deals over the last couple of years. We know we saw Karl-Anthony Towns disappear right before the season last year that brought Julius Randle here. So we'll see what happens.
We're probably going to lose Nickeil Alexander-Walker. I think that that's probably a 95% chance of that happening. But I'd say just keep your eye on Tim Connely and see what he does here over the summer to try and boost up that point guard position.
NINA MOINI: And so they kept Naz Reid, who was really a consequential player for them. And a bunch of people have tattoos of him as well. So I bet they'll be happy.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: No doubt. And well, I've got a beach towel of his, and so do a lot of other people when they had a Naz Reid beach towel night. So yeah.
NINA MOINI: Good thing he's staying.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: There is some love for him.
NINA MOINI: Yep.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Yes. There is some love for him.
NINA MOINI: Speaking of love, a lot of people have a lot of love for the Twins. They didn't have a great night, though, especially with a game that was nationally televised, Eric?
ERIC NELSON: Yeah. The Twins not quite ready for prime time. First time in five years, they were on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball, which that's a marquee thing to be a part of. It usually features the LA Dodgers, or the New York Yankees, or the Boston Red Sox, or St. Louis or the Chicago Cubs. So the Twins and the Tigers got a shot last night. Flyover land was paid tribute by ESPN, and it was all Detroit in downtown Motown.
The Twins got schooled by Skubal. That's Tarik Skubal. He was dominant on the mound. The Tigers won it 3-0. Skubal is 10 and 2 on the year. He might be the best pitcher in Major League Baseball. He gave up just one hit, struck out a career high 13 in seven innings. I mean, the Twins, it was whiff city. And you're going to love this, Nina, your favorite word. The Tigers got two taters--
NINA MOINI: Taters.
ERIC NELSON: --in the game. Yeah.
NINA MOINI: Which are home runs.
ERIC NELSON: Watching Riley Greene.
NINA MOINI: Which are home runs. Yeah. That I learned.
ERIC NELSON: One from Kerry Carpenter. And Detroit's 53 and 32. They're tied with the LA Dodgers for the top record in Major League Baseball. And the Twins are now 40 and 44, and 12.5 games behind the Tigers in the AL Central. So next up for Minnesota, a three-game series beginning tomorrow night in Miami.
Now, the Marlins aren't very good record wise. They're 37 and 45, but they've won seven straight games. And my big takeaway on that broadcast last night is ESPN mic'd up shortstop Carlos Correa during the game while he's in the field.
NINA MOINI: Wow.
ERIC NELSON: And he said a number of things, including, because this is an off day and those are coveted for Major League players. He's taking the wife and the kids to the beach today down there in SoFlo. And they're going to be-- he's going to be laying in the sand but he said he's not going in the ocean, can't risk any more injury for Carlos Correa, who's been in and out of the lineup. But the Twins will try to get back on track tomorrow night in Miami.
NINA MOINI: All right, staying on the shore. Well, Wally, let's talk about the Lynx, because the Lynx tend to be a better note for us here in the state of Minnesota. They had a big win over Connecticut Sun, the Connecticut Sun. Now they have their eyes on the Commissioner's Cup tomorrow night, Wally.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: They do. And the Commissioner's Cup, they will play tomorrow night at home. And that's against Indiana. And of course, that's Caitlin Clark's team, however, Caitlin Clark has been hurt. She did practice yesterday, although it's unknown whether she will play tomorrow night.
If I had to guess, I would say she's not going to play because although it's the Commissioner's Cup Championship, I think that if I'm the head coach of Indiana, I'm looking at the rest of the season. Because it does not count as for the regular season standings. I'm saying, you know what Caitlin. Why don't you sit out another day, another couple of days, and get rested up, and we'll bring you back when the games count again? It's really superficial this game tomorrow night.
It'd be great for Minnesota fans to see her play, of course, and go against Napheesa Collier, who, by the way, Napheesa Collier and Caitlin Clark have been named WNBA All-Star game captains.
NINA MOINI: That's right. How awesome.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: So it would be interesting. Yeah, it'd be interesting to see her play tomorrow night. But if I'm the head coach, I'm saying you know what. Let's give it a go without Caitlin Clark. The game doesn't really matter long term. And maybe she can get healthy and we could have her. Because if something happens to Caitlin Clark, Indiana is in deep trouble.
NINA MOINI: Yeah, that makes sense. That makes sense. We'll see.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: And one other WNBA note I wanted to pass along, the league announced today they will expand to three more cities beginning in 2028.
NINA MOINI: Yeah. Where are those?
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Yeah, Cleveland, Detroit, and Philly. Cleveland and Detroit both had WNBA franchises back in the genesis of the league. But those teams went away after a few years. So they're coming back. Cleveland will have a team in 2028, Detroit in 2029, and then Philadelphia in 2030. And it just shows you the expansion of this league and the popularity. And people are jumping on board and they want more. So that's what's going to happen. And the WNBA is taking advantage.
NINA MOINI: Yeah, expanding. Thank you so much, Wally and Eric. Really appreciate you guys. Have a great week.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Yeah.
ERIC NELSON: You too.
NINA MOINI: Thank you. Wally Langfellow is the founder of "Minnesota Score Sports Magazine" and co-host of the Sports Talk Show "10,000 Takes." And Eric Nelson is the other host of that show, and Minnesota Vikings NFL reporter for CBS's Eye on Football and Sirius XM.
ERIC NELSON: Happy Monday, Nina.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: How are you today?
NINA MOINI: I'm great. So this name Grand Casino Arena, I wonder if that needs a nickname. Eric. I'm thinking maybe the GCA. I don't know. What do you think about that?
ERIC NELSON: El Grande.
NINA MOINI: Yeah, what do you think about that?
ERIC NELSON: Well, we knew it was coming. And most venues have corporate names attached to them. So the Xcel Energy Center had a great run. I mean, it goes back to the beginning of the franchise in 2000. So they got 25 years out of that. It was called the X by many people. Of course, the folks at Xcel Energy didn't like that. They wanted to hear their name all the time in entirety. But we media folks and fans like to have nicknames.
NINA MOINI: Yeah.
ERIC NELSON: Grand Casino, yeah hey, the interesting thing to me, Nina, is now this marriage between sports and gambling, they're in bed together. And 10, 15 years ago and then beyond, that was a taboo. You wanted no association with gambling. Now we have pro teams in Vegas, the Golden Knights, the Las Vegas Raiders, soon to be the Las Vegas A's. And the NBA's going to get down there at some point.
So it's a very fine line and perhaps a slippery slope somewhere down the road, with the news recently of Malik Beasley with the Detroit Pistons, who played with the Timberwolves, being accused of gambling on NBA games. And one other note, Nina, about the Minnesota Wild, this just broke.
The Wild have acquired right winger Vladimir Tarasenko from Detroit in exchange for future considerations. Tarasenko is 33 years old. He's a four-time All-Star selection. But the last couple of years with the Red Wings, he was viewed as an underachiever. And the Red Wings also don't have to pay him the $4.75 million next season.
So Tarasenko only had 11 goals and 33 points in 80 games for Detroit last season. But Minnesota is going to hope he can return to the All-Star form he had in St. Louis. We shall see about that.
NINA MOINI: OK. Thank you for that. The very latest there, an interesting point as Minnesota is considering sports betting and regulations around it. So that'll be interesting to watch. Thank you for that. Wally, let's talk about the Timberwolves who just resigned two players. Will you tell us about them, and if they got good deals?
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Before I do that, I want to chime in with my nickname for the new arena.
NINA MOINI: Please do.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: The new name for the arena. I'm going to call it the XX. How's that?
NINA MOINI: That makes sense.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Right?
NINA MOINI: That does make sense. Yeah, perfect.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: All right.
NINA MOINI: Grand Casino will be thrilled.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Yeah, they'll love to hear from me, yes. We'll call it the XX. For those of you who are stuck on the X, you can call it the XX.
NINA MOINI: Solved.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: OK. Yes. Timberwolves, they did resign Julius Randle three years, $100 million. Naz Reid, that came a couple of days ago, five years $125 million, both of those coming over the weekend. But Randle had a choice to make. He had a $31 million option that he had to make a decision on.
It was his choice whether he wanted to do that or he wanted to go in free agency. But they negotiated. And so he's got three years here for 100 million, and he does have a player option for that final year. So it'll be up to him in that final year whether or not he wants to continue.
But the Wolves continue to look for help at the point guard position. But free agency, which starts today at 5 o'clock by the way, is unlikely now, now that they've spent all this money on Naz Reid and Julius Randle. But don't be surprised. Tim Connely, the GM, he has made some wheels and deals over the last couple of years. We know we saw Karl-Anthony Towns disappear right before the season last year that brought Julius Randle here. So we'll see what happens.
We're probably going to lose Nickeil Alexander-Walker. I think that that's probably a 95% chance of that happening. But I'd say just keep your eye on Tim Connely and see what he does here over the summer to try and boost up that point guard position.
NINA MOINI: And so they kept Naz Reid, who was really a consequential player for them. And a bunch of people have tattoos of him as well. So I bet they'll be happy.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: No doubt. And well, I've got a beach towel of his, and so do a lot of other people when they had a Naz Reid beach towel night. So yeah.
NINA MOINI: Good thing he's staying.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: There is some love for him.
NINA MOINI: Yep.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Yes. There is some love for him.
NINA MOINI: Speaking of love, a lot of people have a lot of love for the Twins. They didn't have a great night, though, especially with a game that was nationally televised, Eric?
ERIC NELSON: Yeah. The Twins not quite ready for prime time. First time in five years, they were on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball, which that's a marquee thing to be a part of. It usually features the LA Dodgers, or the New York Yankees, or the Boston Red Sox, or St. Louis or the Chicago Cubs. So the Twins and the Tigers got a shot last night. Flyover land was paid tribute by ESPN, and it was all Detroit in downtown Motown.
The Twins got schooled by Skubal. That's Tarik Skubal. He was dominant on the mound. The Tigers won it 3-0. Skubal is 10 and 2 on the year. He might be the best pitcher in Major League Baseball. He gave up just one hit, struck out a career high 13 in seven innings. I mean, the Twins, it was whiff city. And you're going to love this, Nina, your favorite word. The Tigers got two taters--
NINA MOINI: Taters.
ERIC NELSON: --in the game. Yeah.
NINA MOINI: Which are home runs.
ERIC NELSON: Watching Riley Greene.
NINA MOINI: Which are home runs. Yeah. That I learned.
ERIC NELSON: One from Kerry Carpenter. And Detroit's 53 and 32. They're tied with the LA Dodgers for the top record in Major League Baseball. And the Twins are now 40 and 44, and 12.5 games behind the Tigers in the AL Central. So next up for Minnesota, a three-game series beginning tomorrow night in Miami.
Now, the Marlins aren't very good record wise. They're 37 and 45, but they've won seven straight games. And my big takeaway on that broadcast last night is ESPN mic'd up shortstop Carlos Correa during the game while he's in the field.
NINA MOINI: Wow.
ERIC NELSON: And he said a number of things, including, because this is an off day and those are coveted for Major League players. He's taking the wife and the kids to the beach today down there in SoFlo. And they're going to be-- he's going to be laying in the sand but he said he's not going in the ocean, can't risk any more injury for Carlos Correa, who's been in and out of the lineup. But the Twins will try to get back on track tomorrow night in Miami.
NINA MOINI: All right, staying on the shore. Well, Wally, let's talk about the Lynx, because the Lynx tend to be a better note for us here in the state of Minnesota. They had a big win over Connecticut Sun, the Connecticut Sun. Now they have their eyes on the Commissioner's Cup tomorrow night, Wally.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: They do. And the Commissioner's Cup, they will play tomorrow night at home. And that's against Indiana. And of course, that's Caitlin Clark's team, however, Caitlin Clark has been hurt. She did practice yesterday, although it's unknown whether she will play tomorrow night.
If I had to guess, I would say she's not going to play because although it's the Commissioner's Cup Championship, I think that if I'm the head coach of Indiana, I'm looking at the rest of the season. Because it does not count as for the regular season standings. I'm saying, you know what Caitlin. Why don't you sit out another day, another couple of days, and get rested up, and we'll bring you back when the games count again? It's really superficial this game tomorrow night.
It'd be great for Minnesota fans to see her play, of course, and go against Napheesa Collier, who, by the way, Napheesa Collier and Caitlin Clark have been named WNBA All-Star game captains.
NINA MOINI: That's right. How awesome.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: So it would be interesting. Yeah, it'd be interesting to see her play tomorrow night. But if I'm the head coach, I'm saying you know what. Let's give it a go without Caitlin Clark. The game doesn't really matter long term. And maybe she can get healthy and we could have her. Because if something happens to Caitlin Clark, Indiana is in deep trouble.
NINA MOINI: Yeah, that makes sense. That makes sense. We'll see.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: And one other WNBA note I wanted to pass along, the league announced today they will expand to three more cities beginning in 2028.
NINA MOINI: Yeah. Where are those?
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Yeah, Cleveland, Detroit, and Philly. Cleveland and Detroit both had WNBA franchises back in the genesis of the league. But those teams went away after a few years. So they're coming back. Cleveland will have a team in 2028, Detroit in 2029, and then Philadelphia in 2030. And it just shows you the expansion of this league and the popularity. And people are jumping on board and they want more. So that's what's going to happen. And the WNBA is taking advantage.
NINA MOINI: Yeah, expanding. Thank you so much, Wally and Eric. Really appreciate you guys. Have a great week.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Yeah.
ERIC NELSON: You too.
NINA MOINI: Thank you. Wally Langfellow is the founder of "Minnesota Score Sports Magazine" and co-host of the Sports Talk Show "10,000 Takes." And Eric Nelson is the other host of that show, and Minnesota Vikings NFL reporter for CBS's Eye on Football and Sirius XM.
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