Grand Casino Arena, NHL’s Minnesota Wild Sign New Stadium Partner

An NHL team and its casino sponsor have a new partner, according to an announcement released on Monday, Nov. 17.

The Minnesota Wild and Grand Casino Arena are teaming up with Clover Sport, a commerce platform designed for sports and entertainment venues. The system offers help with sales, management, finances, and self-service for fans.

Close to 300 Clover Sport devices will be scattered around Grand Casino Arena, the official host of the Wild.

New and improved experiences

Clover Sport offers a variety of innovative functions, such as cashless and touchless service for customers. The goal of the partnership is to increase the efficiency of the arena’s operations, leading to a more enjoyable game-day experience for fans.

“Today’s fans expect speed, convenience and personalization to take center stage in a modern sports and entertainment experience – from ticketing to concessions,” said Chris Campolettano, Vice President of Sales at Fiserv, Clover’s parent company. “Clover Sport empowers venue operators to meet those expectations with seamless experiences that keep fans focused on the action, complete with tailored insights that drive continuous operational improvements.”

According to the Wild’s announcement, Clover Sport will deliver “next-generation experiences”  to game-attending customers. 

The point-of-sale hardware and custom software will integrate with in-house processes to shorten waits in line for food, merchandise, and other frequent stops for fans. Additionally, operators will receive real-time data and analytics that can be used to spot inefficiencies around the arena, leading to even more positive changes in the future.

“We are very excited to incorporate Clover Sport’s world-class leading technology to our concessions stands at Grand Casino Arena,” said Carin Anderson, Minnesota Wild Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships and Retail Management. “Adding their expertise and know-how will make the checkout experience more convenient and seamless for our fans.

About Grand Casino the Mille Lacs Band

The Wild’s announcement said that Grand Casino Arena is known as “one of the finest arenas in the world.”

The near-18,000-seat, multisport venue has four spectator levels right in the heart of downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota. Formerly known as the Xcel Energy Center, it got its name from the Wild’s partnership with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, who have made investments in the city-owned facility.

The name went into effect on Sept. 3 following a June agreement on a 14-year naming rights partnership.

“Grand Casino Arena will serve as the anchor of a dynamic entertainment district that transforms downtown Saint Paul,” said Craig Leipold, majority owner and principal investor in Minnesota Sports & Entertainment, in an announcement confirming the deal. “The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe has been a strong supporter of and investor in this city. We are thrilled for their partnership and support of the arena.”

The partnership also offered the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe—which operates Grand Casino Mille Lacs in Onamia and Grand Casino Hinckley in Minnesota—the opportunity to display interior and exterior signage promoting their casino brand.

Grand Casino said it “exists to generate sustainable economic opportunity for the Mille Lacs Band while delivering exceptional guest experiences.”