With sustainability a part of the fabric of our organization, we look forward to celebrating Earth Day every year. Our team came together with gloves on, boots laced, and a shared purpose: to give back to the beautiful stretch of the Mississippi River that flows through our hometown of Saint Paul. It’s a tradition we look forward to each year—rolling up our sleeves for the Adopt-a-River program and doing our part to protect one of Minnesota’s most iconic natural resources.

 

This year, we took our efforts to Lilydale Regional Park, where more than 25 of our employees came out to clean up the riverbanks. By the end of the day, we had collected over 1,000 pounds of debris—everything from metal scraps to old gutters and unexpected odds and ends. It was hard work, but also incredibly rewarding.

Our connection to the river runs deep—literally and figuratively. The venues we manage—Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul RiverCentre, and Roy Wilkins Auditorium—all overlook the Mississippi. These waters are more than just scenic views for our guests—they’re part of our community’s story. They’ve been the setting for childhood memories, where young hockey players first learn to glide on ice rinks not far from the current, and where families gather year-round to celebrate nature, music, and milestones.

 

Protecting these waterways isn’t just a one-day event for us—it’s a cornerstone of our values. Since we began this river cleanup tradition in 2015, our employees have removed over 11,000 pounds of debris from the banks of the Mississippi River. That’s 11,000 pounds of impact, powered by people who care deeply about the place we call home.