Grand Casino Arena Named 2025 GOAL Sustainability Contender with 26 GOAL Medals

Recognized as a 2025 GOAL Sustainability Contender, Grand Casino Arena earned 26 medals at the second annual GOAL Medal Awards on September 9 in Las Vegas. This achievement, with its sustainability impact validated by GOAL, underscores the venue’s leadership in sustainability and its comprehensive approach to environmental, social, and governance impact.

The Contender designation reflects not only medal count, but also consistency of performance, year-over-year progress, and a holistic commitment to sustainable operations. Of the total medals earned, two were Gold, 15 Silver, and nine Bronze.

Gold medal awarded objectives included:

· Set Sustainability Strategy & Goals

· Implement ESG-Driven Purchasing Policy

Along with the two golds, Grand Casino Arena won a silver medal in Prioritizing Renewable Energy.

A silver medal was also awarded in Develop & Deploy Waste Management Plan and Increase Waste Diversion by Recycling. The venue recently debuted a new Zero Waste Zone, where operations employees hand-sort trash, compost, and recyclables after every event.

A bronze medal won was in Reducing Harmful Refrigerants and GHS (Globally Harmonized Systems), led by a new ice plant as of last year and the work of Senior Ice Operations Manager Travis Larson. Electric Zambonis were also added last year that use a lithium ion battery instead of liquid propane to power the ice resurfacers.

Over the last year, Grand Casino Arena upgraded from Bronze to Silver in a couple of key Sustainable Partnerships objectives, including Partner with Brand on Visitor Activation and Activate Brand Partnership Facility Improvements & Upgrades. These improvements show the deepening integration between sustainability and revenue-generating activations.

“We are honored and excited to see our commitment to sustainability recognized by our industry colleagues through the GOAL Medal Awards,” said Kelly McGrath, Vice President and General Manager of Grand Casino Arena. “The GOAL Tier validation is an important milestone for us — it reinforces our responsibility to create unforgettable guest experiences while making a meaningful difference for our community."

GOAL leadership also praised Grand Casino Arena's achievement. “The GOAL Medal winners are examples of the difference every venue and team can make by committing intentionality behind the desire to make an impact,” said Kristen Fulmer, Executive Director of GOAL. “Not every venue can deliver the same results and nor should they - We are thrilled to be able to recognize them for their own individual journey in sustainability leadership. The GOAL program enables venues of all sizes to share best practices and achieve results through deliberate, focused and data-based sustainability practices."

Grand Casino Arena and the Minnesota Wild are one of just 42 members stretching across the U.S., Canada, U.K., and Middle East, and one of only five other NHL organizations.