World Juniors Comes to Saint Paul: Capital of the State of Hockey

Welcome to the Capital of the State of Hockey

The City of Saint Paul prepares to welcome World Juniors teams and fans from 10 nations—including USA, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Slovakia, Sweden, and Switzerland—to the Capital of the State of Hockey. Whether you’re here to cheer, coach, or cover the tournament, downtown Saint Paul is ready with easy transit, great food, and winter-smart tips to make your stay smooth and warm.

The World Juniors will be held Dec. 26, 2025 - Jan. 5, 2026 in downtown Saint Paul and other sites throughout the state of Minnesota.

Plan Your Visit on the Tournament Website

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Events, Activities, and More Downtown Saint Paul

Dozens of fireworks burst over a crowd of people at night. They are in a park surrounded by historic buildings. There are several trees with festive lights.

Bold North Breakaway Festival

Steps from the arena, Rice Park transforms into a free, outdoor fan zone with horse-and-carriage rides, Pioneer Press Trolley Rides & Tales, festive lights, the TRIA Skills Rink, PNC Bank Bonfire Zone, Securian Financial Bumper Cars on Ice, the Explore Minnesota “We Love Hockey” sign, and the HealthPartners Breakaway Box for warm-ups and games.

Inside Saint Paul RiverCentre, the celebration continues with the Hockey Moms Market by Mich (40 local vendors), alumni appearances and autographs, a live-DJ SportsEngine Zone beside the Minnesota Wild Street Hockey Rink, the Explore Minnesota Watch Party Room screening every game, plus the Delta Dental Locker Room Experience, PNC Bank Snow Globe, Blue Line Bar, and the Mini Mites Kids Zone powered by Cub—an indoor heartbeat for fans all tournament long.

Bold North Breakaway Fan Festival

A server brings burgers and fries to a family in sports memorabilia. They're seated in a large open restaurant with garage door windows.

Eat, Sip, and Unwind Downtown

Fuel up before or after games. Find everything from quick skyway bites and family-friendly spots to late-night burgers, ramen, and craft cocktails steps from the arena. Many restaurants welcome team groups—call ahead for seating and ask about game-day specials. Photo copyright: Meagan Elizabeth Photography 2024.

Downtown Dining Guide (Visit Saint Paul)

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Stay Downtown

Find a room just steps from Grand Casino Arena, and stay in the heart of the action. Downtown Saint Paul has a wide range of accommodations that give you convenient access to world-class dining, entertainment, plus the arena and fan festival grounds. View a complete guide to the many hotels waiting for you in downtown.

Downtown Hotel Guide (Visit Saint Paul)

Grand Casino Arena

Grand Casino Arena is the home base for Team USA’s preliminary games and all semifinals and medal games. Check the arena event page for schedules, bag policy, accessibility, and spectator guidance.

View Arena Information

Getting to World Juniors in Saint Paul

Flying to Minneapolis-Saint Paul

Flying in for World Juniors? Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) has two terminals (T1–Lindbergh, T2–Humphrey). The airport has quick light rail access to both Minneapolis and downtown Saint Paul. Check which airline terminal you're flying into or out of before you go, arrive two hours early for domestic flights, and monitor real-time conditions.

Get Airport and Flight Info View parking availability, security wait times, flight updates, and more on the MSP Airport homepage.

Getting to Saint Paul by Light Rail (Metro Transit)

Traveling from Minneapolis? Take Metro Transit’s METRO Green Line eastbound toward Saint Paul. Downtown stops—Central Station, 10th Street, and Union Depot—all connect easily to hotels, restaurants, and the arena district via short walks or skyways. Trains run frequently all day and into the evening; purchase fares at station machines or with the Metro Transit app.

If you're flying into MSP Airport, you can take the METRO Blue Line to downtown Minneapolis, and connect to the eastbound Green Line at any of the downtown Minneapolis stops—Downtown East, Government Plaza, Nicollet Mall, Warehouse/Hennepin, Target Field.

Schedule and Map of METRO Green Line Plan your route between Minneapolis and Saint Paul using the METRO Green Line.

Public Transportation Trip Planner Use Metro Transit's Trip Planner to map out your route using bus or light rail.

Map of Light Rail and Bus Rapid Transit Lines View a PDF map of Metro Transit's light rail and bus rapid transit system.

Getting Around Downtown Saint Paul

There are many options for getting to and around Saint Paul:

Driving: There are several covered parking ramps, as well as outdoor parking lots, and limited on-street parking downtown.
Public transportation: Metro Transit bus and light rail lines connect throughout downtown Saint Paul.
Rideshare services: There are several services available in Saint Paul, including Lyft and Uber.
Walking: Downtown Saint Paul boasts one of the longest indoor, temperature-controlled skyway systems in the world. The system connects pedestrians to or close to many of Saint Paul's award-winning restaurants, attractions, and event venues, including Grand Casino Arena.

View Our Transportation Information Hub Get information about transportation and parking options in downtown Saint Paul.

Get Parking Information View an interactive map of downtown parking. Learn about street parking guidelines.

View Interactive Map of Skyway System Navigate downtown on foot using our indoor, temperature-controlled skyway system.

Learn About the Skyway System Get to know our network of indoor walkways, helping pedestrians navigate downtown.

What to Expect: Winter in Saint Paul

Normal late-December to January temperatures in Saint Paul run about mid-20s °F (-4 to -2 °C) for daytime highs and around 10–12 °F (-12 to -11 °C) for overnight lows. Dress in layers, wear traction-tread boots, use skyways to shorten outdoor walks, and allow extra travel time if it’s snowing. In the event of a snow emergency, parking restrictions will go into effect downtown.

Get Snow Information

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Follow Us for the Latest Updates!

Connect with the City of Saint Paul on social media to get the latest updates. We'll be sharing tournament news, transportation tips, activities, and more. Join the World Juniors excitement!

Showcase Your Business During World Juniors

Are you a local business owner? We're announcing a permit holiday to help you showcase your business to the thousands of visitors attending World Juniors.

You will be able to expand certain operations—including sidewalk use, outdoor tents and sound, and extended liquor sales—without a City-issued permit during the tournament. Explore the information below for detailed options and requirements.

Questions? Call the Department of Safety and Inspections at 651-266-8989 or email dsi-informationandcomplaints@stpaul.gov.

Businesses with an on-sale liquor license may choose to do one or more of the following, provided you meet Minnesota statute requirements:
- Serve liquor until 2 a.m.
- Extend to areas adjacent to current service area
- Sell alcohol on Sundays
Minnesota statutes to keep in mind:
- Serving until 2 a.m. requires a state-issued 2 a.m. license.
- Sunday sales require state statute-defined food sevice.
- Extension requires that the original space is compact and contiguous.
Before adopting these changes, you must:
- Ensure you comply with applicable state statutes.
- Notify DSI within two days of what changes you will make.
- Plan ahead. State compliance may take several days.
No fee for tent permits under 1,500 square feet.
- Temporary propane still requires permit and inspection.
- The Department of Safety and Inspections (DSI) reserves the right to inspect tents after high wind or snow events.
You may use the sidewalk in front of your business while keeping at least 48” of pedestrian space.
- Plan for snow removal or storage. Never push snow into the street.
- Use salt sparingly. One 12-ounce coffee mug of salt is enough for a 20-foot driveway.
- Keep parking and street signs clear. Do not block parking spots, traffic signals, or other signage.

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