Everyone has their favorite arena, be it for memories of their first NHL game, childhood recollection of their playing days or other sentimental reasons.

The arena business seems to have a new favorite too—the Xcel Energy Center, home of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild. The six-year-old venue had an all-star season in 2006, being named Best NHL Arena by SportsBusiness Journal/SportsBusiness Daily; Best Fan Experience by Forbes magazine; and receiving its fifth nomination for Arena of the Year by Pollstar magazine, a major concert industry trade publication.

In 2006, Sports Illustrated named Xcel Energy Center its top choice among NHL arenas in its NHL Preview issue. In 2003, ESPN The Magazine rated Xcel Energy Center No. 1 for Best Stadium Experience.

Other nominees for Arena of the Year by Pollstar included the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, American Airlines Center in Dallas, HP Pavilion at San Jose, Madison Square Garden Arena in New York and Staples Center in Los Angeles.

The winner for 2006 will be announced on Feb. 8, 2007.

The Xcel Energy Center has sold out all 244 Wild home games played in the building, including 218 regular season, 18 preseason and eight playoff contests.

The arena played host to the 2004 NHL All-Star Weekend, 2004 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Cup of Hockey, 2003 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs and 2002 NCAA Men’s Frozen Four. Last fall, it hosted two games for the US Women’s National Hockey Team.