Saint Paul Arena Company, the Minnesota Wild's facility management arm, has created a Trees for Travel program for event organizers hosting events at Saint Paul RiverCentre, Roy Wilkins Auditorium, and Xcel Energy Center. Through their partnership with Green Cities Accord, these facilities are now able to offer the ability for event organizers to track carbon emissions from attendee travel to and from these venues, and purchase Green Cities Accord's Carbon+ Credits to offset those emissions through trees planted in Saint Paul and Minneapolis, resulting in a more sustainable event.

"Increasing investments in urban tree canopy infrastructure is an effective and cost-efficient strategy to mitigate the worst effects of climate change on urban communities. Through collaborative efforts like this one with Saint Paul Arena Company, we are expanding funding for urban trees, and helping to improve the livability of our cities," said Michaela Neu, Director of Program & Operations at Green Cities Accord.

The first event to purchase Carbon+ Credits was the McGough Construction Extended Leadership Team Biannual Meeting on April 15-16 at Saint Paul RiverCentre. “McGough is proud to be the first participant in the Saint Paul RiverCentre’s Trees for Travel program, " McGough Chief Operating Officer Brad Wood said. "With team members traveling from our offices and projects across the country, this initiative provides a meaningful way to reduce the impact of our travel while directly supporting urban tree planting right here in our community. We value the RiverCentre’s leadership in sustainability and as a builder of high-performance, sustainable spaces are excited to partner with a venue that provides opportunities that let us align our operations with our values."

"We are excited to be working with Green Cities Accord on these important efforts," said Minnesota Wild SVP of Facilities Jim Ibister. "Staying local has always been an important factor when choosing our sustainability partners. We are very proud to be a part of the great work Green Cities Accord is doing to enhance the lives of people by protecting and growing the urban tree canopy."

Green Cities Accord is a nonprofit conservancy with a mission to foster climate resilient communities through investments in tree canopy infrastructure. Green Cities Accord fosters public-private partnerships for the protection and expansion of urban tree canopy infrastructure to enhance the lives of people living in cities today and for future generations.

Xcel Energy Center and Saint Paul RiverCentre are dedicated to sustainable practices throughout the campus. They led the way as the first and only complex in the world to be certified by LEED, Green Globes, and Events Industry Council's Sustainable Event Standards. Xcel Energy Center is now honored to be recognized as leaders in sustainability including recently being awarded 21 medals for the 2024 GOAL Awards for sustainability leadership. Saint Paul RiverCentre is home to countless public and private events each year, and clients will have the opportunity to offset their carbon usage at each event.