World Junior Championship ice hockey boosts Twin Cities with expected $75M impact

World Junior Championship ice hockey boosts Twin Cities with expected $75M impact

The 2025 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championship is underway in the Twin Cities, bringing a projected $75 million boost to the area.

Friday marked the start of the 50th anniversary of the tournament. It’s the seventh time the tournament has been held in the U.S. and the second time in Minnesota, said Visit St. Paul President and CEO Jaimee Lucke Hendrikson.

Tom Reid’s Hockey City Pub was in between crowds on mid-day on Friday after the first puck drop at noon.

“We also have a tent going on over at Rice Park, Tom Reid’s tent, so the managers and other staff are dealing with that as well. They got specials over there. We got specials here. Just busy, busy time,” said manager and bartender Justin Christensen.

Former Team USA member Paul Joswiak, who played in the 1978 World Junior Championship, was sitting at a table near the bar.

“We played against Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Smith and a whole NHL lineup in Montreal. It was just a wonderful experience,” he said.

Joswiak brought with him a jersey from his time playing in the tournament as he enjoyed lunch and watched the next generation hit the ice.

“It’s a big experience for all the kids, for the community. It brings out, you know, money for hotels and food, and everything. So it’s good for everybody,” he added.

Wendy Williams Blackshaw, president and CEO of Minnesota Sports and Events, said to expect a $75 million economic impact in the Twin Cities from the event.

“That’s probably conservative,” she said. “It puts Minnesota, kind of, in the international spotlight. This is telecast all over the world, and it’s going to be fantastic.”

It’s among the bigger events the organization has helped bring to the metro, with 29 games over 11 days.

“This definitely is one that is on the higher end. For example, when we hosted Women’s Final Four Basketball back in 2022, I believe the economic impact was $32 million,” Williams Blackshaw said.

Lucke Hendrikson noted that this is typically a slower time for tourism, with hotels about 20% full. This year, she expects tens of thousands of people to fill rooms.

“I think the fact that this event is here, this marquee event selected St. Paul, says a lot for the things that we are doing right, for the things that we do have to offer and for the experiences that we can provide,” she said.

Tickets are still available, Williams Blackshaw said. Games will be played at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul and the University of Minnesota’s 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis. There are also free family events in Rice Park.

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